Identify this car for a point.
Experts?
Pros?
From the USA?
British?
From Australia?
New Zealand?
Is the American component a Ford flathead V8 ?
Quote from: nicanary on April 11, 2020, 07:36:57 AM
Is the American component a Ford flathead V8 ?
No, but not far off
How about a Model A (or B) Ford engine with OHV cylinder head?
Quote from: Allan L on April 11, 2020, 01:25:04 PM
How about a Model A (or B) Ford engine with OHV cylinder head?
No, not a Ford-branded motor
Mercury ?
Quote from: nicanary on April 11, 2020, 01:50:30 PM
Mercury ?
Yes, and this is all I known about the engine.
Is this the Palmer Special ?
Quote from: nicanary on April 11, 2020, 04:53:58 PM
Is this the Palmer Special ?
It is not any of the various iterations of that car (Jackson Special, Logan Special, Palmer Special, Northland Special, Roo Special, Offenhauser Special, etc.).
Open to all
From before 1960's?
Peter Bell's car?
Quote from: Oguerrerob on April 23, 2020, 09:28:20 AM
Peter Bell's car?
There's a large gap in this car's history, but I'm not aware of Peter Bell ever owning or driving it. If you're referring to ERA R11B (aka 'Humphrey'), then this is definitely not the same car.
I don't have a name for the car. I've found a very similar car that was used by Jim Bennett at 1964 Hoopers Inlet Hillclimb. Apparently the Fury 1 that was intended to run that race was incomplete, so Peter Bell (from Ocean Grove) gave him this car
Is the puzzle car the Gee Cee Ess Special?
Quote from: Oguerrerob on April 23, 2020, 02:10:36 PM
I don't have a name for the car. I've found a very similar car that was used by Jim Bennett at 1964 Hoopers Inlet Hillclimb. Apparently the Fury 1 that was intended to run that race was incomplete, so Peter Bell (from Ocean Grove) gave him this car
No, this is not the puzzle car.
[Unrelated to this puzzle: The car in your image looks to me like it could actually be the incomplete Furi 1 (and at least one online source agrees with this). Compare your 1964 image with the 1965 image below.
]
Built in the 50's?
Quote from: nicanary on April 23, 2020, 02:28:40 PM
Is the puzzle car the Gee Cee Ess Special?
I think you may have missed this post.
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 04:31:49 AM
Quote from: nicanary on April 23, 2020, 02:28:40 PM
Is the puzzle car the Gee Cee Ess Special?
I think you may have missed this post.
Sorry, I did miss that. No, it's not the Gee Cee Ess Special.
Tip Top Special?
Did this car participate at some Hillclimb races?
Quote from: Oguerrerob on April 24, 2020, 12:27:56 PM
Did this car participate at some Hillclimb races?
Not that I am aware of
Quote from: gte4289 on April 11, 2020, 04:48:30 AM
Quote from: Djetset on April 11, 2020, 04:29:36 AM
British?
Partially
Quote from: gte4289 on April 11, 2020, 05:31:01 AM
Quote from: Djetset on April 11, 2020, 05:15:54 AM
New Zealand?
Yes
I think two things may be leading this one astray: 1) I anticipated further questions seeking to define 'partially British', yet there were none. 2) I was under the impression the puzzle photo had been taken in New Zealand, when in fact it was taken in the UK. To clarify: this car was raced in both the UK and New Zealand, with different engines and under multiple identities. At the time of this photo, it was in the UK, powered by a Mercury V8, and would be more accurately described as 'British' than 'from New Zealand' (although both were technically correct).
Thanks for your hints.
MG chassis?
Did it become the Thomas-Mercury?
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 03:11:30 PM
Did it become the Thomas-Mercury?
Not sure - what is that?
Quote from: gte4289 on April 24, 2020, 03:34:13 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 03:11:30 PM
Did it become the Thomas-Mercury?
Not sure - what is that?
Driven in NZ by Des McDonagh. (I fear I know your answer.........)
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 04:17:04 PM
Quote from: gte4289 on April 24, 2020, 03:34:13 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 03:11:30 PM
Did it become the Thomas-Mercury?
Not sure - what is that?
Driven in NZ by Des McDonagh. (I fear I know your answer.........)
My answer is...
Locked for you!In everything I've read about this car, I've never seen it referred to as the 'Thomas-Mercury'. However, I still think you've found the right car, so here's what I'm looking for:
- What was it originally?
- What was it called at the time of the photo?
Also, I've been reviewing materials from various sources and have concluded that the puzzle photo
was taken in New Zealand. As I had originally understood, the car was raced in the UK, then brought to New Zealand, where it raced and remained. (One source was written in a confusing manner, suggesting the car had returned to the UK, but this was
not the case!)
Thank you for keeping this locked for me all weekend. I'm afraid I've got nowhere - there were numerous Mercury-engined specials built in the UK at that time (presumably the engines were ex-military) but details are scarce. I registered with a certain NZ forum and was hoping to use their search function, but I didn't receive the e-mail with link that they promised. Maybe they're all out shooting hobbits.
I think it is only fair to others to unlock this.
Quote from: nicanary on April 27, 2020, 06:03:21 AM
I think it is only fair to others to unlock this.
As you wish, but I still believe you have found the correct car.
Unlocked
I'm surprised this one remains unsolved! All of the necessary info is here:
- Raced with different engines and under multiple identities
- Originally built and raced in the UK
- Later brought to New Zealand, where it raced and remained
- Puzzle photo taken in New Zealand; powered by a Mercury V8 at the time
Quote from: gte4289 on April 24, 2020, 04:38:38 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 04:17:04 PM
Quote from: gte4289 on April 24, 2020, 03:34:13 PM
Quote from: nicanary on April 24, 2020, 03:11:30 PM
Did it become the Thomas-Mercury?
Not sure - what is that?
Driven in NZ by Des McDonagh. (I fear I know your answer.........)
In everything I've read about this car, I've never seen it referred to as the 'Thomas-Mercury'. However, I still think you've found the right car...
To solve:
- What was the car originally?
- What was it called at the time of the puzzle photo?
It looks too small, but it's not the Leslie Onslow-Bartlett car is it?
Quote from: nicanary on May 19, 2020, 02:51:53 PM
It looks too small, but it's not the Leslie Onslow-Bartlett car is it?
No. Go back to your previous guess. I'm pretty sure you had the right car, but just needed to find more information about it.
ACME Special, formerly known as Marlborough-Thomas Brooklands Special ?
Quote from: oko94 on May 19, 2020, 05:37:04 PM
ACME Special, formerly known as Marlborough-Thomas Brooklands Special ?
Yes :thumbsup:
Thanks for my 1150th point !
Sorry for nicanary who's done all the hard work.
Quote from: oko94 on May 19, 2020, 06:19:38 PM
Sorry for nicanary who's done all the hard work.
I was reluctant to unlock the thread, knowing he was practically sitting on the answer :sigh:
Thank you for your commiserations. I would never have made the connection. The Marlborough-Thomas was such a small machine I wouldn't have imagined a Mercury engine would fit in the frame! You can see from the photos that the driver had to sit high up to clear the propshaft, I'm also surprised that the NZ driver McDonagh retained the "Thomas" part of the original car as there was very little left to associate it with Parry Thomas himself.
You learn something every day.
I've just been finding out a bit more. The car arrived in NZ in either 1926 or 1928 according to who you believe, and was subequently raced in its original 1100cc form. After WW2 it was hugely modified and I suppose the only M-T bit left was the frame. It was the Thomas Special, the Thomas-Mercury, the Acme, and the Ardun Special. I believe that it's car #29 in this photo.