It's a cute little family car, isn't it???
For one point, I'd like to know who built it, where, in what period and what type designation the car had.
Up to the Experts
Austin Big 7 1938-9, Longbridge. This is the Sixlight version.
Yes, it is an Austin Big 7, but the puzzle car was not made in Longbridge, plus I have slightly different information on the production period. Locked for you.
Is it the US built car that became the Bantam?
No US built.
Built in a country that belongs to the Commonwealth?
No.
Sorry, I realised that I had locked the puzzle.
Max, are you still at it?
Unlocked, open again for Rookies and Experts.
Hi Sichel. Apologies for the delay. The image is not a photograph but an artist's impression, and so I have a question for you. While the image may well have been used to represent cars assembled elsewhere, can you point to a single feature visible on the image that distinguishes the car shown from Longbridge production? If not, then it could as well be of a Longbridge product. As regards the date, I think I remember reading that non running-board cars were the earlier ones, which would make the date 1937-38.
Max, I'm sorry, but I have no information on how the licensed products differed from the original. The photos I found do not show any differences at first glance. It is also conceivable that images of the original were used for promotional material for the licensed vehicles.
Locked again, Max you have five attempts.
Thank you Sichel. I agree with you. It is indeed conceivable that images of a Longbridge original were used in promotional material for licensed product. So, with neither you nor I able to spot a difference, assuming no one else can do so either then, logically, it can't be claimed that the image is exclusively that of a licensed product. So I think that, with the amended manufacturing dates, the answer meets the requirements of the question. The rest is up to you.
Accepting, though, that there will be more than one possible answer to the question, could I suggest that it is thrown open again. It would be interesting to see what further answers are given, and I have no way of coming up with any.
Also, there is one apparent difference between the image and actual Longbridge product that I've just spotted. On actual Longbridge cars, the sills flare out slightly. I'm sceptical, though, as to whether the apparent difference is real - it wouldn't have been cost-effective for a commercial artist to spend time getting this difficult detail right when all the major features have been rendered correctly.
Max, the photo is from an advertising brochure. But I can't show it yet because that would give away the solution.
If I understand you correctly, you don't see any point in looking for a solution under the current conditions. Therefore, the task will be unlocked again in order to find the licensee.
Sichel, of course I understand why you can't show the brochure - the same rationale applies to every puzzle.
In this particular instance we have agreed that the image can represent more than one vehicle, essentially vehicles assembled in different places, possibly sold under differing names but which all do conform to the appearance shown in the image. In other words, there is more than one correct answer. I believe I've given you one of the correct answers.
I'm sure you'd accept it is reasonable that someone looking at the puzzle image for the first time, even someone who knows every one of the correct answers to the question, could not be expected to know which particular brochure you were holding in your hand or thinking about at the moment you posted the puzzle. It would be as if you were expecting them to read your mind, which can't be your intention.
Max, then it comes down to guesswork, as it often does. Anyone who knows or finds out where Big 7 licences were made has a chance of solving the puzzle.
A task for the pros.
Rosengart?
Datsun ?
No, the licensee sought distributed the vehicles under the Austin name.
Not any of the main licensees and not a British Commonwealth country. Was it local assembly from CKD kits, rather than manufacture, in a European country?
With about 400 copies in the 1930s, the licensee we are looking for was probably not one of the main licensees. This rather small number is likely to be CKDs, but there is no exact information on this. The assembly took place in a European country that did not belong to the Commonwealth.
Portugal ?
No.
Belgium?
Scandinavia?
Neither nor.
Greece?
Also not :shakehead:
Ireland?
No
India ?
No, India is a member of the Commonwealth.
Is it a country which drives on the left?
No.
Spain?
No.
Up
Built in Germany ?
Yes.
Sorry, mistake
Built in BMW factory in Eisenach ?
No.
Austin Modell Sieben built by Willys Overland Crossley GmbH in Berlin-Adlershof, in fact an assembled Big 7. All in all WOC built 602 Austins in Berlin from 1932 to 1939, of which 392 were Austin 7s. (Numbers include just German registrations.)
There is absolutely nothing to add to your detailed description :applause:, except once again a point for you.
Thanks for the point!
I am attaching another document.