Please respond below if you know the make and model designation of this car.
One point for the right and complete answer!
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moved.
Based on a Healey?
No.
Lincoln V12?
Neither.
but American?
Yes, though the designer isn't American.
okay, let's narrow it down...... one of the big three?
yes.
Ford/Lincoln based?
Professionals!
The shape of the side windows reminds me of Letourneur & Marchand coachbuilders...
I don't know who made the body of this car, but I highly doubt that it was made by any of the European coach-working companies.
The key to solve this is to know who designed it, where and when. ;)
some correction: the designer actually was (sort of!) American, but that's only one half of the story...
The shape of the side windows reminds me of Judkins...
Not made by Judkins.
After some digging I've found out that the designer rented a garage back then and converted the car on his own.
Obviousely no other coachbuilder was involved.
At first I thought it was done by Coachcraft, but I dont think that is right.
I do have a couple of pics of it ( cant remember where I found them )
Maybe the caption " Griffin" will be helpfull for someone...
Wow! The builder himself standing in front of his car. That makes it a lot more interisting.
He already has that characteristic look.
'Griffin' isn't the name I have, though. It's not even similar!
I think it's the Paragon Coupé, designed by Albrecht Graf Goertz in 1939, built on a Mercury chassis.
The car was shown at the World Exibition in San Francisco in 1939.
Quote from: spider murphy on September 21, 2010, 03:20:19 PM
I think it's the Paragon Coupé, designed by Albrecht Graf Goertz in 1939, built on a Mercury chassis.
The car was shown at the World Exibition in San Francisco in 1939.
Spot on! You're right of course!
More pics:
I'd like to know which car is this, who realized it and for whom. Tell me these three things and you'll have a point.
Riva body?
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
Quote from: Iluvatar on September 02, 2013, 09:10:47 AM
Riva body?
Not Riva.
Quote from: Bill Murray on September 02, 2013, 09:30:11 AM
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=13386.msg120526#msg120526 ;)
Actually a repost...but Griffin is not the name I'm searching for.
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
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.
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
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
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.
Merged
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
Thanks for that extra information! Is it known when and how Albrecht Goertz did come into play?
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
Quote from: Bill Murray on September 03, 2013, 03:40:20 PM
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.
For one point please identify this car and the coachbuilder
Up to the Experts
Italian?
Not Italian
Georges Irat by Labourdette?
based on Volkswagen
Duncan body?
Is this vehicle from North America?
Yes
1940 Mercury by Albrecht Goertz !
Yes! Locked for you. Please tell me the car's name and year, then the point is yours
Mercury Paragon (New York 1939 ) by Albrecht Goertz !
Correct! One more point is yours
Merged