Solved - NEH 3620: Falcon Caribbean Mk3 Convertible - 1963

Carnut · July 22, 2014, 09:57:01 AM

What's this, from when and what powers this particular car - for 1 point?:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS OBTAINED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD, AND THIS PUZZLE IS ONLY OPEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR AGREEMENT TO THAT IN THE THREAD IN THE NEWS AND INFORMATION SECTION.

Carnut · July 29, 2014, 05:00:54 AM

Experts?

oko94 · July 29, 2014, 05:23:15 AM

Hillman Imp based ?

Carnut · July 29, 2014, 05:49:23 AM

Quote from: oko94 on July 29, 2014, 05:23:15 AM
Hillman Imp based ?

No.

mekubb · July 29, 2014, 07:33:29 AM

From UK ? if so, could it be a Berkeley ?

Carnut · July 29, 2014, 08:51:32 AM

Quote from: mekubb on July 29, 2014, 07:33:29 AM
From UK ? if so, could it be a Berkeley ?

It is from the UK, but it's not a Berkeley.

frederick59 · July 29, 2014, 08:17:55 PM

Fairthorpe?

Carnut · July 30, 2014, 05:05:30 AM

Quote from: frederick59 on July 29, 2014, 08:17:55 PM
Fairthorpe?

No.

mekubb · August 01, 2014, 10:38:04 AM

A real brand or home-built ?

Carnut · August 01, 2014, 11:17:47 AM

Quote from: mekubb on August 01, 2014, 10:38:04 AM
A real brand or home-built ?

Anyone could buy one!

mekubb · August 01, 2014, 02:22:22 PM

So, do you mean it is still being produced ? ;)

D-type · August 01, 2014, 02:58:43 PM

Gilbern?

frederick59 · August 02, 2014, 05:53:01 AM

Triumph Herald based kit car?

Carnut · August 02, 2014, 08:06:00 AM

Quote from: mekubb on August 01, 2014, 02:22:22 PM
So, do you mean it is still being produced ? ;)

No!
Maybe I should have said "Anyone could have bought one".
If it was still available it would be "Anyone can buy one"!

Carnut · August 02, 2014, 08:08:26 AM

Quote from: D-type on August 01, 2014, 02:58:43 PM
Gilbern?

No.

Quote from: frederick59 on August 02, 2014, 05:53:01 AM
Triumph Herald based kit car?

Yes!
Locked for you for 24 hour to dig into.

frederick59 · August 03, 2014, 02:56:36 AM

The nearest i found is the Vincent Huricane as kit car

Carnut · August 03, 2014, 08:06:06 AM

Quote from: frederick59 on August 03, 2014, 02:56:36 AM
The nearest i found is the Vincent Huricane as kit car

Sorry, it's not a Vincent Hurricane.

Open again!

oko94 · August 05, 2014, 12:43:12 PM

1963 Falcon Caribbean Mk3 with Triumph Herald 13/60 running gear

Carnut · August 05, 2014, 02:30:52 PM

Quote from: oko94 on August 05, 2014, 12:43:12 PM
1963 Falcon Caribbean Mk3 with Triumph Herald 13/60 running gear

That's the car, yes.
We've had the much better-known coupé version here before but not the convertible, which I think is very rare if not unique.
Well done.

nicanary · August 05, 2014, 02:46:38 PM

I was waiting for that one , but it's been solved. One of the better GRP conversion kits, and the company lasted a few years, unlike some. This car was originally fitted with the Ford sidevalve engine, and it would be interesting to know whether the Herald has the same wheelbase, or whether the later suspension units were fitted to the Ford chassis. I believe the "Falcon" part of the car extended to just the body, but I may be wrong.

Carnut · August 05, 2014, 06:44:48 PM

No, I think you're right.
It was just a body that you built your own car around using the required donor parts; a kit-car in other words!

serra · August 06, 2014, 05:38:45 AM

Quote from: nicanary on August 05, 2014, 02:46:38 PM
I was waiting for that one , but it's been solved. One of the better GRP conversion kits, and the company lasted a few years, unlike some. This car was originally fitted with the Ford sidevalve engine, and it would be interesting to know whether the Herald has the same wheelbase, or whether the later suspension units were fitted to the Ford chassis. I believe the "Falcon" part of the car extended to just the body, but I may be wrong.

It looks that this caribbean could have a "falcon chassis" for the triumph 1300 engine because the Falcon Caribbean and the Competition were also available as a complete kit with a space frame designed by Terrier and a choice of engines. I dont know if herald chassis coud be fitted with falcon sells. In fact I have found that this car that was on sale with this advert:

VERY RARE FALCON CARIBBEAN MK3 For Sale (1963)
For sale is this very rare and beautiful restored Falcon Caribbean Mk3. This was a rare factory built car dating back to 1963 (485 were faactory built). The Falcon car company started to manufacture body shells for kit cars back in 1957 but saw an opportunity to build complete cars from 1960 onwards. This car has a Triumph 1300 engine fitted and is based on a progress chassis which were specially designed and supplied to Falcon cars. This car was purchased by the current owner four years ago from a barn in Suffolk and was subject to a ground up restoration over 18 months. The car is in a beautiful condition and is used throughout the summer. Historical car tax and MOT until Feb 2014. The body shell is GRP so no rust and the car has been undersealed and protected. The car is dry stored during the winter.

nicanary · August 06, 2014, 05:45:49 AM

Thanks serra. That suggests that the car has a Herald engine in the Falcon chassis, but the puzzle photo looks like the famous Herald swing-axles are in place. Odd.

serra · August 06, 2014, 05:54:18 AM

Quote from: nicanary on August 06, 2014, 05:45:49 AM
Thanks serra. That suggests that the car has a Herald engine in the Falcon chassis, but the puzzle photo looks like the famous Herald swing-axles are in place. Odd.
[/quote

Maybe the advert is worng I dont know. :)

Carnut · August 06, 2014, 11:53:06 AM

Here's the unmodified puzzle photo:

News:

Solved - NEH 3620: Falcon Caribbean Mk3 Convertible - 1963