AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2014 => Topic started by: woodinsight on December 27, 2012, 03:18:26 AM

Title: Solved - MJW #1069 - GRJ Special
Post by: woodinsight on December 27, 2012, 03:18:26 AM
Pressing on, here's another one of my obscure puzzles -
I only have the name of the car, constructor and approximate year but I don't know what it was based on or what engine it used.
A point will be awarded to anyone who can come up with the name, nationality and approximate year.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 02:54:23 AM
Moving up
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: qwaszx on January 05, 2013, 03:12:35 AM
this is not a Veritas -the grille suggests otherwise...
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 03:14:10 AM
Quote from: qwaszx on January 05, 2013, 03:12:35 AM
this is not a Veritas -the grille suggests otherwise...

You are correct there - it's not a Veritas
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: mekubb on January 05, 2013, 03:15:09 AM
Italian ?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: nicanary on January 05, 2013, 05:47:00 AM
Pretty sure it's taking part in a British event - one of the trials like the Exeter or Lands End. Based on a Ford 10hp?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: targhediferro on January 05, 2013, 06:00:16 AM
Crosley based?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 06:30:39 AM
It's a British car taking part in a UK event in the 1950s.
I have no idea what it's based on but Ford Ten is a possibility.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: nicanary on January 05, 2013, 07:37:24 AM
Was it built by the Tucker-Peake family?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 08:17:28 AM
Quote from: nicanary on January 05, 2013, 07:37:24 AM
Was it built by the Tucker-Peake family?
No it wasn't by them....

It was known as the xxx Special (the x's being the builder's initials)
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: kwgibbs on January 05, 2013, 11:21:16 AM
any ties with the RNW microcar?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 01:14:22 PM
Quote from: kwgibbs on January 05, 2013, 11:21:16 AM
any ties with the RNW microcar?
'fraid not.....
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: kwgibbs on January 05, 2013, 04:01:22 PM
no doubt a one-off?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: D-type on January 05, 2013, 04:38:28 PM
Alvis-based circa 1949  ???
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 10:03:35 PM
Quote from: kwgibbs on January 05, 2013, 04:01:22 PM
no doubt a one-off?
Undoubtedly..... ;)
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 10:07:37 PM
Quote from: D-type on January 05, 2013, 04:38:28 PM
Alvis-based circa 1949  ???
I don't think so as it appears to be quite a small car.
Unfortunately I don't have my source to hand at the moment but I don't believe it described the car - only a photo with a caption.
I will re-check it again as soon as I can.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: targhediferro on January 06, 2013, 05:42:33 AM
Is it a J.A.G.?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 06, 2013, 02:46:49 PM
Quote from: targhediferro on January 06, 2013, 05:42:33 AM
Is it a J.A.G.?
Not that.....
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on January 07, 2013, 02:29:20 AM
Promoting this one to the Pros as it may take some time to solve.....
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: kwgibbs on February 28, 2013, 09:39:39 PM
Could this be the mini derivative ,called Odnik by Jack O,Donoghue?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on March 01, 2013, 02:30:47 AM
Quote from: kwgibbs on February 28, 2013, 09:39:39 PM
Could this be the mini derivative ,called Odnik by Jack O,Donoghue?
Not that one.....
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: nicanary on March 05, 2013, 09:13:42 AM
From the style of the photo I'd say this came from Motor Sport or Motoring News (both from the same publishing group), and was in a picture montage of one of the classic trials of around 1950/52. Hence no full description of the car.

Anyone got any back copies? Try around December/February - usually a centre spread.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on March 05, 2013, 09:19:47 AM
Quote from: nicanary on March 05, 2013, 09:13:42 AM
From the style of the photo I'd say this came from Motor Sport or Motoring News (both from the same publishing group), and was in a picture montage of one of the classic trials of around 1950/52. Hence no full description of the car.

Anyone got any back copies? Try around December/February - usually a centre spread.
I can tell you the photo didn't come from Motor Sport or Motoring News but from another British magazine of the day.
My copies are still in store at the moment so I can't tell you the exact date  :-\
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: nicanary on March 05, 2013, 09:31:54 AM
And there was me thinking I was being smart. I'm still trying to work out who you are - an Englishman living in Antibes, so you're Elton John, Roger Moore or the late David Niven.

To quote John Buchan's "The 39 Steps" - "Am I right, sir?"  :lmao:
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on March 05, 2013, 10:25:35 AM
Quote from: nicanary on March 05, 2013, 09:31:54 AM
And there was me thinking I was being smart. I'm still trying to work out who you are - an Englishman living in Antibes, so you're Elton John, Roger Moore or the late David Niven.

To quote John Buchan's "The 39 Steps" - "Am I right, sir?"  :lmao:

Close, but no cigar! :D
Neither Elton John (God forbid), Roger Moore (wish I had his money) or the late David Niven (I'm not quite there yet!)

I'm of far-northern Scottish origin but I've lived outside the UK longer than in it owing to work, marriage, etc., etc.

So, what does that make me?
A man of the world?  :lmao: or perhaps more accurately, a European....... ;D
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: D-type on December 16, 2013, 05:08:38 PM
Could the car be the prototype Healey?

And did the Antibes resident drive an RAF teleprinter whilst doing national service?
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on February 03, 2014, 04:19:21 PM
Not a prototype Healey.

.....and no, the Antibes resident didn't drive an RAF teleprinter whilst doing national service!

An additional clue - the car name was 3 letters (no vowels)......not much help I know but I may add another hint in time.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on February 25, 2014, 12:20:54 AM
Before I start posting any new puzzles, I'd like to clear up several unsolved ones rather than sending them to the overflowing 'Black Hole'.

This one is proving difficult, partly due to my doubts over the builder of this special.
My source tells me that it was the 'xxx Special' built in the early 1950s and therefore to solve it I've set up a simple quiz as follows:

Guess the first letter of three manufacturers, put them together and you have the solution!

1st letter - a Welsh make
2nd letter - a Midlands manufacturer who built different types of cars and light commercials
3rd letter - a make that was based in the Northern half of England and existed for almost fifty years

All these makes are now extinct.

A point will be awarded to the puzzler who comes up with the complete solution.   
No points/locks or replies from me without naming the three manufacturers and the correct answer!
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: Allan L on February 25, 2014, 04:08:48 AM
How about
Gilbern
Reliant
Jowett

which would make it the GRJ Special.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: woodinsight on February 25, 2014, 04:26:36 AM
Quote from: Allan L on February 25, 2014, 04:08:48 AM
How about
Gilbern
Reliant
Jowett

which would make it the GRJ Special.
You've hit the hole in one Allan - well done and another point for you.

I originally thought the builder was G.R.J. Stevens but it turns out that the driver/owner? was G.R.G. Stevens (unless the caption in Autosport was a misprint).
I don't have any further information unfortunately.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1069 - GRJ Special
Post by: Allan L on February 25, 2014, 08:12:19 AM
Talk about luck!
It was only after I looked 'em up that I decided Guy didn't make light commercials and saw that Vulcan was much too short-lived.

Thanks for the point, of course.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1069 - GRJ Special
Post by: nicanary on February 05, 2015, 07:10:51 AM
Photo is taken from Autosport of 9.1.53. The car is taking part in the Exeter Trial, and is pictured on Waterworks Hill.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: Allan L on February 06, 2015, 06:01:31 AM
Quote from: Allan L on February 25, 2014, 04:08:48 AM
How about
Gilbern
Reliant
Jowett

which would make it the GRJ Special.
It's been pointed out to me in another place that Gilbern wasn't around before 1959 so that solution can't be right.
Title: Re: MJW #1069
Post by: nicanary on February 06, 2015, 06:13:24 AM
Quote from: Allan L on February 06, 2015, 06:01:31 AM
Quote from: Allan L on February 25, 2014, 04:08:48 AM
How about
Gilbern
Reliant
Jowett

which would make it the GRJ Special.
It's been pointed out to me in another place that Gilbern wasn't around before 1959 so that solution can't be right.

I think the OP was using those three marques as examples of the letters involved in the special's name, rather than the possibility that they were the constituent parts.