AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Master AutoPuzzles => The Black Hole => Topic started by: woodinsight on February 03, 2011, 12:06:33 PM

Title: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 03, 2011, 12:06:33 PM
The second one I have no idea who did this or what it is called.
One point on offer if you can tell me which country this car comes from and which make it was based on.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Allemano on February 03, 2011, 12:16:45 PM
the end is near..
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 03, 2011, 01:44:14 PM
Sleek!
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Amsterdam on February 03, 2011, 01:50:14 PM
the end is near..


....and it ain't a happy one..  (http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/konfus/c110.gif)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 03, 2011, 02:17:36 PM
I'd love to know who/why this was done to this car.
It's not a common Ford/Austin etc........as far as I understand (which is not very much!)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: D-type on February 03, 2011, 02:52:50 PM
South America?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 03, 2011, 03:03:49 PM
Not South America - far from there
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 03, 2011, 05:25:49 PM
Lucky South Americans!  ;D
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Vincent Vell Vet on February 03, 2011, 05:54:46 PM
Sleek!
the end is near..
:lmao:  :lmao: ....Svelte!!!
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: max on February 05, 2011, 03:02:51 PM
Larch-lap fencing, Lucas electrics, big wheels, short wheelbase - is that a Singer at home in there?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: D-type on February 05, 2011, 03:07:24 PM
:doh: I've just realised it's right hand drive so obviously not South American.

From the British Isles then?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 05, 2011, 03:29:49 PM
It's British, not a Singer base but another popular UK car.........
(ps - don't forget I have no idea who built it - only what the base car is)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: max on February 06, 2011, 10:37:01 AM
Sorry - thought it was not based on a popular model. OK, let's start with small things. The side lamps are ex Morris Minor 1954-61, so maybe Morris Minor?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 06, 2011, 10:41:05 AM
Not quite as popular as a Morris but more popular than a Singer (if that makes sense!)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: D-type on February 06, 2011, 01:56:55 PM
Building something like this would be easier if there's a chassis to build on.  So is it Triumph Herald based?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: barrett on February 06, 2011, 02:27:24 PM
If I remember rightly this is based on an MG chassis, TC or TD...
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 06, 2011, 02:35:44 PM
Not Triumph based but it is based on an MG.
A point for Barrett.
I going to promote this to the Pros now in case they know more - another point is on offer for more information.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 14, 2011, 05:08:07 AM
I'm placing this one in the BH.
Another point may be awarded to anyone who can come up with more information.
Until then........
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 14, 2011, 05:13:24 AM
Front Page Featured :)

http://www.autopuzzles.com (http://www.autopuzzles.com)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on February 14, 2011, 06:10:29 AM
Front Page featured - wow thanks.
Maybe it'll have to taken out of the BH  ;D
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Oguerrerob on March 02, 2011, 12:11:15 PM
Same Kind of car built by Buzz Knapp-Fisher
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on March 02, 2011, 12:18:25 PM
I wonder if he was responsible for the puzzle car also?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: jotage21 on December 18, 2011, 01:40:03 PM
I found it in an old magazine as based in a 1931 MG M-Type
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on December 18, 2011, 02:34:25 PM
I found it in an old magazine as based in a 1931 MG M-Type
That's another step towards the solution... :)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 04, 2012, 11:47:50 PM
it looks like it,s made from 15-20 different car,s ?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 05, 2012, 05:21:02 AM
It's a 'real' home-built contraption...... :D
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 05, 2012, 06:40:56 AM
was it made in wimbleton england?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 05, 2012, 06:58:44 AM
was it made in wimbleton england?
Sorry but I have no idea where in the UK it was built......
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 05, 2012, 10:47:16 AM
i do remember a magazine article. i think they called it a womble car or something like that.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 05, 2012, 10:53:41 AM
i do remember a magazine article. i think they called it a womble car or something like that.
I took it from a small photo and article asking for more information from a well-known UK classic car magazine (dated some time in the 1980s)
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 05, 2012, 03:57:38 PM
did Buzz build this strange car from parts from many other car brand,s ?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 06, 2012, 12:46:57 AM
did Buzz build this strange car from parts from many other car brand,s ?
I have no idea of the other parts that were used in the construction of the car except that was based on a 1931 M-Type MG.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 06, 2012, 10:34:20 AM
maybe womble truck?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 06, 2012, 03:24:09 PM
maybe womble truck?
;D
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 11, 2012, 10:41:10 AM
would this be called- buzz knapp fisher,s womble car, made from surplus car part,s ?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on November 12, 2012, 12:55:08 AM
would this be called- buzz knapp fisher,s womble car, made from surplus car part,s ?
As I said previously I have no idea.
If you can prove it there is a point to be won.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: D-type on November 13, 2012, 06:19:53 PM
To me, as much of a mystery as "What is this car?" is "Why would someone build something as plug-ugly as this?"
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on November 13, 2012, 07:51:30 PM
I certainly see what you mean, yeah it,s ugly ,there has to be more info, somewhere
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on January 02, 2013, 01:43:06 PM
i found a bit of info on this contraption,it was made of recycled auto part,s and was an art car-womble truck,according to the article by buzz knapp-fisher?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on January 02, 2013, 02:04:46 PM
i found a bit of info on this contraption,it was made of recycled auto part,s and was an art car-womble truck,according to the article by buzz knapp-fisher?
Well I'm looking for more information and proof so if you can post the article........?
Perhaps you could win two points!
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on January 02, 2013, 02:57:04 PM
the article said buzz knapp-fisher was from pembroke england, he made the vehicle from 21 different cars, i found the article from <<< link removed >>> central, i hope its ok?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 02, 2013, 03:17:28 PM
kwgibbs: I deleted the link, as that's taboo in the puzzle threads.

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6373.0

Your answer is correct; here is corroborating text:

It may have been cobbled together with parts from 21 different cars, but this misshapened vehicle nicknamed the 'Womble Truck' could be Britain's most environmentally friendly car.  

The unusual mode of transport can reach speeds of up to 110mph running only on chip fat and vegetable oil.

It was created by sculptor and environmentalist Buzz Knapp-Fisher, who has spent the last six years modifying the automobile into an almost carbon-free mode of transport.

The vehicle has been cobbled together from an array of car parts including some from a Sixties Morris 1000, Seventies Mini, a Ford, a Reliant Robin, an MG Midget, a Vauxhall Viva and a Volvo 740.

It was named after the children's TV characters 'The Wombles', who lived on Wimbledon Common and collected and recycled rubbish in ingenious ways.

'I bought the Womble Truck as a wreck around six years ago and I fell in love with it straight away,' the 48-year-old from Pembrokeshire said.

'It was solid as a rock and I saw it as an ideal environmental project car.

'We will have to start living a low carbon lifestyle and a lot of people in the country are using electric or biodiesel cars and so there is a growing move towards it.'

Costing only £250 on purchase, Buzz has made some modest and cheap adjustments over the years.  

Replacing the large petrol engine for a biodiesel engine, in the last year Buzz has managed to convert the car to run entirely on chip fat.

'I started using biodiesel and then switched to chip fat and vegetable oil just over a year ago,' he said.

'I the rigged up a system where I could run straight chip fat. If the temperature is high enough then it will start and run entirely on chip fat.  

'If not then it will start on biodiesel before turning over to chip fat. We pay one pound a litre at the moment for the bio-diesel. I used a tank full of bio-diesel - £20 for the tank.

'Then the only running cost is that of the vegetable oil.'

'Its brilliant - if the filters are running she can hit a top speed of 110 mph,' said Buzz.

'She is heavy but she is lighter than a Volvo. You an set off in third gear from that you can accelerate quite steadily up to 80 mph.

'She has been very reliable over the years and so I haven't really had to replace anything.'

A sculptor by trade, Buzz also runs a non-profit company, called Guardian Angels, promoting non-profit energy.

Buzz is now is hoping to extend his fleet of environmental cars and is already working on the next project.  

'I am working on my next art vehicle which is an electric car,' he said.

'I saved enough money last year running the Womble Truck on chip fat that I had no expenses for fuel.

'That allowed me to buy the battery for our electric car. So I offset the fossil fuel to buy batteries which helped fund this next project. Then the idea is to have a hydrogen car.

'The aim of the exercise is to apply the different methods of moving around but proving to people that you don't need oil. Once we get enough money, we hope to pursue more energy projects in the future.'



I trust woodinsight will award you the two points.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Wendax on January 02, 2013, 03:22:47 PM
Sorry to be a spoilsport, but the Womble Truck looks completely different:
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on January 02, 2013, 03:26:35 PM
i apoloize, i didn,t mean any harm. I,ll be more careful, ill read the rules more carefully I shouldn,t be awarded the points!
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 02, 2013, 04:56:36 PM
Sorry to be a spoilsport...

Really? I think you enjoy it.  ;D
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on January 02, 2013, 05:10:32 PM
no i don,t enjoy doing something wrong like this
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on January 02, 2013, 07:45:39 PM
Thanks for that information kwgibbs.....
It made interesting reading but it's sadly not the puzzle car.
Oguerrerob posted a photo of Buzz Knapp-Fisher's car on reply 20 and Wendax also posted a photo on reply 42.

Here's another view of the puzzle car showing the registration number -
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: kwgibbs on January 02, 2013, 08:10:54 PM
wow ,I could have sworn it was the right one, my mistake
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Wendax on January 03, 2013, 03:31:02 AM
According to the license plate, it is MG M-Type based, as partially stated before.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Tom_I on January 03, 2013, 06:28:46 AM
From the small amount of information available from DVLA, a car with this registration number still exists. As Wendax said above, it's registered as an MG M-Type from 1931, the colour is given as black, and it is on SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) until July 2013.

However, the date of first registration is given as 27 May 2002. It may be that this was a re-registration of the car which originally had this number - if a car has been off the road and is not on the DVLA database, but you can prove what the original registration number was, DVLA will re-allocate the same number if it is available.

But it could also be that this number was allocated to a different vehicle in 2002 as an age-related replacement for a car which had lost its original registration number.

PJ 795 was issued by Surrey County Council. Maybe Carnut could find out if it's likely that it was issued in or around 1931. If it was, then it's feasible that it could originally have been on an M-Type, and that could therefore be what the puzzle car is based on. If it falls outside the 1929 to 1932 bracket, then it could originally have been on something else, and only transferred to the M-Type that currently has it in 2002.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Carnut on January 03, 2013, 10:06:30 AM
However, the date of first registration is given as 27 May 2002. It may be that this was a re-registration of the car which originally had this number - if a car has been off the road and is not on the DVLA database, but you can prove what the original registration number was, DVLA will re-allocate the same number if it is available.


This is feasible..


But it could also be that this number was allocated to a different vehicle in 2002 as an age-related replacement for a car which had lost its original registration number.

..but this isn't.  They can't re-issue a previously used number for any reason whatsoever except the above, and that takes a huge amount of persuasion and proof!

PJ 795 was issued by Surrey County Council. Maybe Carnut could find out if it's likely that it was issued in or around 1931. If it was, then it's feasible that it could originally have been on an M-Type, and that could therefore be what the puzzle car is based on. If it falls outside the 1929 to 1932 bracket, then it could originally have been on something else, and only transferred to the M-Type that currently has it in 2002.

I'll have a look and revert!
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on January 03, 2013, 12:09:46 PM
Thanks Tom_I and Carnut for delving further into this mystery.

I guess it could have been built for some specific purpose (film, TV series, etc.) rather a just 'one-off' by someone.
Just a thought.....
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Carnut on January 04, 2013, 04:06:10 PM
Surrey County Council commenced PJ issues with PJ 1 in August 1931.  The next issue was APA commencing in October 1932, so it took 14 months to get through PJ 1 - PJ 9999.

The first 1932 Surrey issue was PJ 2750 in January 1932.

The above would indicate that PJ 795 was probably issued some time in late August or early September 1931.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 02:14:41 AM
Here's the original model MG it was based on -
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: Tom_I on January 05, 2013, 05:59:40 AM
So it all seems to fit.

I wonder if the puzzle car still looks the same, or whether it has been restored back to its original form.
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: woodinsight on January 05, 2013, 06:28:42 AM
So it all seems to fit.

I wonder if the puzzle car still looks the same, or whether it has been restored back to its original form.
Good question Tom.
If the car survived I would expect the body to have been discarded and the chassis/engine to have been retained pertaining a restoration to the original car.
Alternatively I suppose it may have been dismantled for spares.
Perhaps one of our members here knows more?
Title: Re: MJW #269 - Mystery 2
Post by: gte4289 on February 14, 2020, 01:31:33 AM
If the car survived I would expect the body to have been discarded and the chassis/engine to have been retained pertaining a restoration to the original car.
Alternatively I suppose it may have been dismantled for spares.
Perhaps one of our members here knows more?
PJ 795 has been with the same owner for many years, competing in hillclimbs and other events for much of that time.