ADG 36 - SOLVED - "Mercedes Benz 300SL" based on Hillman Mark VII, "Corvette" based on Hino / Renaul

[tobytwirl]

Isuzu - are those wheels from an Isuzu-Hillman?

[Carnut]

Mitsubishi?

No..

Isuzu - are those wheels from an Isuzu-Hillman?

Aha - now you're getting somewhere!
Yes, they most probably are.
Locked for you to see if you can complete the puzzle; you don't necessarily need to find the picture anywhere to do so.

[tobytwirl]

Sorry, had this same photo for years - always labelled 'unknown'. Now I can find no reference to it on the internet, so unless it is one of the Kyoshinn custom cars,  I can add no more. Please unlock.

[Carnut]

I don't know a name for it either, hence all I want is its base.
You're nearly there so why don't you have another go before I unlock it (if I need to unlock it that is!)?

[tobytwirl]

So is the base an Isuzu assembled Hillman Minx?

[Carnut]

So is the base an Isuzu assembled Hillman Minx?

Yes it is but just need you to be a bit more specific about which Hillman Minx.

[tobytwirl]

Ah, that is more demanding. Isuzu started with the British mkVI Minx in 1953. That was the side valve model, but each time it was facelifted in the UK, ie mkVII and mkVIII, it followed in Japan. The 1390cc ohv engine was introduced in the mkVIII so my guess is that that may have been the model used to be the basis for the Mercedes look-alike ........ because the wheels look more like those on the early Minxes, designated PH10s by Isuzu.
Isuzu of course continued with the Audax series of Minxes from 1956/7 - known as the series 1, 2 and 3 in the UK but PH100, PH200, PH300 and PH400 in Japan, - but stopped then to produce their own Bellel in 1964.
The PH300  (UK Series III) introduced the best engine, the 1494 cc, but if you can follow all that, I think that car was actually based on an Isuzu PH10!

[Carnut]

It wasn't a Mk VIII, so that narrows it down somewhat...

[tobytwirl]

PH300 - Series 111?

[Carnut]

No, it is the earlier body shape, so earlier than the Mk VIII...

[tobytwirl]

MkVI?

[Carnut]

MkVI?

No, but there's no point in saying that as it only leaves one, which is, of course the right answer!
So it's based on a 1953 Hillman Minx Mk VII.
I wish I knew the builder or if he gave it a name, but I don't, so it's solved!
Well done.

[tobytwirl]

Thank you - I am now extremely knowledgeable on the history of early Isuzus.

[Allemano]

Pretty sure we also had this one before. If I remember correctly it was one of 75america's puzzles.






here:
https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/adg-36-solved-'mercedes-benz-300sl'-based-on-hillman-mark-vii-'corvette'-based-o/msg107598/#msg107598

[Carnut]

Merged!
Thanks Allemano.  No chance I can remember back 9 years!

[Allemano]

Merged!
Thanks Allemano.  No chance I can remember back 9 years!

Most of them I have forgotten, too, even those I posted myself, but the interisting ones I usually can recall.