TIFOSITEASER # 61 - Solved! Platypus Oldsmobile

[Tifosi]

Can you name this car?

[SeaLion]

Lotus 19 from about 1960.
The silver grey parts between the wheels was the fiberglass petrol tanks. In the first version they were so thin and  tranclucant so that you could see the petrol level inside on the outside. When the the race officials did not allow this, Colin Chapman just added a layer of laquer on the surface. The tanks was still ultra-thin but not translucant anymore, so Lotus was allowed to use the 19 on the tracks.

[Tifosi]

Interesting anecdote.  The car DOES have a Lotus 19 body, but the Lotus connection stops there.  Originally, it had a different body shell.


Dan

[Tifosi]

This car was owned by a famous racer, and became a rental car after his death...


Dan

[Allan L]

This car was owned by a famous racer, and became a rental car after his death...


Dan

Avis Mk. 19?

[Tifosi]

This car was owned by a famous racer, and became a rental car after his death...


Dan

Avis Mk. 19?

It Hertz me to say it, but no...


Dan

[Otto Puzzell]

Surely, you can try harder than that...

[Tifosi]

 




Dan

[Tifosi]

 

[Tifosi]

This car derived it's name from a rather unusual and unique animal...


Dan

[grobmotorix]

Ah, the australian Duckbill Aquatic 3000 GT...

[Paul Jaray]

That animal was in that condition pre or post the truck passed by?

[Tifosi]

Gettin' close, guys...very close...



Dan

[Otto Puzzell]

Miles Gupton's Oldsmobile Platypus - or a Miles Gupton Porsche Special

[Otto Puzzell]

<<< link removed >>>

[grobmotorix]

I knew I had better taken a search with its latin name- well, I was sure no one would christen a car Platypus...

[Tifosi]

Here's where I found the car:  <<< link removed >>>

"Eventually, another strange bird at the start is the Platypus Oldsmobile, a car which was owned by the late Ken Miles and was used by racers on a rental basis.  Originally the car  used a Merlyn Mark VIII chassis and a strange body.  In 1966, shortly before his deathat the wheel of a works Ford[Miles] decided to replace the original body by that of a Lotus 19.  Spectators confused that car, driven by Miles Gupton, with the famous Lotus 19G Ford V8, well known since it's entry in competetion in 1964.  At 2 occasions the enlarged Lotus 19G will be seen during the rounds of the 1967 CAN AM.  However, in both cases, the Lotus 19G failed to survive the qualifications."

So, Karn gets the point.


Dan

[Tifosi]

I seem to be missing something...the add/subtract icon is missing from my screen...how do I award points in this situation?  Is something down, or am I going crazy?


Dan