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Yes, the rear window definitely says later, such as '50s or '60s, and possibly a coupe.  BTW:  I posted the Roller Ivan references as a puzzle car one or two months ago.  That car is in the "vault" at the Peterson Museum.

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Another crop. I thought this one was going to be too easy, given it is a well known car with a successful Le Mans history and the fin is pretty unique. 

Wilson

 

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2 hours ago, a.j.z said:

Bristol 404, ca 1953. It appears that only 52 have been produced.

Andreas,

Absolutely correct and this is Chassis #01, the factory development car. It is actually surprising that they sold as many as they did. It was around £800 more expensive than the quicker and maybe prettier, if somewhat heavier, Aston Martin DB2/4, particularly after the 3 litre version of the DB2/4 Mk.2 came out. It is however, a car I would like to try driving. My only experience of Bristols is of the 2.2L engine in our rally AC Ace-Bristol, in our 1939 Monte Carlo rally BMW 328, which was used post-war as the development mule car for the Bristol engine from 1947-8 and in our full race Frazer-Nash-Bristol Le Mans Mk.1, where the 2 litre Bristol engine (in Cooper F2 spec) was putting out 172BHP @ 6000 RPM. If you try for 173 BHP, apparently they go bang! 

Your turn. 

Wilson

 

 

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Thank you! Looks good and it would look even better without the fin (although it makes the car pretty unique). It would be interesting to know why they used it.

PS: as far as I can see the fin was only on the car #1.

Edited by a.j.z
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Here is your next one. Maker and model please.

 

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One suggestion about the fin was that it was a try out for the dual fins fitted to the aesthetically challenged type 450 Le Mans Coupé or the single fin fitted to the later open sports racer. Given that Bristol was a long established and successful aeroplane maker, they probably got their aerodynamics correct. I would certainly agree that from the appearance POV, the fin is horrible. In any list of the ugliest cars ever made, the Bristol 450 usually appears. Sadly none of the original 450 coupés survive but there has been a French built toolroom replica which appears occasionally in historic races and one original open sports racer was hidden away in a corner of the Filton factory, to avoid being charged purchase tax. Purchase tax led to many 1950's race cars being destroyed at the end of their racing life, to avoid incurring tax charges. 

Wilson

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16 hours ago, wlaidlaw said:

One suggestion about the fin was that it was a try out for the dual fins fitted to the aesthetically challenged type 450 Le Mans Coupé or the single fin fitted to the later open sports racer. Given that Bristol was a long established and successful aeroplane maker, they probably got their aerodynamics correct. I would certainly agree that from the appearance POV, the fin is horrible. In any list of the ugliest cars ever made, the Bristol 450 usually appears. Sadly none of the original 450 coupés survive but there has been a French built toolroom replica which appears occasionally in historic races and one original open sports racer was hidden away in a corner of the Filton factory, to avoid being charged purchase tax. Purchase tax led to many 1950's race cars being destroyed at the end of their racing life, to avoid incurring tax charges. 

Wilson

As usual fascinating information Wilson. So I couldn't resist getting the books out. Such is the often convoluted lineage of British car manufacturing that the 450 prototype was built around the unsuccessful G Type ERA, a Formula 2 car. This was kept as a spare car with the three team cars built using tubular steel chassis. Allegedly the ERA chassis still exists but there seems to be no recent sightings of such an interesting car. That would be quite some barn find. 

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vor 13 Stunden schrieb Ivan Goriup:

The details do not quite correspon, but is it possible we are lookingv at an Ultima RS ?

JZG

Excellent guess, John, but not an RS. Here is another crop. 

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Andreas,

For some reason Ultimas are very 'thin on the ground' in this country. I have only seen two so far here and they are both RS models, their road cars, and I think the only one most likely is one of those.

Does this mean I get to post the next puzzle car, or will you wait for more guesses ?

JZG

Edited by Ivan Goriup
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John, as you say this is pretty rare and as nobody else made a guess, it is your turn.

This one is a GTR. The only one I have seen.

 

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Edited by a.j.z
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Here's the next mystery car - a clue: I'm posting this car because this coming weekend those interested will be watching & hopefully enjoying the first 2023 Grand Prix, and 2 cars from this marque will be taking part.

I've probably said too much.......

JZG

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