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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => The Brand-New 2025 Vehicle Identification Board => Topic started by: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 05:47:48 AM

Title: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 05:47:48 AM
Can anyone identify the small sports car on the left in this photo?
It was taken in Germany - date unknown
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 30, 2012, 06:14:24 AM
I'm sure I saw this before!
(I know it won't help much...)
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 06:24:35 AM
Unfortunately I haven't seen this one before, so just some thoughts from me. At first sight one is tempted to say that it is another VW Kübelwagen based private one-off, but the wheels don't look VW to me. What I can't really identify is the bulge above the license plate. Is there a single headlight or just a sign? Is it an air intake for a front engine? The round objects besides the license plate look like horns. It seems as if the windscreen wiper axles go through the glass what is quite uncommon on German cars. For the year the picture was taken I would think of 1951/52 going by the VWs, the Fiat 1400 Cabriolet and the license plates. The location probably in the Southwestern part of Germany, as the (hard to identify) first letters on the plate don't look like AB for Bavaria.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Quote from: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 06:24:35 AM
Unfortunately I haven't seen this one before, so just some thoughts from me. At first sight one is tempted to say that it is another VW Kübelwagen based private one-off, but the wheels don't look VW to me. What I can't really identify is the bulge above the license plate. Is there a single headlight or just a sign? Is it an air intake for a front engine? The round objects besides the license plate look like horns. It seems as if the windscreen wiper axles go through the glass what is quite uncommon on German cars. For the year the picture was taken I would think of 1951/52 going by the VWs, the Fiat 1400 Cabriolet and the license plates. The location probably in the Southwestern part of Germany, as the (hard to identify) first letters on the plate don't look like AB for Bavaria.
Thanks Wendax - some interesting thoughts there.
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

I tried to enhance and enlarge it but with mixed results -
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Arunas on December 30, 2012, 09:00:07 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Quote from: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 06:24:35 AM
Unfortunately I haven't seen this one before, so just some thoughts from me. At first sight one is tempted to say that it is another VW Kübelwagen based private one-off, but the wheels don't look VW to me. What I can't really identify is the bulge above the license plate. Is there a single headlight or just a sign? Is it an air intake for a front engine? The round objects besides the license plate look like horns. It seems as if the windscreen wiper axles go through the glass what is quite uncommon on German cars. For the year the picture was taken I would think of 1951/52 going by the VWs, the Fiat 1400 Cabriolet and the license plates. The location probably in the Southwestern part of Germany, as the (hard to identify) first letters on the plate don't look like AB for Bavaria.
Thanks Wendax - some interesting thoughts there.
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

I tried to enhance and enlarge it but with mixed results -

Does it really has a split window ???
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 09:04:51 AM
I think so, V-split window with very thin pillars and a chrome part at the top of the middle pillar to fix the canopy.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: rosenbergm on December 30, 2012, 09:17:54 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 05:47:48 AM
Can anyone identify the small sports car on the left in this photo?
It was taken in Germany - date unknown

It appears to have suicide doors was that common for cars to have in Germany. Also if the license plate will help identify this car. Maybe post some pic's of other period license plates maybe we can decipher it. Just a thought
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 09:33:18 AM
Quote from: rosenbergm on December 30, 2012, 09:17:54 AM
Also if the license plate will help identify this car. Maybe post some pic's of other period license plates maybe we can decipher it.  
From the end of WW2 to 1956 the German license plates were of the type AB 12-3456, where the first letter was on top of the other one, depicting the occupation zone (A = American, B = British, F = French, S = Soviet), white letters on black plate. A list can be found here:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_deutschen_Kfz-Kennzeichen_%28historisch%29#Deutschland_1945.E2.80.931956
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 30, 2012, 10:26:22 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Quote from: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 06:24:35 AM
Unfortunately I haven't seen this one before, so just some thoughts from me. At first sight one is tempted to say that it is another VW Kübelwagen based private one-off, but the wheels don't look VW to me. What I can't really identify is the bulge above the license plate. Is there a single headlight or just a sign? Is it an air intake for a front engine? The round objects besides the license plate look like horns. It seems as if the windscreen wiper axles go through the glass what is quite uncommon on German cars. For the year the picture was taken I would think of 1951/52 going by the VWs, the Fiat 1400 Cabriolet and the license plates. The location probably in the Southwestern part of Germany, as the (hard to identify) first letters on the plate don't look like AB for Bavaria.
Thanks Wendax - some interesting thoughts there.
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

I tried to enhance and enlarge it but with mixed results -
I'm sure I have this pic somewhere.
It's not in my folder of unidentified cars and it's a good sign.
I hope I did not see this pic in a forum and did not download it because there were no info...
Not a Denzel?
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on December 30, 2012, 10:39:10 AM
The Denzel had its headlights narrower together.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Arunas on December 30, 2012, 10:39:42 AM
I thought it could some Gomolzig...
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Paul Jaray on December 30, 2012, 10:44:33 AM
I thought at CAM too, but can't find it.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 10:52:06 AM
Here are views of an early Denzel (1), Gomolzig (2) and CAM II (3) for comparison -
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: rosenbergm on December 30, 2012, 11:33:31 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 10:52:06 AM
Here are views of an early Denzel (1), Gomolzig (2) and CAM II (3) for comparison -

this unknown car has elements of all 3 of these cars. it looks like the roof overlaps the front windshield. notice the shadow at the top of the windshield and look at the other cars. At least thats what I see does anyone else see that
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 30, 2012, 11:50:58 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

The picture can be found (unidentified) on the "Vintage Volks" site.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: rosenbergm on December 30, 2012, 12:13:09 PM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on December 30, 2012, 11:50:58 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

The picture can be found (unidentified) on the "Vintage Volks" site.

where on their site in the forums???
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 03:01:36 PM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on December 30, 2012, 11:50:58 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 08:40:58 AM
Unfortunately I can't remember where I'd downloaded this photo from :'(

The picture can be found (unidentified) on the "Vintage Volks" site.
Thanks Otto  :)
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: rosenbergm on January 06, 2013, 09:27:56 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 05:47:48 AM
Can anyone identify the small sports car on the left in this photo?
It was taken in Germany - date unknown

Did anyone find any info on this mystery car
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: woodinsight on January 06, 2013, 02:14:09 PM
Quote from: rosenbergm on January 06, 2013, 09:27:56 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on December 30, 2012, 05:47:48 AM
Can anyone identify the small sports car on the left in this photo?
It was taken in Germany - date unknown

Did anyone find any info on this mystery car
So far no joy......PM sent
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: rosenbergm on September 01, 2014, 05:08:40 PM
Did anyone find out what this car is
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on June 02, 2025, 03:40:03 PM
A slightly clearer look at the number plate: it looks like FB 03-4070, FB standing for French Zone Baden.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Trip on June 03, 2025, 01:48:59 PM
FB 03 ist Freiburg. The vehicle bears some resemblance to the Champion 250. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champion_250
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on June 04, 2025, 01:00:15 AM
The unknown sports car is much bigger than a Champion 250 and has a pontoon styling.
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: knewit on December 15, 2025, 02:09:26 PM
What about a MAICO CHAMPION
Title: Re: Unknown sports car in the early 1950s
Post by: Wendax on December 15, 2025, 04:06:00 PM
No, the only roadster-like Champion or Maico was the Champion 250 which - different to the unknown car - had no doors. All later models had Cabrio-Limousine, Limousine or Kombi bodies with sheetmetal above the door windows.