The London sports car mystery

Weatherballoon · November 10, 2019, 05:21:51 PM

As has been stated elsewhere on the internet, the vehicle in question does appear to possess gull wing doors. Perhaps that will be the key to finding it's identity?

Weatherballoon · November 17, 2019, 05:18:52 PM

Some quick looking led me to discover that there are multiple pages for this car on this website, perhaps they should be consolidated?

Carnut · November 18, 2019, 11:47:03 AM

Could do - if I could find the other/s...

nicanary · November 18, 2019, 04:00:04 PM

Quote from: Carnut on November 18, 2019, 11:47:03 AM
Could do - if I could find the other/s...

I posted it on 21.8.2017 in the Information Requested thread. I don't think there are any replies.

Weatherballoon · November 18, 2019, 05:37:30 PM

I know there is one from years earlier but I neglected to write it down.

Weatherballoon · November 18, 2019, 05:43:02 PM

While searching for it I found that Galrot posted about it in 2016.

Weatherballoon · November 18, 2019, 05:47:49 PM

I am unable to find the other post, I believe Galrot's post to be the one I had seen.

gte4289 · February 27, 2020, 11:12:38 AM

https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/features-stories-and-photos/seeking-information-about-two-gullwing-sport-cars-from-london/

Wendax · February 27, 2020, 12:09:51 PM

Merged

StrongComputer · April 17, 2021, 03:23:46 PM

It is 100% a Sunbeam Alpine.

StrongComputer · April 17, 2021, 04:06:28 PM

Unfortunately my hand has been forced somewhat by a person that plagarises my work. Would have personally used some much better images and they will follow. The car is an Alpine. As an initial starting point, please check out the area to the right of the lady with the red top. It is not a driver. It is not a reflection of her. It is a drivers side wheel arch covered with a ribbed material/plastic. Much more to follow.

StrongComputer · April 17, 2021, 04:58:39 PM

Have not got time to post everything repeatedly on many forums, so am going to post mainly (no favouritism, just random) here. https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/191783/mystery-car-pistonheads?page=7&scrollTo=2671662

Carnut · April 18, 2021, 07:42:42 AM

Thanks StrongComputer. I've resized your pictures so we can see the whole thing at a glance.
It must be based on something so you might be right, which I say because of the similar (identical?) wheelbase.
Many commentators assumed it to be a Sunbeam Alpine going only by the shape of the rear wings, but apart from the wheelbase everything else is different. But if someone is making a new body based on an existing car why not make it completely different?!

I'm beginning to wonder if irrefutable evidence will ever be provided, as this conundrum has been running for a number of years now!

StrongComputer · April 18, 2021, 02:43:05 PM

Hi CarNut. Some more proof using a variety of real and inferred data. I modelled part of Oxford Street using an old OS map as the layout has changed a lot over the last 50 plus years.

Also, the car works in the real world and is not as massive a departure from the standard car as you would believe. Engine fits (scanned an original car to prove), just. Most of the upper structure including hinges, apart from boot would use the existing chassis. Please also look at where the roof meets the lower car body. There is little if any radius. I reckon the roof could have been bolted on or such like.

Please keep firing questions. I have studied this picture for three plus years and started from a completely different view. Thought thirties special based on where I wrongly thought the driver was sitting.

Am 100% correct on this, but have so far succeeded in only convincing one friend (who may have been being kind) that the car is an Alpine. Will keep going, which tragically for me involves mocking up the wrong answers, until the weight of evidence is so great the whole thing becomes like the last scene of 12 Angry Men (dressed up as an internet army).

StrongComputer · April 18, 2021, 02:45:37 PM

....Picture size is working well for me.........................

727 · April 19, 2021, 04:14:15 PM

Happy to see someone else enjoying SolidWorks.

Johno · July 04, 2022, 04:05:01 PM

It would seem that someone (possibly already in this post) had now rendered a model of the car. There are pictures in the 50s/60s Special Builders group on facebook. I'm not going to post them here as they represent hundreds of hours of work and belong to the auther of the post. There is also a youtube video of the doors working and by the same person an animation of it travelling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhMICMe_qIk

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The London sports car mystery