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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2014 => Topic started by: woodinsight on March 09, 2014, 05:20:16 PM

Title: Solved - MJW #1185 - Dolphin FJ 1960 (David Latchford)
Post by: woodinsight on March 09, 2014, 05:20:16 PM
A single-seater from some decades ago - what's the make, what series did it compete in and the year?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on March 17, 2014, 02:24:00 PM
Moving up........
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on March 26, 2014, 01:49:51 PM
Can the Pro's solve this one?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on March 27, 2014, 06:32:35 AM
Roy Salvadori complains to John Wyer that his Aston Martin DBR4 has nothing like the power they were claiming........ ;D

With those wheels, it's got to be 500cc Formula 3, surely?

Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on March 29, 2014, 06:02:02 PM
 :lmao:

Not 500 Formula 3 but a small racing series nevertheless........unusual to see wire wheels in this formula  ;)
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on March 30, 2014, 11:43:49 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on March 29, 2014, 06:02:02 PM
:lmao:

Not 500 Formula 3 but a small racing series nevertheless........unusual to see wire wheels in this formula  ;)

Yes - the 4 exhaust pipes had me confused! Maybe Formula Junior?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 01, 2014, 12:07:32 AM
Quote from: nicanary on March 30, 2014, 11:43:49 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on March 29, 2014, 06:02:02 PM
:lmao:

Not 500 Formula 3 but a small racing series nevertheless........unusual to see wire wheels in this formula  ;)

Yes - the 4 exhaust pipes had me confused! Maybe Formula Junior?
Yes, it's a Formula Junior
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 01, 2014, 05:13:37 AM
Usually only the Italians were still fitting wire wheels in this era, but the exhausts are the wrong side of the engine for a Fiat. Is it a BMC engine?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 01, 2014, 01:48:29 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 01, 2014, 05:13:37 AM
Usually only the Italians were still fitting wire wheels in this era, but the exhausts are the wrong side of the engine for a Fiat. Is it a BMC engine?

I believe so
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 01, 2014, 02:21:10 PM
Nobody else is having a go, so I'll plod on. I don't recognise it.

British?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 02, 2014, 12:17:58 AM
Quote from: nicanary on April 01, 2014, 02:21:10 PM
Nobody else is having a go, so I'll plod on. I don't recognise it.

British?
Apologies Nicanary - the engine is Ford, not BMC.

Yes, it's British
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 02, 2014, 04:53:41 AM
It looks a lot like the Evad. Early prototype of that marque?

(BTW my earlier "petite blague anglaise" about the Aston fell flat - the team manager was not John Wyer, but Reg (now squire, 'ere's a nice little racer I found round the back of me lock-up, can do it for a nice price, just for you") Parnell.
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 02, 2014, 03:22:02 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 02, 2014, 04:53:41 AM
It looks a lot like the Evad. Early prototype of that marque?

(BTW my earlier "petite blague anglaise" about the Aston fell flat - the team manager was not John Wyer, but Reg (now squire, 'ere's a nice little racer I found round the back of me lock-up, can do it for a nice price, just for you") Parnell.
I enjoyed it - Reg, bless his cotton socks, a man I admired in my youth as an Aston Martin supporter, one of the last of his ilk!

No it's not the Evad but it is a one-off.........
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 02, 2014, 03:43:16 PM
I feel that his 5th place in the 1953 Mille Miglia was one of the finest performances on foreign soil for a British driver in the 50s, a drive that is overlooked so often because of "The Boy"'s efforts in 1955. Anyhoo..... we digress.

I sort of guessed it was a one-off built by an enthusiast. Did he build any other cars that we might know, such as something for the UK monoposto formula?

Update - I know it's only one question at a time, so ignore the above. Is it the Senior, made in Scotland by the Bertram brothers?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: faksta on April 03, 2014, 07:02:09 AM
Must have been a very enjoyable car to drive if the driver couldn't stand dancing at the wheel!
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 03, 2014, 04:03:11 PM
Let me give you a small clue - it shares it's name with another FJ......
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 03, 2014, 04:15:33 PM
Elfin ?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: Paul Jaray on April 03, 2014, 04:20:58 PM
Cheetah?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 04, 2014, 03:41:35 PM
Neither Elfin or Cheetah but one is reasonably close to the name....
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: Hiawatha on April 04, 2014, 03:44:49 PM
Dolphin?
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: nicanary on April 04, 2014, 03:52:11 PM
Quote from: Hiawatha on April 04, 2014, 03:44:49 PM
Dolphin?

Well done! I was going to look at alternative Dolphin cars, but decided against it. Such is life.
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 06, 2014, 12:07:54 PM
Quote from: Hiawatha on April 04, 2014, 03:44:49 PM
Dolphin?
Dolphin is correct!
LOCKED for you to pinpoint the year

Bad luck nicanary......

Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: Hiawatha on April 06, 2014, 02:40:48 PM
It seems to be rather obscure.. I'll try 1959
Title: Re: MJW #1185
Post by: woodinsight on April 10, 2014, 05:33:23 AM
Quote from: Hiawatha on April 06, 2014, 02:40:48 PM
It seems to be rather obscure.. I'll try 1959
Not 1959 but close enough - it was raced and built? by David Latchford in 1960.
One point for you........ :)
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1185 - Dolphin FJ 1960 (David Latchford)
Post by: nicanary on April 10, 2014, 05:48:23 AM
The car was raced at the 2013 Silverstone Classic by Kevin Musson and was referred to as a Dolphin GBR , presumably to differentiate it from the American-built Dolphin cars. As you say, it was Ford MAE powered.

I've never heard of the car, and I'm guessing that it was not successful in period, and was not raced much. Dave Latchford raced under the Ecurie Dauphin title, and ran a Dolphin-Fiat at the 1960 Monaco F.Junior event, which I reckon would have been one of the US rear-engined cars.
Title: Re: Solved - MJW #1185 - Dolphin FJ 1960 (David Latchford)
Post by: Hiawatha on April 10, 2014, 06:20:27 AM
Thank you for the point, I guessed 1959 because to me it already looked obsolete for a FJ.