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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2024 => Topic started by: Quiller on June 29, 2009, 07:18:57 PM

Title: Solved: Q550 - Koga Special by Takuro Koga
Post by: Quiller on June 29, 2009, 07:18:57 PM
I don't know very much about this car, except for the fact that I like it a lot, which seems a good enough reason for posting it.

All the info I have is the country of origin and what car it was based on. Random points will be awarded to anyone who can shed light on this car  :)
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: piersdad on June 29, 2009, 08:18:48 PM
wheels brakes and exhaust remind me of VW based special
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on June 30, 2009, 04:05:32 AM
It's not VW based ...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on June 30, 2009, 07:17:08 AM
Italian?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: neilshouse on June 30, 2009, 12:04:32 PM
Is it Lancia based?
The rear lights look Lancia Beta-ish.
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on June 30, 2009, 02:04:43 PM
Yes, it has some elements of the Stratos either, but I can't imagine it's really an official Lancia project
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: neilshouse on June 30, 2009, 02:32:21 PM
It's an interesting looking car, do you know how you get into it, it doesn't look like it has any doors.
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on July 01, 2009, 05:22:16 PM
It's not Italian (ipso facto not Lancia).

Method of entry is almost unique: there are hinges on the sides of the car and the windscreen/roof/upper body swings out sideways - to either side!
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on July 01, 2009, 05:26:40 PM
Made in Europe at least?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on July 01, 2009, 05:40:07 PM
Not European ...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 01, 2009, 05:46:33 PM
Quote from: Quiller on July 01, 2009, 05:22:16 PM
It's not Italian (ipso facto not Lancia).

Method of entry is almost unique: there are hinges on the sides of the car and the windscreen/roof/upper body swings out sideways - to either side!

Ah less of a gullwing and more of a flipper then!
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Paul Jaray on July 01, 2009, 05:51:52 PM
Remands me of a Cheetah...is it American?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on July 01, 2009, 07:47:36 PM
Nor American ...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on July 02, 2009, 01:46:34 AM
Asian?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on July 02, 2009, 08:11:01 AM
Quote from: Allemano on July 02, 2009, 01:46:34 AM
Asian?

:nod:
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: JR on July 02, 2009, 11:27:48 AM
The information I have indicates it is based on a Honda N360, but I can't make sense of the Japanese text that describes the car. It might be a home built one-off.

JR
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on July 02, 2009, 12:49:28 PM
That's certainly good enough for a point! It is indeed based on the Honda N360 and was built in Japan. I'm pretty sure it was a one-off.

I'll try and scan in a pic of the doors opening later

Anyone have any more info?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 03, 2009, 03:10:21 AM
Those are 600 tail lights
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on September 16, 2009, 08:31:15 AM
Quote from: Quiller on July 02, 2009, 12:49:28 PM
I'll try and scan in a pic of the doors opening later

Looking forward to see the pic. ;)
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on September 17, 2009, 08:29:35 AM
 :)
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Allemano on September 17, 2009, 10:05:07 AM
wow, that's a cool car!
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: grobmotorix on March 15, 2013, 03:05:43 PM
Hi Quiller,

let´s solve this - give us some essential hints...  :D
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on March 18, 2013, 09:41:13 AM
Sadly, since I took the scans from a Japanese magazine, all extra info on this car is beyond my ken. Anyone any good with the lingua Nippon?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: nicanary on March 18, 2013, 10:14:38 AM
Quote from: Quiller on March 18, 2013, 09:41:13 AM
Sadly, since I took the scans from a Japanese magazine, all extra info on this car is beyond my ken. Anyone any good with the lingua Nippon?

Ah, "Beyond our Ken", happy days. Bona Antiques, the evil Chou En-Lai Ginsberg, Binky Huckerbuck and Dame Celia Molestrangler, and the inimitable J.Peasmold Gruntfuttock. Or have I lost you?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on March 21, 2013, 01:03:17 PM
Quote from: nicanary on March 18, 2013, 10:14:38 AM
Quote from: Quiller on March 18, 2013, 09:41:13 AM
Sadly, since I took the scans from a Japanese magazine, all extra info on this car is beyond my ken. Anyone any good with the lingua Nippon?

Ah, "Beyond our Ken", happy days. Bona Antiques, the evil Chou En-Lai Ginsberg, Binky Huckerbuck and Dame Celia Molestrangler, and the inimitable J.Peasmold Gruntfuttock. Or have I lost you?

You lost me at "ah..."
I recall a Futtock appearing in the Two Ronnies...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: el_monty on March 20, 2015, 09:17:41 AM

Hi. I have a Japanese friend. If you upload a scan of the text, he can translate it, if you are still interested in knowing more about this car. I certainly am. It looks very cool
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Arunas on March 20, 2015, 10:36:24 AM
I would appreciate hints on this one...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on March 23, 2015, 12:24:33 PM
Quote from: el_monty on March 20, 2015, 09:17:41 AM

Hi. I have a Japanese friend. If you upload a scan of the text, he can translate it, if you are still interested in knowing more about this car. I certainly am. It looks very cool

Thanks! I'll dig the mag out this weekend...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: oko94 on November 16, 2016, 12:53:34 PM
Did you manage to dig this magazine out after all this time ?
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on December 16, 2016, 11:54:51 AM
Something to do over Christmas...
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: grobmotorix on December 20, 2016, 11:10:10 AM
Yes, please - I want to know what this is....
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on December 20, 2016, 01:22:50 PM
Hope someone versed in katakana can catalogue this
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: el_monty on December 20, 2016, 03:21:14 PM
Well my friend has looked through the text and says that there's not much significant data about the car, other than the heading, which states it is a mid-engined, two-seater, N360-based special, called "KSpecial" and produced by "KS" (whatever that is). No other names. The rest of it is just someone's personal account of the driving experience; apparently the construction was somewhat shoddy, since the car vibrated a lot and the door didn't close properly, and also the small windows made the driver feel coccooned. Not much else here I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: Quiller on December 23, 2016, 11:22:53 AM
Many thanks for the translation - shame there isn't more info on such a fascinating car
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: gte4289 on February 26, 2020, 01:07:40 AM
Quote from: Quiller on June 29, 2009, 07:18:57 PM
All the info I have is the country of origin and what car it was based on. Random points will be awarded to anyone who can shed light on this car  :)
Known: This is the 'KSpecial' by KS, based on a Honda N360
Additional: KS (Konoike Speed) was a race car constructor founded by Yasunori Konoike in 1972

Here are images from Auto Sport Year '73 showing the first KS racer (the N360-powered 'KS-01'), along with Quiller's images of the KSpecial that no longer appear in the thread:
Title: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2 SOLVED: Koga Special by Takuro Koga
Post by: Arunas on October 02, 2024, 07:15:23 AM
What is this car?
Title: Re: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2
Post by: Arunas on October 28, 2024, 02:32:13 PM
Up
Title: Re: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2
Post by: gte4289 on October 28, 2024, 02:35:56 PM
Honda N360-based KSpecial by Konoike Speed?

https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/the-black-hole/q550/
Title: Re: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2
Post by: Arunas on October 28, 2024, 02:41:07 PM
Quote from: gte4289 on October 28, 2024, 02:35:56 PM
Honda N360-based KSpecial by Konoike Speed?

https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/the-black-hole/q550/

Very possible! But I did not find the name that I have there..
Title: Re: Q550
Post by: gte4289 on October 28, 2024, 04:09:27 PM
Quote from: el_monty on December 20, 2016, 03:21:14 PM
...there's not much significant data about the car, other than the heading, which states it is a mid-engined, two-seater, N360-based special, called "KSpecial" and produced by "KS" (whatever that is). No other names.
Quote from: gte4289 on February 26, 2020, 01:07:40 AM
Known: This is the 'KSpecial' by KS, based on a Honda N360
Additional: KS (Konoike Speed) was a race car constructor founded by Yasunori Konoike in 1972
I was wrong: this car is unrelated to Yasunori Konoike and Konoike Speed. It seems "KS" actually stands for Koga Special. This is the Koga Special #2 created by Taku Koga.
Title: Re: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2
Post by: gte4289 on October 28, 2024, 04:10:44 PM
This is the "Koga Special #2" by Taku Koga. Honda N360-based.

I updated the other thread as well: https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/the-black-hole/q550/msg640763/#msg640763
Title: Re: Arunas 2024-10-02 #2
Post by: Arunas on October 30, 2024, 05:36:09 AM
Quote from: gte4289 on October 28, 2024, 04:10:44 PM
This is the "Koga Special #2" by Taku Koga. Honda N360-based.

I updated the other thread as well: https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/the-black-hole/q550/msg640763/#msg640763
Bingo! Well done.
Title: Re: Solved: Q550 - Koga Special by Takuro Koga
Post by: Wendax on October 30, 2024, 05:47:38 AM
Merged and a second point awarded for solving Quiller's original Black Hole puzzle on the fly.  :applause:
Title: Re: Solved: Q550 - Koga Special by Takuro Koga
Post by: gte4289 on October 30, 2024, 11:07:32 AM
Thanks!