What's this, based on what, made by whom, when - for 1 point?:
Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!
Experts?
Is it a british one-off?
German one-off with vw base?
No, not German and no VW bits, although its name does look and sound German...
Is it a neighboring country?
No.
Australian?
No.
Scandinavian?
No.
Is it Asian?
Yes!
It looks like it could have alittle Subaru in there for a base?
I'm not at home so don't have my files with me, but I don't think so.
Back home late tomorrow afternoon so I'll be able to check then.
No Subaru bits in it all as far as I know.
Was this car built using parts from several car brands?
I only know what brand of chassis was used; I believe the rest of it is all hand-built though no doubt the drivetrain is probably from the same brand as the chassis.
I don't know what this car is, but, it appears to be parked next to a 1950 Plymouth or Dodge (at least from what I can see) might be a junior Chrysler but I'd need to see the rear fender splash guards to more certain.
No Chrysler connection!
Any connection to Isuzu?
None..
Professionals?
From Japan?
Yes!
Japanese chassis ?
Yes.
Hino chassis ?
1950's?
Suzuki chassis?
Ohta-based?
Neither of those...
Datsun chassis ?
Anything to do with the Subaru 360?
Toyota?
Built between 1950 and 1955 ?
No.
Did you take the picture from a book by Shizuo Takashima?
Yes!
Can the puzzle car be found online ?
I did try but was unable to find it.
I'd be surprised if it's not online somewhere but probably on a Japanese site.
Built in 1957-58?
No, 1956
Is the owner/builder's name Jiang or something similar? (A Chinese name in 1950s Japan?)
I've managed to find the page on this vehicle, but approximately 75% of the Japanese text has been rendered illegible. Below are the humorous results of three separate attempts to translate the text. Earlier attempts produced the terms "Rhine" and "Rheingau" (you mentioned the name sounding German), but this is missing from the later, presumably more thorough translations.
I'm still working on it!
Tried a new method--did not improve the situation. :o
Quote from: gte4289 on October 08, 2019, 08:03:08 PM
Is the owner/builder's name Jiang or something similar? (A Chinese name in 1950s Japan?)
I've managed to find the page on this vehicle, but approximately 75% of the Japanese text has been rendered illegible. Below are the humorous results of three separate attempts to translate the text. Earlier attempts produced the terms "Rhine" and "Rheingau" (you mentioned the name sounding German), but this is missing from the later, presumably more thorough translations.
I'm still working on it!
?
Sorry, for some reason your post was never highlighted as a new one so I hadn't read it.
Ignore all that! That's not his name and none of it can be said to be anything to do with this car!
Quote from: Carnut on October 20, 2019, 04:37:51 AM
Ignore all that! That's not his name and none of it can be said to be anything to do with this car!
I think the poor quality of my image and my translation methods are to blame. Here is what I have been working with. (I've blocked out some of the more legible text.) Assuming this book is also your source, does the text below the photograph not describe the vehicle?
Yes, that's the same source.
I spent hours on the Internet trying to translate the text but really got nowhere. I had no idea there were so many Japanese alphabets and I couldn't find anything which translated it properly so gave up.
I actually got the Japanese wife of a friend of mine to translate it; even she said it was extremely difficult due to the kind of Japanese it was and she wasn't familiar with the alphabet! But eventually she did it and I believe her info is 100% accurate.
Quote from: Carnut on June 24, 2019, 02:40:09 PM
What's this, based on what, made by whom, when - for 1 point?
Quote from: Carnut on October 20, 2019, 01:49:38 PM
Yes, that's the same source.
I spent hours on the Internet trying to translate the text but really got nowhere. I had no idea there were so many Japanese alphabets and I couldn't find anything which translated it properly so gave up.
I actually got the Japanese wife of a friend of mine to translate it; even she said it was extremely difficult due to the kind of Japanese it was and she wasn't familiar with the alphabet! But eventually she did it and I believe her info is 100% accurate.
We know what the car was based on, so now we must identify: 1) the person or company responsible and 2) what it's called. Despite the cryptic nature of the Japanese text, does it contain the answers to these two questions?
Yes it does..
The book seems to identify the owner at the time. Is this owner also the 'builder' required to solve this puzzle?
According to the translation a Japanese lady did for me only the builder's name is mentioned.
He was of course the owner, but no other owner's name was mentioned in the translation.
Quote from: Carnut on January 30, 2020, 01:49:22 PM
According to the translation a Japanese lady did for me only the builder's name is mentioned.
Was first and last name mentioned, or last name only?
Only his surname. He was referred to as "Mr ******" (don't count the stars!)
Quote from: Carnut on January 31, 2020, 04:23:46 AM
Only his surname. He was referred to as "Mr ******" (don't count the stars!)
Does the car have a name of its own?
Yes - it's there in the text!
Master Puzzlers?
Black Hole bound I'm afraid...
"This car is not a modified car made by a manufacturer, but a one-of-a-kind item completely assembled by an individual. The owner is Mr. Esashi. The story began when I got a gift of a light four-wheeled wheel called Auto Sandal, and when I was transporting it, the head of the instrument was protruding from the roof. I remember reading about it, so this time I put a Flying Feather engine on the Hamamatsucho Jidosha Tosho Sun chassis and covered it with a hand-made body. If you look at the photos from various sources, you can see that it has changed a little bit each time, but this is the "unfinished" car that gave it its name. It was. Even so, it was a good time when a hand-made car could drive around town with a license plate. (In Minato Ward in 1959)"
(Google Translator)
There are quite a few clues there in your translation, although I have his name as Mr Esaki rather than Mr Esahi. Who knows..
There is a mention of the head of an instrument protruding above the roof: that's because he was a double-bass player!
A clue of the "unfinished" car's name is there too, which is still needed for the solution as well as what chassis it was based on. That "Hamamatsucho Jidosha Tosho Sun" might be a strong clue if you can find a translation of that Japanese!
I've tried several translators,
"This car is not a modified version of a manufacturer's car, but a one-of-a-kind product completely assembled by an individual. I remembered reading somewhere that the owner was Mr. Jiang, a double bass musician, and that the head of the instrument was pulled out from the roof when it was transported. I think the story began with the acquisition of a light 4-wheeled wheel called Autosandal, which was converted into a dutty body, which is probably the second generation in this picture. If you look at the photos in the various documents, they've changed a little bit each time you look at them."
Other Translator:
This car is not a modified version of one made by a manufacturer, but a completely hand-built one. I remembered reading somewhere that "the owner is Mr. Jiang, a double bass musician, and when transporting the instrument, the head of the instrument is pulled out from the roof", so I decided to check out the chassis of the Hamamatsu-cho Jidosha Kokusho Sun with a Flying Feather engine and a handmade body. I tried to look through old magazines, but could not find anything. I think the story started with the acquisition of a light 4-wheeled wheel called "Auto Sandal," and the second generation was probably the one shown in this photo that was converted to a dutty body. Looking at the various photos in the archives, I see that it has changed a little each time."
Sorry, but I can't say which one is the real translation.
It seems to be a Datsun chassis with Flying Feather engine and hand-made body, named "Schubert" in its unfinished form (a reference to Schubert's "unfinished" Symphony No. 8 ).
Quote from: Carnut on July 10, 2023, 11:57:25 AM
I have his name as Mr Esaki rather than Mr Esahi. Who knows..
It translates to "Mr. Esahi" for me as well.
Quote from: gte4289 on July 11, 2023, 02:11:34 AM
It seems to be a Datsun chassis with Flying Feather engine and hand-made body, named "Schubert" in its unfinished form (a reference to Schubert's "unfinished" Symphony No. 8 ).
That's exactly what I'm looking for!
Well done. For some reason the translation I got put an umlaut over the letter 'u' in Schubert, although the composer's name didn't have one of course. Maybe it's there just to distinguish the name or maybe it's wrong and it shouldn't be there! Who knows..
Anyway, I've given you your 2 points Wayne and this old puzzle is now solved.
Thanks, but maybe split it and give one of those points to Oguerrerob for providing the clear text?
No need, you deserved those two points. Thanks anyway
Thanks to both of you
Another view
:thumbsup: