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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2016 => Topic started by: Wendax on May 29, 2016, 02:17:58 AM

Title: Solved: Wendax 1949 - Freeman Intercity Commuter
Post by: Wendax on May 29, 2016, 02:17:58 AM
It might look familiar to some of you.

For one point, please respond and identify this car.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 05, 2016, 02:34:46 AM
up
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: kwgibbs on June 05, 2016, 08:38:21 AM
I think this is a concept for triumph XL90 of 1967?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 05, 2016, 03:40:32 PM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: kwgibbs on June 05, 2016, 05:09:21 PM
did it have any connection with triumph?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 06, 2016, 02:20:12 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: kwgibbs on June 06, 2016, 11:18:38 PM
was it a prototype sketch for a well-known british car co.?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 07, 2016, 02:27:49 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: wingroad on June 07, 2016, 02:52:40 PM
Japanese ?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: kwgibbs on June 07, 2016, 03:41:17 PM
is it European?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 07, 2016, 05:17:02 PM
European
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: kwgibbs on June 07, 2016, 07:52:11 PM
was it actually ever built ,or just a sketch?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 08, 2016, 02:17:30 AM
Hard to answer without giving it away. Let's say it this way: it was not built as it was initially supposed to be.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 09, 2016, 04:51:21 AM
It's European but RHD; does that mean it's British, as I can't think of any other European car-producing nations which drive on the left apart from Ireland?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 09, 2016, 05:38:22 AM
Quote from: kwgibbs on June 06, 2016, 11:18:38 PM
was it a prototype sketch for a well-known british car co.?
I did not deny that it was British, because it is British! It was just not a design sketch for a well-known British car company.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 09, 2016, 05:42:01 AM
By a design studio, like Ogle?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 09, 2016, 06:34:39 AM
No, by an independent designer
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 11, 2016, 07:19:17 AM
And was the designer British too?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 11, 2016, 07:29:24 AM
Yes
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 11, 2016, 09:10:03 AM
One who is known for other cars too?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 11, 2016, 09:28:50 AM
He did enter several design competitions and won at least one. I don't think that any of his other designs were ever built.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 04:20:30 AM
Did he work for a manufacturer or as a freelance?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 05:17:30 AM
freelance, later on he changed towards education
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 06:03:56 AM
John Heffernan?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 06:33:16 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 06:55:08 AM
Tony Stevens?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 07:13:00 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 07:13:57 AM
BTW, nobody picked up this hint so far:
Quote from: Wendax on June 08, 2016, 02:17:30 AM
Hard to answer without giving it away. Let's say it this way: it was not built as it was initially supposed to be.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 07:56:29 AM
Ken Greenley?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 08:06:45 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 09:10:44 AM
Was it the guy who designed the Marcos Mantis?  Maybe this design was the original intention but it somehow morphed into the Mantis?
Usually Dennis Adams is credited with the design of the Mantis but in fact he only designed the interior and did the first rough sketches.  Someone else actually designed the body we saw..
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 09:22:18 AM
Nothing to do with the Marcos Mantis
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2016, 10:42:13 AM
Does he still work as a lecturer?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 14, 2016, 11:48:04 AM
No, he died 20 years ago.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 07:30:28 AM
David Bache?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 07:33:40 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 09:51:10 AM
Quote from: Wendax on June 08, 2016, 02:17:30 AM
Hard to answer without giving it away. Let's say it this way: it was not built as it was initially supposed to be.

So a version of it was built by a small British manufacturer; not an MPV like this proposal then?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 10:00:20 AM
Quote from: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 09:51:10 AM
Quote from: Wendax on June 08, 2016, 02:17:30 AM
Hard to answer without giving it away. Let's say it this way: it was not built as it was initially supposed to be.

So a version of it was built by a small British manufacturer; not an MPV like this proposal then?
A version of it was successfully built by a big British company, and it still looked like the proposal!
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 10:20:02 AM
It's not the Shado Jeep built for the old British TV series UFO is it?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 10:22:49 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 10:24:25 AM
Thought not..
Built by a big British car manufacturer?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 15, 2016, 10:32:50 AM
Was it a big company but not an automotive company? A company that normally made different stuff but made a car based on this?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 10:40:45 AM
Quote from: el_monty on June 15, 2016, 10:32:50 AM
Was it a big company but not an automotive company?
Correct

Quote from: el_monty on June 15, 2016, 10:32:50 AM
A company that normally made different stuff but made a car based on this?
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 11:26:10 AM
Quote from: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 10:24:25 AM
Thought not..
Built by a big British car manufacturer?

I guess that answers my question too, although your reply to el_monty seems to be a bit contradictory.
If they were not an automotive company but built this how come they didn't normally make other stuff?
Unless they didn't normally make anything at all but were an investment company or something like that?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 15, 2016, 11:27:57 AM
A film production company?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 03:09:20 PM
Quote from: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 11:26:10 AM
Quote from: Carnut on June 15, 2016, 10:24:25 AM
Thought not..
Built by a big British car manufacturer?

I guess that answers my question too, although your reply to el_monty seems to be a bit contradictory.
If they were not an automotive company but built this how come they didn't normally make other stuff?
Unless they didn't normally make anything at all but were an investment company or something like that?

Sorry to have confused you more than necessary. The "no" was the answer to the question in all its detailedness. Parts of it are right assumptions, others are not. It was a company that made different stuff, but they didn't make a car based on this. I know that sounds contradictory unless you know the answer.  ;)

PS. And I am sure you all know the company.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 15, 2016, 03:10:12 PM
Quote from: el_monty on June 15, 2016, 11:27:57 AM
A film production company?
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 06:04:34 AM
Was it a Bill Towns design (from before he bought a ruler!), with just one being made for publicity purposes?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 06:28:46 AM
No
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 06:44:13 AM
So more than one were built?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 06:57:22 AM
The actual car was never built, but that what finally became of it was built many, many times.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 07:28:04 AM
Quote from: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 06:57:22 AM
The actual car was never built, but that what finally became of it was built many, many times.

But not by a car manufacturer (which sounds like a repeat question...); so did it have another purpose, like a fairground ride?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 09:49:43 AM
Yes, it did have another purpose. It was not a fairground ride, although that guess is not completely off target, as it was meant to produce fun, too.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 10:09:31 AM
Quote from: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 09:49:43 AM
Yes, it did have another purpose. It was not a fairground ride, although that guess is not completely off target, as it was meant to produce fun, too.

A boat?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 16, 2016, 10:15:09 AM
Is the company Matchbox?
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 16, 2016, 10:18:14 AM
Yes it is, I just found it. It's the Matchbox Freeman Inter City Commuter from the early 70s. Designed by Peter F. Freeman
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 10:21:06 AM
Brilliant!  I knew you were right as soon as you said Matchbox!

Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 16, 2016, 10:25:49 AM
"Peter F. Freeman, designed the Intercity Commuter for a 1965 Weekend Telegraph competition to design a city car"
The Matchbox car entered production in 1970.
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: el_monty on June 16, 2016, 10:30:29 AM
That was a good puzzle!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Wendax 1949
Post by: Wendax on June 16, 2016, 12:06:35 PM
Tatataaah! This correct answer earns you point number 100!

I have been owning a Matchbox Freeman Intercity Commuter since childhood days. I just recently read that it was in fact modeled after a design for a real car that never was built. I've had my share of fun with this puzzle, too!  ;D
Title: Re: Solved: Wendax 1949 - Freeman Intercity Commuter
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2016, 01:53:56 PM
Me too!
As soon as el_monty posted "Matchbox" I pictured it straight away in my mind's eye.
I knew I knew it from somehere but just couldn't put my finger on where...