Solved: Allemano's № 464 - Paragon Mercury Coupé by Albrecht Graf von Goertz

[Bill Murray]

I believe this is a 1940 Mercury by Albrecht Goertz.
If so, I do not yet have for whom it was built but I am looking.
Bill

[targhediferro]

Riva body?

Not Riva.

I believe this is a 1940 Mercury by Albrecht Goertz.
If so, I do not yet have for whom it was built but I am looking.
Bill

Well...It's indeed the '40 Mercury of Albrecht Goertz, so you have already answered at the question "for whom"; the missing part is who did it! Locked for Bill.

[Bill Murray]

So that I don't get buried in this one, several sources say that Goertz built it for himself and that it was called "Paragon".
Or, as he was later a very famous designer for BMW amongst others, maybe he had a "Body Man" build it to his design and if so I have no clue and an hour of digging just runs me in the same circle.

[targhediferro]

I found a site where there are some pictures of the car, and where it is said this custom has been prepared for Goertz and not by him;  as everything on the net it may be wrong, I'll try to have some confirm of my source.

[Bill Murray]

In the meantime, I may have found another lead and I have PM'd a fellow on another Forum who may have an answer.  I will post it if I get an answer.
Bill

[targhediferro]

I suppose this is the man...as He doesn't look like Goertz.  The picture has been posted by the Son of the man standing near the car, and He's said to be the maker.

[Bill Murray]

Yes, same guy posted this somewhere on another Forum but I have not found it and I PM'd him on that Forum to see if he could give me the name of his father or company name or both. 

Bill

[Allemano]

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=13386.msg120526#msg120526

[targhediferro]

Actually a repost...but Griffin is not the name I'm searching for.

[Bill Murray]

Hi Fabrizio:

It has now been 7 hours since I sent a PM to the guy who said his father built or helped build this car and no answer.
It is a National Holiday here in the US so he may be engaged in some celebration or other.

In the spirit of open competition, please unlock the puzzle as another two hours of research using dozens of parameters and multiple websites has given me no more information.

Bill

[targhediferro]

Bill, I think you can tell us the name of the guy you sent a PM, so if his name is the one I have you will have the point whenever he will replay or not, because your replay will be complete. Then, if it is not the same I will unlock.

[Bill Murray]

Unfortunately, Fabrizio, the man goes by his internet user name on the Forum in question.

That name is "BellyTanker, or Bellytanker" and I do not think this is the answer you are looking for.

If that is not correct, please go ahead and unlock the quiz.

Bill

[Bill Murray]

OK. Fabrizio, another 2 hours and now I am done.

Possibly built by a man named Francis Griffin, or Eric Griffin.  Francis may be the wife of Eric.

The name of the firm of this family seems to be Kenz Muffler, doing business since 1953 which may fit into the time frame of the car being built.

I have obtained a phone number for what I assume is the son of the original owner of the firm and possibly the builder but I cannot call the number until maybe 1200 hours or so tomorrow due to the time difference.

If this answer so far is correct please let me know so I do not bother the present Mr. Griffin.

Edit:  I now remember the car was built in 1940 so Kenz Muffler may not be the correct company name

However, Bellytanker's name is Keith Griffen and the photos we have now all seen were donated to the internet by Keith/Francis Griffin.

Bill

[targhediferro]

Well done Bill! The name I have is actually Muffler, even if as you noticed the correct answer is Griffin (I didn't know that BellyTanker's name is Griffin). I think this car is fantastic, something different from later customs, quite a european-taste Mercury; thank you for your research, and a well deserved point.

[Otto Puzzell]

Merged

[Bill Murray]

To finish up on my part of this long saga, I just got off the phone with Keith Griffen and got some more information.

The car was indeed built by Francis Griffen, his father, and the photo with the man standing by the car in work clothing is Francis himself.  He and another chap owned a very small body shop in Glendale, California and this is apparently where the car was built.  Keith had the name of the body shop but it is lost in his data files somewhere and he will look for it again.  As a  point of interest, the convertible car behind the Mercury in the photo with his father is an Auburn that was apparently owned by Gary Cooper, who wrecked it and the two bodyshop owners purchased it and repaired it.

Keith had not seen my PM on the other Forum but said he would look at it tonight his time and if he could add anything he would contact me.

I am also going to contact the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and their Historical Society, if they have one, to see if I can find out any more information about the body shop his father was part owner of.

I also wish to give credit to Dale, "Avalanche" on this Forum, for giving me the contact information which he managed to find on the H.A.M.B. Forum.  He could have taken the question but he gave the information to me instead which I very much appreciate.

Cheers

Bill

[Allemano]

Thanks for that extra information! Is it known when and how Albrecht Goertz did come into play?

[Bill Murray]

I have to go out for a while and will write more when I return, but here is his biography for additional information.
Bill



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_von_Goertz

[Allemano]

I have to go out for a while and will write more when I return, but here is his biography for additional information.
Bill



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_von_Goertz

Thanks, but I knew that bio on (German) Wiki.
I was more after infos of his involvement on this particular Paragon project.

[fromwien]

For one point please identify this car and the coachbuilder

[fromwien]

Up to the Experts

[Iluvatar]

Italian?

[fromwien]

Not Italian

[FrontMan]

Georges Irat by Labourdette?

[knewit]

based on Volkswagen