SOLVED: FW #391: West Special XK Austin, 1951

[fromwien]

I can't really tell what's going on with the wings/fenders and headlights on this car. Are they shaped similar to those of a TR3?

I understand altering your photos to prevent the use of reverse-image search engines, but sometimes the resulting image lacks sufficient detail for identification. Can you provide a clearer image of this car? Thanks.

Sadly it's sometimes necessary, altering photos of interesting puzzle cars to prevent the use of reverse-image search engines. Thankfully done by a good friend of mine, usually working for a magazine.
This is my original, lacking only reg.number, etc

[Wendax]

 

[gte4289]

This is my original, lacking only reg.number, etc

Thank you.

Was the image taken in the 1950s?

[fromwien]

Yes

[gte4289]

I've located an image of this car, but still haven't been able to narrow down its identity. So let's take a few swings:

Austin Seven Special of Colin Lawton?

[fromwien]

No

[gte4289]

Austin Seven Special of Dave Rees?

[fromwien]

No

[gte4289]

Austin Special of R. Salthouse?

[fromwien]

No

[gte4289]

Austin Special of Henry Hill?

[fromwien]

No

[gte4289]

I'm running out of "Austin Specials" listed as participants in an event where this car was photographed. How about the Austin special of F.A. Claxton?

[fromwien]

Sorry, again: No

[gte4289]

J.C. Tysoe?

[fromwien]

No

[gte4289]

Is this the West Special, originally of L.L. West (1951), later campaigned by A. McNorris (1953)? According to one source, it was known as the "XK Austin" due to its body style.

[fromwien]

Yes, it is!

[gte4289]

This puzzle led me down a rabbit hole that consumed far too much time, but eventually resulted in the solution of a Black Hole puzzle as well. Thanks!

[gte4289]

By the way, here's the only other image I could find of this car (driven by A. McNorris at the Silverstone 6 Hours on 29 August 1953):