Solved NIC#227 - Gordini T32 chassis driven by John Bolster

[nicanary]

Sorry for the small photo. What is this car, and who is driving it?

[nicanary]

Experts?

[richard cuyler]

Based on a Jaguar XK120/150? That looks like a West Bristol registration number, so probably a UK car?

[nicanary]

Based on a Jaguar XK120/150? That looks like a West Bristol registration number, so probably a UK car?

I'm afraid I don't know the origin of the registration plate - but it's not based on a Jaguar of any sort. And it's not a British marque.

[mekubb]

Australia ?

[nicanary]

Australia ?

No.

[D-type]

New Zealand?

[nicanary]

New Zealand?

Not there.

[nicanary]

This is actually a difficult puzzle. I think it might need the Pros.

[serra]

From Europe?

[nicanary]

From Europe?

Yes. Car and driver both from Europe.

[serra]

Are the car and the driver from the same country?

[nicanary]

Are the car and the driver from the same country?

No.A small clue - the driver was "road-testing" the car for a magazine.

[Allan L]

Ah yes now I know what I'm looking for 'tis our old boozing mate John Bolster driving it, isn't it?
Must have been testing it for Autosport, in that case as it was that mag. he wrote for.

[nicanary]

Ah yes now I know what I'm looking for 'tis our old boozing mate John Bolster driving it, isn't it?
Must have been testing it for Autosport, in that case as it was that mag. he wrote for.

Spot on! It is indeed the irascible JVB, but that's all I know. I also believe (although I don't know for sure) that he is driving this car in order to provide a report to Autosport readers. Hence the temporary road plates.

LOCKED for you. Any idea what it is he's driving?

[Carnut]

That's not a registration plate that looks British at all, whether temporary or permanent.
Was it in the UK?

[nicanary]

That's not a registration plate that looks British at all, whether temporary or permanent.
Was it in the UK?

It's actually locked for Allan Lupton! But to help everyone - I don't know where the photo was taken.

[Carnut]

Oops sorry.
For some reason I thought I was looking at the Solved board, so I wasn't actually asking the question with a view to progressing towards a solution!

[Allan L]

It may be locked for me but so is my brain!!
You said it isn't a British car and I agree it's not a British registration no., not even a trade plate as they never got to such a hugh number anywhere, let alone Monmouthshire!
Putting two and two together to make 17 let me say that WO was the registration for the Wolfsberg district of Kärnten (Carinthia) in Austria. In the years from 1946 Ferdinand Porsche and his office were in Gmünd, also in Kärnten, and the car does appear to have Porsche trailing arm front suspension.
That's more or less it as I cannot think of a Porsche design with a twin-cam engine in the front.
In that case it may just be that JVB is testing a car from somewhere else on the Grossglockner pass which starts at Heiligenblut in Kärnten.

[nicanary]

You're being all too technical for me, Allan. I wish I could help with the reason for those "trade" plates, but I don't know what they signify. This car has no connection with Germany.

[Allan L]

I'm getting nowhere so please unlock it!
I did have a bound run of Autosport for the Gregor Grant (& John Bolster) period but as I sold it 35-40 years ago at least I can't spend the next year hunting through them!
So we know it's not a British or German car so is it Italian?

[nicanary]

I'm getting nowhere so please unlock it!
I did have a bound run of Autosport for the Gregor Grant (& John Bolster) period but as I sold it 35-40 years ago at least I can't spend the next year hunting through them!
So we know it's not a British or German car so is it Italian?

OK. Unlocked and open for all. Not an Italian car, but there is a connection with Italy, namely a town called Bazzano.

[Wendax]

It is a French manufacturer's plate, and the car should be a Gordini.

[nicanary]

It is a French manufacturer's plate, and the car should be a Gordini.

I knew I'd gone too far with that clue! Yes, it's a Gordini. LOCKED for you to tell me which model.

[Wendax]

I think it is the T32.

I knew I'd gone too far with that clue!

Don't worry, I already figured out that it was a French plate and had ruled out the postwar Bugattis. So Gordini was my next best guess which just was confirmed by your generous hint.