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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2015 => Topic started by: DHoffmann on April 20, 2015, 05:42:00 AM

Title: GTC #114 SOLVED: Werner Bührer's modular sports car proposal
Post by: DHoffmann on April 20, 2015, 05:42:00 AM
Here we have a pretty little thing. What is it and who is it by? 1 point available!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on April 25, 2015, 11:32:56 PM
On the up'n'up!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: Zerk on April 27, 2015, 08:59:55 PM
A rendering for the Innocenti 1100 Spyder?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on April 27, 2015, 10:33:58 PM
Quote from: Zerk on April 27, 2015, 08:59:55 PM
A rendering for the Innocenti 1100 Spyder?
'Fraid not.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: richard cuyler on April 29, 2015, 02:21:50 PM
Is it Italian?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on April 29, 2015, 06:02:33 PM
Quote from: richard cuyler on April 29, 2015, 02:21:50 PM
Is it Italian?

Unfortunately the motherboard of the computer with images of this car exploded a couple days ago and I don't currently have any of my files accessible, so I'm sorry I cannot answer this question right now as I don't remember much of anything about this one!

I assure you I will get back to it as soon as I can.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 05, 2015, 12:57:37 AM
Quote from: richard cuyler on April 29, 2015, 02:21:50 PM
Is it Italian?
I've managed to track down the source I got this from, and no - it is not Italian.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: richard cuyler on May 05, 2015, 05:55:40 AM
Is it German and by someone who thought the BMW 507 needed some aesthetic help?

A bit like some overly self-confident plastic surgeon saying he could definitely improve Shakira's face a with complete facialplasty.  :D
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 05, 2015, 06:03:26 AM
Quote from: richard cuyler on May 05, 2015, 05:55:40 AM
Is it German and by someone who thought the BMW 507 needed some aesthetic help?

A bit like some overly self-confident plastic surgeon saying he could definitely improve Shakira's face a with complete facialplasty.  :D

Not from Germany as such...

And think of it more as an aesthetic proposal than make-over. This wasn't really attempted to improve on something. The period would be correct, so there may well be some influence there.

...From the BMW, decidedly less so Shakira!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 05:49:21 AM
Enough Shakira, more professionals!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: Wendax on May 09, 2015, 06:03:40 AM
Any Virgil Exner involvement?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 06:06:19 AM
Quote from: Wendax on May 09, 2015, 06:03:40 AM
Any Virgil Exner involvement?
Not with this one I'm afraid.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 09, 2015, 06:24:07 AM
Side exhaust is not really a European thing, so it from the USA ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 06:32:13 AM
Quote from: oko94 on May 09, 2015, 06:24:07 AM
Side exhaust is not really a European thing, so it from the USA ?
Not from the USA, there's a hint above in an earlier answer.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: nicanary on May 09, 2015, 06:40:18 AM
Penned by Albrecht von Goertz?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 06:43:31 AM
Quote from: nicanary on May 09, 2015, 06:40:18 AM
Penned by Albrecht von Goertz?

Not Goertz either, no.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 07:53:58 AM
You did say it was not from Germany as such, but does that mean it was based on a German car?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 08:05:37 AM
Quote from: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 07:53:58 AM
You did say it was not from Germany as such, but does that mean it was based on a German car?
You're looking at the correct hint, wrong answer!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: nicanary on May 09, 2015, 08:28:45 AM
Proposal for a new Denzel?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 08:51:43 AM
Quote from: nicanary on May 09, 2015, 08:28:45 AM
Proposal for a new Denzel?
No it was not.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 09:42:48 AM
Quote from: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 08:05:37 AM
Quote from: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 07:53:58 AM
You did say it was not from Germany as such, but does that mean it was based on a German car?
You're looking at the correct hint, wrong answer!

So a German proposal based on a foreign car?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: WayneB on May 09, 2015, 05:21:00 PM
By Karmann?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 06:05:45 PM
Quote from: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 09:42:48 AM
Quote from: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 08:05:37 AM
Quote from: Carnut on May 09, 2015, 07:53:58 AM
You did say it was not from Germany as such, but does that mean it was based on a German car?
You're looking at the correct hint, wrong answer!

So a German proposal based on a foreign car?
Not that either! Basically the car is the proposal in and of itself, not to provide a base for anything else. There is something special in the idea behind this vehicle.

Quote from: WayneB on May 09, 2015, 05:21:00 PM

By Karmann?
Not Karmann, no.

The designer did not go on to work in the design process of cars, but did remain in the automotive field in a related way.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: mekubb on May 09, 2015, 07:19:56 PM
BMW related ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 07:32:43 PM
Quote from: mekubb on May 09, 2015, 07:19:56 PM
BMW related ?
No, as far as I'm aware this was purely a styling exercise, and relation to other vehicles is by coincidence or inspiration.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 03:07:20 AM
did he became an automotive industry executive?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 03:52:52 AM
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 03:07:20 AM
did he became an automotive industry executive?

Not nearly so successful.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 03:56:48 AM
did he start his own company which failed?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 04:20:36 AM
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 03:56:48 AM
did he start his own company which failed?
Not to my knowledge, from what I can find his work was for other people.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 02:24:25 PM
was he a modeller?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 10, 2015, 06:51:28 PM
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 10, 2015, 02:24:25 PM
was he a modeller?

Not as far as I'm aware, but closer to the line of work he did end up in.

- I daresay most people have seen at least some of his work, knowingly or not.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 11, 2015, 03:33:57 AM
Was he an illustrator ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: richard cuyler on May 11, 2015, 07:11:21 AM
Quote from: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 05:49:21 AM
Enough Shakira, more professionals!

There is never enough Shakira.  :D :D
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 11, 2015, 07:26:29 PM
Quote from: oko94 on May 11, 2015, 03:33:57 AM
Was he an illustrator ?
Yes, yes he was! (Is? I can't really find any biographical information about him for some reason...)

Quote from: richard cuyler on May 11, 2015, 07:11:21 AM
Quote from: DHoffmann on May 09, 2015, 05:49:21 AM
Enough Shakira, more professionals!

There is never enough Shakira.  :D :D
;D
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 01:19:58 AM
Was he an American illustrator of German descent ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 01:24:42 AM
Quote from: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 01:19:58 AM
Was he an American illustrator of German descent ?
No, that's not quite the correct 'use' of the clue. ;)
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: pnegyesi on May 12, 2015, 02:55:46 AM
Mark Stehrenberger?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 03:08:41 AM
Is it an illustration of an imaginary German car made by an American illustrator ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 04:21:36 AM
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 12, 2015, 02:55:46 AM
Mark Stehrenberger?
Not him.

Quote from: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 03:08:41 AM
Is it an illustration of an imaginary German car made by an American illustrator ?
I don't believe this car to have ever been made, no, but I do have some more images with proof of concept.

He was not American.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 05:04:12 AM
I rephrase my previous question : was it an illustration for an imaginary car from an existing German brand (like "NSU Graf" or "BMW 508") or an imaginary car from an imaginary German brand (like "Müller Sport" or "Schröder RS"), or something else entirely ? I'm trying to figure out that German hint...
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 06:44:11 AM
Quote from: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 05:04:12 AM
I rephrase my previous question : was it an illustration for an imaginary car from an existing German brand (like "NSU Graf" or "BMW 508") or an imaginary car from an imaginary German brand (like "Müller Sport" or "Schröder RS"), or something else entirely ? I'm trying to figure out that German hint...

Ah sorry misinterpreted that. It was an imaginary concept - no brand name attached - for this vehicle with a specific purpose that would appeal. See the image I've attached here for a hint at what it would be for.

The German hint is that German is a language as well as a country....
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: pnegyesi on May 12, 2015, 06:51:08 AM
So the illustrator in question came up with these nice pictures to advertise a product from a German-speaking country, like Switzerland?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 06:58:21 AM
Quote from: pnegyesi on May 12, 2015, 06:51:08 AM
So the illustrator in question came up with these nice pictures to advertise a product from a German-speaking country, like Switzerland?

Not to advertise a product, but rather himself.

Yes, he is Swiss.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 08:13:23 AM
Werner Bührer ?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 08:15:54 AM
Quote from: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 08:13:23 AM
Werner Bührer ?
Yes! So, held for you, using the two available images what do you think the purpose of this design study was?
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 08:25:08 AM
Should be a modular car that can be converted from roadster to shooting brake pretty much like a Nissan Pulsar EXA.
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 08:34:29 AM
Quote from: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 08:25:08 AM
Should be a modular car that can be converted from roadster to shooting brake pretty much like a Nissan Pulsar EXA.
And coupe, but absolutely that is correct, very well done!

The text accompanying these images:

This idea for different combinations of basic panel and structural elements to produce a range of vehicles at minimum tooling cost comes from Werner Bührer, a 25-year old Swiss student body designer working in Stuttgart. The basic model is a two-seater sports car which can be changed into a convertible or a hard top coupe, retaining the same panels below the waistline. Suggestions are also made for producing an occasional four-seater station wagon by removing the rear deck and fitting a different roof and for a Gran Tusimo coupe with four seats.
The sketches, worked in perspective, show a good feeling for line and balance of masses, although the basic idea is not entirely new. Apparently the intention in this scheme is that the owner should have a stock of sufficient different parts to provide him with a range of body types to suit all his motoring needs. With garage space often impossible to find, the question arises where he would store the parts not in use. The scheme would certainly fail unless sufficient rigidity could be obtained to prevent leaks and rattles.

'Sports car with interchangeable body sections' is as close as this comes to receiving an official name.
Title: Re: GTC #114 SOLVED: Werner Bührer's modular sports car proposal
Post by: oko94 on May 12, 2015, 09:13:23 AM
Thanks for the point !

A nice case of "How to solve a puzzle without finding the solution anywhere".
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: Carnut on May 12, 2015, 09:18:36 AM
Any idea when this work dates from?

Quote from: Zerk on April 27, 2015, 08:59:55 PM
A rendering for the Innocenti 1100 Spyder?

I can see why Zerk asked this, as the upsweep of the grille at the sides leading to the position of the headlights is very similar to the Innocenti, which was of course by Tom Tjaarda.  Which came first?

For what it's worth I think the design looks great!
Title: Re: GTC #114
Post by: DHoffmann on May 12, 2015, 09:29:49 AM
Quote from: Carnut on May 12, 2015, 09:18:36 AM
Any idea when this work dates from?

Quote from: Zerk on April 27, 2015, 08:59:55 PM
A rendering for the Innocenti 1100 Spyder?

I can see why Zerk asked this, as the upsweep of the grille at the sides leading to the position of the headlights is very similar to the Innocenti, which was of course by Tom Tjaarda.  Which came first?

For what it's worth I think the design looks great!

Agreed, I think it's a fantastic looking proposal.

This dates from 1960, so actually about a year prior to the Innocenti!