wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6701 Posted August 21, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I really am surprised you are all having such difficulty. I checked on Google and Wikipedia for Napier’s Bones. It immediately told me that John Napier was of.......If you then added the Mews to that and re-Googled, about the third offer and ignoring the usual real estate offers in that locale, would have led you straight to the answer. If nobody gets it by tonight I will explain, show the whole car and post an easier one. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 21, 2014 Posted August 21, 2014 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here Name this car..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6702 Posted August 21, 2014 Okay, the Google search you suggested gave a 1954 Jaguar C-type driven by Ninian Sanderson. Still, never heard of the car "Midnight at Merchiston Mews". Strange name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6703 Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) John is probably correct, but from Wilson's crop there seems to be too much open space inboard of the louvers without seeing the next set of louvers (Look at that part of the C type and D type photos below - The D's space between sets of louvers more closely match Wilson's image). Also, I've never seen the C or D with "street" windscreen and wipers. Did they vary over their short production, or was this one converted for street use? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited August 21, 2014 by stuny Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2653803'>More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6704 Posted August 21, 2014 Good eye, Stuart. Must be a special modification along with the windscreen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6705 Posted August 21, 2014 Dead heat I think. This is XKD 504, the first long nose D Type. It was used by Jaguar mainly as an experimental car and a spare for Le Mans. It is the only D Type which in period, ran fuel injection, so potentially, could be the world’s fastest D Type in FIA spec. After the factory finished with it at the end of 1956, it was sold to Ecurie Ecosse, whose works were at Merchiston Mews, behind Merchiston Castle. It had a couple of successes at Spa and Nurburgring but never Le Mans. I think the only time it ran at Le Mans in period was 1958, with the deeply unsatisfactory 3 litre engine, all of which failed. It has some parts from XKD 505, the 1955 Le Mans winning car, which with zero eye to history, Jaguar disassembled after the race. It is shown here in the correct Ecurie Ecosse colours. I was at Merchiston Castle School, which originally had been in the castle but moved out to Colington on the outskirts of Edinburgh, when it outgrew its original premises, at the end of the nineteenth century. Ecurie Ecosse used to bring their cars regularly to the school. I was a subscriber to their magazine “News from the Mews”. My father was a friend of David Murray, one of the founders of Ecurie Ecosse and I used to go with him to visit their race premises, which is what gave me the idea of becoming a racing driver. Wilson PS Fight it out amongst yourselves who gets the next go Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2653842'>More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6706 Posted August 21, 2014 If Stuart doesn't mind I have one. It will be too easy for people like Wilson but there might be some interest about the shot. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2653852'>More sharing options...
stuny Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6707 Posted August 21, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Fine with me. Let's start with it being from the UK, from the late '50s or early '60s, with a manual choke and can do over 120 MPH. The Nardi style steering wheel suggests a roadster or GT, so I'm thinking an AM or a Jag, though Jensen might be in there, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6708 Posted August 21, 2014 You're close, but a bit earlier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6709 Posted August 21, 2014 I am surprised because the speedo has an LCD panel in it and the temperature gauge is in centigrade. These would point to late 1980’s or early 90’s unless the speedo and temp gauge are replacing earlier models. The rather odd plastic switch blanking plugs and cheap toggle switch are not indicative of a high end market car. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6710 Posted August 21, 2014 This should help... I have no idea about the originality of this car. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2653997'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6711 Posted August 21, 2014 Looks like an Aston DB1R or more likely, one of the copies of it. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6712 Posted August 21, 2014 You have the marque correct. I actually came upon this car while showing some visitors around downtown Charleston. I rounded a corner and there it was sitting in the shadows of one of the massive oak trees we have so many of. It may be a replica, I'm not sure. But it was nice to see and take a few quick images. Wilson, perhaps you can determine if it is a restoration or replica by the plate number? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2654069'>More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6713 Posted August 21, 2014 Definitely a replica. The number plate dates from around 1970, which may reflect the donor car. The dashboard should look very like the 1957 DBR2, which we used to have and has a very large chronometric rev counter right in the middle of the dashboard. If there was a small speedometer, it was down on the central tunnel or on the dash just above. Here is a picture of an original DBR1 dash. The original Jaeger chronometric rev counter has been replaced by a later Stack one. By the rev limit, this one obviously has one of Richard Williams’ “very special” engines. One of the reasons we sold our DBR2, was that we found it had 4.7 litre engine in it rather than the maximum 4164cc it had in period. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2654094'>More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6714 Posted August 21, 2014 Thanks for the clarification, Wilson. A friend had DB3S - body by Touring. It came in a trade along with a late 1930's Talbot formula car for his TR500. He just sold it on - shame as it was in very nice condition but he wanted another "red" car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6715 Posted August 21, 2014 The area just inboard from the headlight suggests DB3S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6716 Posted August 21, 2014 John, I love the huge oil pressure light on the DBR1. It reminds me of the Brockbank Major Upset cartoon. I have to convert the photos I took yesterday from DNG’s and I will post a new puzzler tomorrow. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2654138'>More sharing options...
Photoskeptic Posted August 21, 2014 Share #6717 Posted August 21, 2014 Stuart, you are correct, although as Wilson has pointed out it is a replica not the genuine article. Giveaways are the speedo, LCD trip, quilted transmission cover, etc, etc. Still it would be fun to blast around in the thing for a day or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 22, 2014 Share #6718 Posted August 22, 2014 Your next challenge. I drove this car the day before yesterday. I was amazed, when I expected it to be mildly pleasant but nothing special. I was almost able to keep up with a 289 Mk2 Cobra through twisty narrow roads. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/119687-name-this-car/?do=findComment&comment=2654506'>More sharing options...
stuny Posted August 22, 2014 Share #6719 Posted August 22, 2014 That crop is unique and suggests that if I ever saw one I'd instantly know it. I've never seen one. Can't wait to see the whole thing. 1930s? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 22, 2014 Share #6720 Posted August 22, 2014 1930’s as you say Stuart. The later 1930’s car from this maker is much better known. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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