Solved: PN #498 -- Prohibition Bugatti Hot Rod 1983 Replica

[pnegyesi]

Please identify this car for a point. I know a nickname and the name of its one-time owner.

[pnegyesi]

Experts?

[CrazyAutopuzzler]

From Asia?

[pnegyesi]

no

[pnegyesi]

Professionals?

[nicanary]

Is there any Panther de Ville in the base car ?

[pnegyesi]

Possibly, but there's no word on this in my source

[pnegyesi]

I am inclined to send this to the Black Hole

[Allan L]

Looks as if it may be based on one of those Teal "Bugatti" travesties.

[pnegyesi]

It is indeed based on a Teal Bugatti. Locked for two reasons:
- either you find the owner who did the conversion
- and/or one of my fellow editors tell me whether I should merge this puzzle with this one:
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=23363.0

[Allan L]

I have looked at so many photos of Teals that I feel rather ill, but I have found a similar car which its owner, Bob Lewis, called Isadora. If that's not it, I give up and please unlock.
Not only are Teals a travesty of the car they ape, but in this case the name Isadora perpetuates the myth that Isadora Duncan's well-known death by trailing scarf was in a Bugatti, whereas it seems well-documented to have been an Amilcar.

[pnegyesi]

No, this is not the Isadora. The word Teal doesn't even mentioned in the car's description. When you look at the appearance of the car, what pops into your mind, beside the fact that it is very ugly?

Still locked for you

[Allan L]

When you look at the appearance of the car, what pops into your mind, beside the fact that it is very ugly?

Nothing much.
Lots of lamps might mean he was expecting to drive fast at night, or he might have once been one of those "mods" who mounted six or eight foglamps on their Vespas (not connected to anything so for daylight show only).
The towrope is more of a long distance trial accessory so perhaps he does those - such as the Land's End Trial.
Top mounted windscreen wipers mean he isn't expecting snow.
I still want to give up please!

[pnegyesi]

I reluctantly open it up again

[nicanary]

It appears to have a gun-sight on the radiator, and a coat-of-arms on the door.  With the extra-long bonnet, is this supposed to be some sort of motoring jousting-lance?

[pnegyesi]

no

[D-type]

Did this car feature in a film?

[pnegyesi]

no

[Oguerrerob]

Prohibition Bugatti Hot Rod 1983 Replica owned by Tony Higgins in Rare Breeds Car Show at Haynes International Motor Museum. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset UK

[pnegyesi]

wow, great find, congratulations

[Allan L]

Just to add a little extra, I can say that it is still known to the registration authority as a 2500cc Triumph Vitesse first registered on 1/7/67.

[Oguerrerob]

I've found another picture