Puzzle #1083 - Solved! 808XF - The Ford That Thought It Was a Cisitalia

[Carnut]

Packard convertibile?

Not a Packard.

[hugo90]

Those look like Chrysler wire wheels, but it is short.  Plymouth, maybe?

[Carnut]

Those look like Chrysler wire wheels, but it is short.  Plymouth, maybe?

No Plymouth or Chrysler involvement.

[Limo]

Dodge?

[mtbo]

1955 CISITALIA 808XF CONVERTIBLE

[Carnut]

1955 CISITALIA 808XF CONVERTIBLE

Indeed it is.
Believe it too was Ford V8-engined like the 808XF Coupes.

[Otto Puzzell]

1955 CISITALIA 808XF CONVERTIBLE

Indeed it is.
Believe it too was Ford V8-engined like the 808XF Coupes.

If so, it's a repost

[Carnut]

1955 CISITALIA 808XF CONVERTIBLE

Indeed it is.
Believe it too was Ford V8-engined like the 808XF Coupes.

If so, it's a repost

Thought not because this is the unique convertible, and I thought the others were Coupes.
Looking at the original picture however see it is also a convertible so maye it is a re-post.
Sorry.

[D-type]

Strange!  For a unique car there are significant differences between the two photos.   Headlamp fairings, brightwork etc 

[Carnut]

Strange!  For a unique car there are significant differences between the two photos.   Headlamp fairings, brightwork etc 

So maybe it's not unique; perhaps someone more knowledgeable can straighten that out?
On the other hand cars rarely remain original after over 50 years.  So often during restorations they get 'improved' upon here and there so have many minor differences.  Whether that is the case here or not I'm afraid I don't know.

[Carnut]

Just to add a little more information about my puzzle car.
After the first Cisitalia had been presented to Ford for evaluation and had received only a luke-warm reception, nevertheless a second series of prototypes was commissioned, to be based on standard Ford chassis, and Vignale produced one coupe and one convertible, my puzzle car.

At the time, however, Ford were busy developing their own new Thunderbird and really weren't interested in offering the Cisitalia, so this convertible was given to Ed Sullivan for use as his personal car, which he drove for some years.

It was not specially well restored and was sold at Christie's auction some years ago.

So I'm not sure if my puzzle car is the same one as in the original puzzle, or if that was the very first prototype whilst mine is from the second series, but it might clarify why there are differences between the cars, as pointed out by D-Type.  And my puzzle car is definitely not a Ford, as per the heading of this thread; it was described as a Cisitalia 808XF Convertible at the auction.

[Otto Puzzell]

Many versions of this cars history out there. I've seen several sources that indicate 1 convertible and at least 1 coupe were made.

Save for some trim separating the two paint colors, and and the Plexiglas over the light buckets, these appear identical to me. I'll throw this open to the masses - separate the two puzzle, or leave them merged?

[D-type]

I think you should leave them merged.  As you say, they are so similar that they could be the same car.

[Carnut]

I think you should leave them merged.  As you say, they are so similar that they could be the same car.

Yes, I agree.

[pnegyesi]

Sorry to chime in so late, I just realized that I received this three years ago from Urs Jakob:
I have just restored the 1952  Ford / Cisitalia 808XF Vignalle Convertable. I am off to Peble Beach with the car. I have just purchased the sister car, the Vignale coup. I am writing an article for Classic Car Collector.

Should I ask him some questions?

[Carnut]

Sorry to chime in so late, I just realized that I received this three years ago from Urs Jakob:
I have just restored the 1952  Ford / Cisitalia 808XF Vignalle Convertable. I am off to Peble Beach with the car. I have just purchased the sister car, the Vignale coup. I am writing an article for Classic Car Collector.

Should I ask him some questions?

Why not?  The more info the better!

[Carnut]

After further investigation it would appear my puzzle car is the same car as Otto's original puzzle.
The first 808XF was a coupe and had a Mercury V8; this is the second car according to an authorititave-looking site (not the first of the second series!) and has a Ford straight 6.