Solved NIC#37 - 1945 Onslow-Bartlett Riley Special

nicanary · October 08, 2013, 04:49:45 PM

What was this car called, and what is reputed to be its origins?

Chebby · October 09, 2013, 02:15:49 PM

The Mormon Meteor?

nicanary · October 09, 2013, 06:35:29 PM

Quote from: Chebby on October 09, 2013, 02:15:49 PM
The Mormon Meteor?

No. A lot smaller!

(I meant to add last night - welcome Chebby! Nice to see some new faces here, and folks who are willing to try an answer to boot. I hope you stick around - this site can become very addictive).

nicanary · October 20, 2013, 06:32:10 AM

Experts ?

nicanary · October 26, 2013, 06:18:06 AM

Pros ?

grobmotorix · October 29, 2013, 02:30:02 PM

Is it a rebodied Bugatti?

nicanary · October 29, 2013, 02:38:09 PM

Quote from: grobmotorix on October 29, 2013, 02:30:02 PM
Is it a rebodied Bugatti?

No Bugatti connection.

Paul Jaray · October 30, 2013, 09:31:06 AM

I'm sure I saw it somewhere...French?

nicanary · October 30, 2013, 09:32:24 AM

Quote from: Paul Jaray on October 30, 2013, 09:31:06 AM
I'm sure I saw it somewhere...French?

No French connection.

Paul Jaray · October 30, 2013, 09:36:34 AM

From Europe?

nicanary · October 30, 2013, 12:06:50 PM

Quote from: Paul Jaray on October 30, 2013, 09:36:34 AM
From Europe?

Yes. The engine is from one country, and the chassis originated in another, reputedly.

ropat53 · October 30, 2013, 01:27:15 PM

Looks like it could be a modified 1934 Mercedes Benz W 25?

nicanary · October 30, 2013, 07:35:15 PM

Quote from: ropat53 on October 30, 2013, 01:27:15 PM
Looks like it could be a modified 1934 Mercedes Benz W 25?

I think the builder was trying very hard to recreate that style. But it has nothing to do with Mercedes, and is in fact a lot smaller.

Craig Gillingham · October 30, 2013, 08:55:58 PM

Does it have a British made chassis?

nicanary · October 31, 2013, 06:43:14 AM

Quote from: Craig Gillingham on October 30, 2013, 08:55:58 PM
Does it have a British made chassis?

Probably not - that's the conundrum! But it does have an essential element which is British.

D-type · October 31, 2013, 06:00:01 PM

A Bristol engine?

Wendax · October 31, 2013, 06:03:48 PM

Austin Seven-based?

nicanary · October 31, 2013, 07:35:19 PM

Neither Bristol nor Austin connection. This is a quite difficult puzzle, as this car possibly only entered one race, and is not widely covered on the internet. So I'll start giving clues - the engine is from a well-known British make, and was widely-used in sporting cars before and just after WW2.

D-type · November 02, 2013, 09:41:04 AM

Riley engine?

nicanary · November 02, 2013, 12:14:20 PM

Quote from: D-type on November 02, 2013, 09:41:04 AM
Riley engine?

Yes! LOCKED for you to find out more.

D-type · November 04, 2013, 10:24:55 AM

I've no idea. I simply thought of who in Britain, other than Bristol, produced a half-decent racing engine immediately pre- and post- WW2.

If the chassis isn't British, is it an Amilcar?

Please unlock as I'm blundering around in thr dark and it wouldn't be fair to someone who does know the answer.

nicanary · November 04, 2013, 06:29:28 PM

OK. Unlocked. It's not an Amilcar base. It's a case of knowing which websites are out there - if you can find the right one, it's straightforward!

pnegyesi · November 05, 2013, 06:23:15 AM

was this built in Europe?

Allemano · November 05, 2013, 06:42:33 AM

Any relation to Ron "Curly" Dryden?

nicanary · November 05, 2013, 06:45:39 AM

Quote from: pnegyesi on November 05, 2013, 06:23:15 AM
was this built in Europe?

Yes. All European components.

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Solved NIC#37 - 1945 Onslow-Bartlett Riley Special