Both the Corvette and 300 SL are worth a point, so 2 points for grabs with this puzzle!
However, your identification must contain some kind of evidence because my source is a bit of a mess on that front.
Do the Experts have ideas?
Can pro's identify these cars (with evidence!)?
Let's take this out of the shade... Made by German coachbuilders?
Thank you for giving some attention to this puzzle :)
As far as I know, no Germans were involved
converted by Europeans? ;D
I believe they were not.
South America?
Nor from South America
USA?
Also not from the North of the Americas
From Japan ?
Japan it is!
here comes the most boring question of all: book or internet source?
Book. And all text is in Japanese...
I have a notion what that means..
Ever tried to apply OCR to Japanese text?
Quote from: Arunas on December 02, 2010, 03:50:40 PM
Ever tried to apply OCR to Japanese text?
Yes, but even then, the explanation remains 'Chinese' for me.
Before I move this to the Black Hole, the rear of the " 'Vette ":
And the Mercedes : ;D
They are both 1960's Datsun Roadster. They appear into 'Japanese And rare Cars You Could See In City Streets Of The 1960's'. On sale on ebay!
I took the pictures indeed from that book, but as far as my knowledge of Japanese reaches, I believe that at least the Corvette is not based on a Datsun but on a Renault (Hino?) 4 CV.
They're both tagged as a Datsun Roadster, but the opposite page shows a Hino-Renault 4CV, maybe it's 4CV modified, just a guess 'cause I don't have the book. The Mercedes is very similar to the Datsun Fairlady Roadster, so I guess is one of them
Guessing is not enough to score the points.
I'm almost 100% sure the Vette is based on a renault/Hino 4CV because in the photo caption there is mentioned "1958? some japanese characters - 4CV - some Japanese characters.
Also, did Datsun made rear engined cars in the 50's ?
The Mercedes might have been based on a Datsun, but as far as as I understand the photo caption text (with OCR) there is no mention of Datsun (or any other car basis).
Some japanese friend translated part of this book and told me that:
The fake Mercedes Benz 300SL is a Hillman Mark VII modified
The fake Corvette is a Hino/Renault 4CV modified
Quote from: Oguerrerob on July 28, 2011, 07:59:31 PM
Some japanese friend translated part of this book and told me that:
The fake Mercedes Benz 300SL is a Hillman Mark VII modified
The fake Corvette is a Hino/Renault 4CV modified
Although I can't confirm, I think this is the closest answer we will get.
I'll award you the points and move this one to the solved section.
The Corvette does appear on an Internet site.
If anyone wants to look at it they can contact me by PM and I'll give them the address.
I've just come across it again, where it's tagged as the Kyoshin (or Kyoshinn) Custom:
What's this, built where and based on what - for 1 point?:
Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!
Experts?
Is it a one-off based on a Mercedes?
It's a one-off, but not based on a Mercedes.
British ?
No, but there's a British connection.
French ?
No.
Japanese?
Yes!
Is it a new body on the floorpan of a major manufacturer like Nissan?
Yes, but not Nissan..
Daihatsu?
No.
Mazda?
No.
Toyota based?
No..
Honda?
Not Honda
Datsun fairlady?
Not a Datsun (or a Nissan!)
Mitsubishi?
Isuzu - are those wheels from an Isuzu-Hillman?
Quote from: kwgibbs on July 14, 2019, 01:43:03 PM
Mitsubishi?
No..
Quote from: tobytwirl on July 14, 2019, 04:56:31 PM
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.
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.
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!)?
So is the base an Isuzu assembled Hillman Minx?
Quote from: tobytwirl on July 15, 2019, 06:06:42 PM
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.
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!
It wasn't a Mk VIII, so that narrows it down somewhat...
PH300 - Series 111?
No, it is the earlier body shape, so earlier than the Mk VIII...
MkVI?
Quote from: tobytwirl on July 17, 2019, 12:55:46 PM
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.
Thank you - I am now extremely knowledgeable on the history of early Isuzus.
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 (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/adg-36-solved-'mercedes-benz-300sl'-based-on-hillman-mark-vii-'corvette'-based-o/msg107598/#msg107598)
Merged!
Thanks Allemano. No chance I can remember back 9 years!
Quote from: Carnut on July 24, 2019, 07:01:07 AM
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. ;)