Solved - NEH 4249: Ford E93 based replica Lister-Jaguar Knobbly Special built by Ian Cowan

[Carnut]

What's this, based on what and built by whom - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[Carnut]

Professionals?

[nicanary]

RHD, spindly wheels - Ford s/v base?

[Carnut]

RHD, spindly wheels - Ford s/v base?

Indeed!

[oko94]

Pre-war chassis ?

[Carnut]

Pre-war chassis ?

No, it's been established the base car is the Ford s/v so that applies to the chassis as well as the engine.

[oko94]

I assume s/v means sidevalve: the British Ford sidevalve engine was produced between 1932 and 1962, hence my question.

So is it based on a Ford Anglia chassis ?

[Carnut]

I assume s/v means sidevalve: the British Ford sidevalve engine was produced between 1932 and 1962, hence my question.

So is it based on a Ford Anglia chassis ?

E93 chassis, which included the Anglia, Prefect and Popular.
It was (apart from the Austin 7) pretty much the standard engine/chassis combination for British specials throughout the 1950s and into the 60s.

[oko94]

Was this special built between 1950 and 1955 ?

[Carnut]

Was this special built between 1950 and 1955 ?

I'm afraid I don't know exactly when it was built.  I'd say probably slightly later in the 1950s at a guess.

[oko94]

Is the builder known for other cars ?

[Carnut]

Is the builder known for other cars ?

He has built others but I doubt very much whether many people have ever heard of him!

[oko94]

Can it (still) be found online ?

[Carnut]

Can it (still) be found online ?

Seems not.
It came from an obscure website; I kept the link to it but clicking on it now gives a '404 File Not Found' error..

[Carnut]

Time to move this one to the Black Hole..

[nicanary]

I can't help but notice the similarity with the HG Sports Car Developments bodyshell (recently unearthed previous puzzle). As we know. there were hundreds of GRP bodies available at the time, but not many which looked as much like a sports-racing car as this one. Wonder if there is a connection?

[Carnut]

Well, this is supposed to be a replica of a well-known sports/racing car of the 1950s, hand-built by someone, but I'm pretty sure he'll have used a proprietary body rather than laid his own design in glass-fibre.  I'm afraid it doesn't mention which proprietary body was used though, so I'm afraid I can't answer your question!

I do agree the front looks very much like that H.G. (I posted the ad in the thread yesterday) but even If it is one that's not the answer I'm looking for (since I didn't know that fact!) so it wouldn't really get anyone anywhere with the answer..

Sorry.

[Djetset]

I just found this photo of this 1950s Ford-based Special (EDA 964) built by Jaguar enthusiast Ian Cowan. Cowan's special was inspired by a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly in period, using an actual D-Type Perspex windscreen bought directly from Jaguar Cars in Coventry!

[Carnut]

A fantastic find after three and a half years Djetset!
But before I give you your 2 points can you just answer the last question and tell me what Ford it was based on?

[Djetset]

A fantastic find after three and a half years Djetset!
But before I give you your 2 points can you just answer the last question and tell me what Ford it was based on?

Oh, that's trickier as the source where I found this didn't specify which Ford model the Special was based on, but looking at the tyres and track, I would have to guess that it's on a E494A/103E chassis (Popular, Anglia, etc.).

[Carnut]

Well it was described as E93-based but that's prerty much the same thing so we'll call it solved!
Very well done and 2 points are yours.

[Djetset]

Thank you Carnut, it was a lucky find!

[Carnut]

Much better to have it solved than languishing forever in the Black Hole..
I don't know where the body came from though; but with an 1172 cc Ford side-valve engine I guess it didn't perform quite as well as a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly!