Solved NIC#157 - Delage/Autovia "Bentley Special" of Stephen Mond

[nicanary]

What can you tell me about this car? A point for the most complete answer.

[nicanary]

Experts?

[D-type]

Is it the ERA-Delage once raced by Tony Rolt?  If so, I can provide fuller details.

[nicanary]

Is it the ERA-Delage once raced by Tony Rolt?  If so, I can provide fuller details.

It looks a bit like that car, and the date is very similar, but it's not the correct answer. Sorry.

[D-type]

The other ex-Chula Delage?

[nicanary]

The other ex-Chula Delage?

That's an intriguing question, which I can't answer. What I CAN tell you is that you have edged closer to the answer - the chassis is from one of the V12 2-litre Delage GP cars. But which one I don't know. In the late 1940s Reg Parnell got hold of just about everything left of the team cars, and built up 3 cars from what he had. There had been 4 chassis, and I reckon, but don't know for certain, that this is the 4th chassis, which was incorporated into something else.

The rest of the car comes from all sorts - I'll LOCK it for you for 24 hours to see what you can find.

[D-type]

If it's a V12 Delage chassis, it certainly isn't anything to do with Prince Chula as he was only involved with the straight 8 1.5 litre cars.

Is this one of the Emerysons?

[nicanary]

If it's a V12 Delage chassis, it certainly isn't anything to do with Prince Chula as he was only involved with the straight 8 1.5 litre cars.

Is this one of the Emerysons?

I've already admitted I'm having an off-day. I've given clues which are utter rubbish, and this does not help the situation.

So, let's start again. I looked up references online about what might have happened to the 1923/24 Delage V12 cars, but scrolled down too far, and quoted falsehoods about Reg Parnell which you have picked me up on. He was involved with the 1.5-litre straight=8s which you refer to. That's what comes of trying to be too quick and not thinking straight.

It's still locked for you. The base chassis is one of the 1923/24 Delage V12 2-litre GP cars, and nothing to do with the Walker ERA-Delage, not the Chula car, nor indeed the Emeryson.

I really am very sorry. God knows what other members of that "other forum" would think of me if they saw this cr*p. I think I need some sleep - every one of my solved puzzles this weekend has resulted in mistakes from me which have been rectified by others and are due apologies.

[nicanary]

D-Type ... I have now been able to do some checking on the car. The chassis is in fact one of the 1925 Delage 2LCV team cars, of the V12 2-litre design. I have found out a bit more about the history of this particular chassis, but nothing that will help with the identification of the puzzle car.

In view of my misleading answers, and the fact that I won't be around to answer questions this evening until about 11.30pm, I will extend the LOCK until 11.00 am on Tuesday.

This car is very obscure - there's every chance that this puzzle will make it to the Pros.

[D-type]

It wasn't your answers that misled me but the fact that the car looks like a 1.5 litre Delage.  I'm still searching - none of the usual suspects have anything other than the totally restored Chassis #3 car.

[nicanary]

Unlocked.

[D-type]

Is it the car into which M Bequet installed a V8 Hispano Suiza aero engine?

[nicanary]

Is it the car into which M Bequet installed a V8 Hispano Suiza aero engine?

Not that, I'm afraid.

[D-type]

How about the car that went to South America and then returned to Britain where it was fitted with a Jameson 2-stroke engine and later with a Riley V8?

[nicanary]

How about the car that went to South America and then returned to Britain where it was fitted with a Jameson 2-stroke engine and later with a Riley V8?

That's good enough for a LOCK! I didn't think anyone would get this. Could you tell me what it was called, and who built it, and the point is yours?

[nicanary]

D-Type - I'll give you a lock until 3pm tomorrow Saturday because you've put so much work in. I know from the information that you have provided so far that you have seen the same forum as myself. However, sadly for you this is not where I found the original puzzle photo - it's not where you'ld expect.

The photo had been misidentified on a well-known site devoted to cars from a very popular mainstream British sports car manufacturer. It was not what they thought it might be, but was later identified correctly by a senior member of the VSCC, so I'm confident that I know what it is.

Good hunting.

[D-type]

All I could find was a sidelong reference to a car called "The Monster" which I can't find again.  is that it?

[nicanary]

All I could find was a sidelong reference to a car called "The Monster" which I can't find again.  is that it?

Not that I know of - although by coincidence the first three letters of the builder's surname are "Mon." It is a 4-letter surname.

[D-type]

I'll take a blind stab:  Monk Special?

[nicanary]

I'll take a blind stab:  Monk Special?

No. The fourth and last letter of the builder's surname is earlier in the alphabet than that. And the car is named after another marque which has absolutely nothing to do with the car in question.

You're a trier, D=Type! Credit where credit is due.

[D-type]

More blind guesses:

Builder: Mone?

Car:  could be almost anything - Invicta?

And I got myself into this because I wrongly thought I recognised this as the ERA-Delage!

I suggest unlocking it as I am blundering around in the dark

[nicanary]

OK D-Type. OPEN to all. It's not an easy one.

[nicanary]

Up  to the Pros, I think. Who can tell me more?

[D-type]

Could the builder be named "Mond" by any chance?

[nicanary]

Could the builder be named "Mond" by any chance?

He could indeed!! You've just earned another LOCK. I think you're more or less there now - what was the car known as?