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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2013 => Topic started by: Carnut on June 04, 2013, 07:38:01 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 2710: Pinin Farina BMW 501 prototoype - 1950
Post by: Carnut on June 04, 2013, 07:38:01 AM
What's this, by whom, from when - for 1 point?:

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Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: Carnut on June 11, 2013, 05:35:19 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: nicanary on June 11, 2013, 07:26:47 AM
I thought this was simple, but then I can't find the answer. Italian ?
Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: Carnut on June 11, 2013, 07:37:41 AM
Quote from: nicanary on June 11, 2013, 07:26:47 AM
I thought this was simple, but then I can't find the answer. Italian ?

Not Italian!
Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: nicanary on June 11, 2013, 08:09:55 AM
1951 BMW 501 by Pininfarina. (Your photoshopping of the grille had me confused - I thought it might be a Lancia B10)

Whoops. A Russian site (my cyrillic is weak) claims that the car dates from 1949 and is a prototype for the 501 - BMW felt that the design was too similar to Pininfarina's Alfa design and stayed with their in-house attempt. Certainly the perforated steel wheels are covered up in the 1951 showing, but apart from that they appear to be the same car. Do you know more ?
Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: Hiawatha on June 11, 2013, 08:42:26 AM
It seems BMW asked Pininfarina for a 501 in February 1950 and that the car was ready in only two months. I'm sure Nicanary is correct in assuming only one car was ever made.
Title: Re: NEH 2710
Post by: Carnut on June 11, 2013, 09:24:08 AM
Quote from: nicanary on June 11, 2013, 08:09:55 AM
1951 BMW 501 by Pininfarina. (Your photoshopping of the grille had me confused - I thought it might be a Lancia B10)

Whoops. A Russian site (my cyrillic is weak) claims that the car dates from 1949 and is a prototype for the 501 - BMW felt that the design was too similar to Pininfarina's Alfa design and stayed with their in-house attempt. Certainly the perforated steel wheels are covered up in the 1951 showing, but apart from that they appear to be the same car. Do you know more ?

Indeed that's what it is, although from Hiawatha's information below it would seem to be 1950 rather than 1951.
BMW grilles are just a bit too much of a giveaway!
Well done.  Another point.

And here's the un-modified picture:

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 2710: Pinin Farina BMW 501 prototoype - 1950
Post by: nicanary on June 11, 2013, 11:14:53 AM
I've just recapped my solving - my date of 1951 came from a well-known French forum site, and I sort of assumed it would be right. The only discernable difference between the car as first seen and the 1951 photos are the chromed/domed hubcaps which cover the BMW steel wheels. A rather more attractive car,IMHO,than the "baroque angel".
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 2710: Pinin Farina BMW 501 prototoype - 1950
Post by: grobmotorix on October 23, 2015, 03:58:00 PM
A rare front shot: