Whaddyacallit #185 - Solved! 1941 S.T.E.L.A. Electrique

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.
If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.
Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.
Thanks.

[Allemano]

Hi, it's a S.T.E.L.A. (Service de la Traction Electrique Légère et Agricole) from 1941.
It was exhibited at the Retromobile 2005 in Paris. In the background partly blocked some Wimille cars.

[Ray B.]

So soon...

[Allemano]

The B+W pic would have been much more difficult to solve. The Wimilles gave it away...





1337....

[DynaMike]

Normally one can see this STELA in the Musée Malartre in Rochetaillée, in the outskirts of Lyon. Vaut le voyage!

[Allemano]

not worth a point....?

[Ray B.]

Sorry, I must have forgotten. Done.

[Ray B.]

The B+W pic would have been much more difficult to solve. The Wimilles gave it away...





1337....

Dammit !!!

[Otto Puzzell]

?

[Ray B.]

? what? The Wimilles? Do you want pictures?

[Otto Puzzell]

No, I have plenty. The "?" was for this:

1337....
Dammit !!!

What's it mean?

[Allemano]

1337= Leet or Leetspeak

I've noticed that in Ray B.'s Profile "Leet" was written instead of "posts: 1337". (changed meanwhile of course!)
So, I researched what could behind this and that's what I figured out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet Exciting, isn't it?

[Otto Puzzell]

That clears it right up 

[Ray B.]

 

[Arunas]

I hope nobody will mind (let me know if something) if I post some more information I have suceeded to find about this car 

I think it's about this marque:

1941 - 1944

Vehicules Electriques Stela, Villeurbanne, Lyons

This company was formed by H. Pascal, an engineer from Ecole Centrale de Kyon, to provide electric vehicles for use during the time when petrol was virtually unobtainable. The first Stela was an angular 2-door saloon with batteries on the wide running gear boards, but in 1942 came the RCA, a streamlined 4-door 5-seater saloon. Admiral Darlan, head of the Vichy Government in France, had two, while a number served as taxis, and two were still in service in 1953. The liberation and arrival of reasonable supplies of fuel put an end to Stela cars, although commercial vehicles were continued up to 1948.

===

The firm Véhicules Electriques Stéla of Lyons (France) was a major manufacturer of electric vehicles in France during the Second World War, operating from 1941 to 1948. The first vehicles were primitive, but the Type RCA, a closed-bodied, 4-door, 5-seater began production in 1942. A significant number of these were produced and were used as private cars, taxis and by government officials. Production of the electric car ceased soon after the war ended as gasoline became commonly available, but commercial electric vehicles continued to be built for another 3 years.

[Wendax]

An ad from 1944:

[bubenator]

Nice quality image