Solved - NEH 4852: D.M. No. 4 née Dima 1951 rebodied 1953

[Carnut]

What's this, who built it, when - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[tobytwirl]

Nardi?

[Carnut]

Nardi?

No.

[tobytwirl]

looks British - is it?

[Carnut]

looks British - is it?

It's not..

[tobytwirl]

Italian?

[Carnut]

Italian?

No.

[tobytwirl]

I knew I recognized this car, but I just couldn't find it in the grey matter until ............. It is a DM from Portugal, originally known as a DIMA until Panhard complained that it sounded too much like DYNA. There area few photos of this restored one on the net, but they do vary in how they identify it. I have a couple of photos of it in period and I believe it to be a 1954 1100, based on Simca mechanicals. Others have it as 1952.

[tobytwirl]

Retraction - it probably was from 1952, when it was rumoured to have received a new body after an accident.

[Carnut]

Yes, it's D.M. No. 4 and it did have another previous body which I believe has been puzzled here before; it's the bottom one of the pictures shown below:

[Carnut]

I've just realised I asked for the name of this car's builder as well..
Rather than take tobytwirl's point away until he gives me it I'll tell you it was Dionisio Mateu (hence the D.M. name of the car).