SOLVED: Djetset 725 - Carousel Engineering Aston Martin DB6 'replica' using Trident body

[Djetset]

I know at least one AutoPuzzles regular who will appreciate this one  !

So, to gain a point, please tell me all you can about this car (e.g. makes, country of origin, etc.)

[Djetset]

Experts?

[Captain Slow]

That looks awfully like a Trident Clipper customised to look like an Aston Martin V8...

[Djetset]

That looks awfully like a Trident Clipper customised to look like an Aston Martin V8...

You are on to something there
Captain Slow! Can you tell me anything more specific?

[Djetset]

Up to the Pros...

[Carnut]

Captain Slow was, as you say on the right track, as this car was a Trident but actually it was a V6 Venturer rather than a V8 Clipper. 

It was 1971 Trident Venturer Reg GGY 275J that was exported to South Africa where it got into the hands of Rowan Marais, who modified the front end and reckoned his Carousel Engineering Co in Durban was going to market it as an "Aston Martin DB6 Replica", though it seems Mr Marais hadn't actually looked at a picture of a DB6 as his mods bear no resemblance whatever to a DB6, though you could say the front-end looks a bit like that of a DBS V8.  I note he said the car was based on "Ford Cortina Mk 3 car suspension" but I don't know why it would have that as the Trident Venturer was built on a complete Triumph TR6 chassis with its suspension and other shortcomings!

I don't know what chance Mr Marais had of ever making and marketing this "replica" as it was very much a one-off he had and he neither had the moulds nor any other cars to modify; if he intended to buy up supplies in the UK he would find them very limited indeed!

Apart from that front end I can see no other modifications to the car so you would need more than a pinch of salt (a whole salt-mine more like!) to regard this car as an Aston Martin replica.

When I saw your puzzle I looked up Rowan Marais on the WWW and there is such a character on Facebook who looks about the right age.  I sent him a message to see if I could get more information but in time-honoured fashion I got no reply...  I doubt there are two people named Rowan Marais in Durban but you never know...!

[nicanary]

I'd love to see the SSK replica........

[Djetset]

Well done Carnut, I thought you might know this one, given your Trident connections.  Thank you too for such a comprehensive answer.  As you say, this car looks as much like an Aston Martin DB6 as a Rolls-Royce Wraith looks like a Reliant Robin!  Another well-deserved point to you.