Mystery car pix

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

We generally don't allow "one-offs" in the Mystery Car topic.

Ah, I did not know that.

So not wishing to break any rules, here it is:

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/the-mike-kollins-1958-duesenberg/

texases

That's what I get for not counting spark plugs.

Mr_Shiftright

I mean, doesn't a good friend take people like this aside, once they've seen the drawings, and say "No Mike...please don't do this"?

It did remind me of both Facel Vega and Lagonda front ends. I wonder if he got his "inspiration" from either?

ab348

So let's try something else:

fintail

From what I can tell, one of these was the donor car:



Seemed like a good idea at the time, I'm sure.

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, geez.

fintail

Triumph Dolomite Sprint, a pioneer in the small sport sedan category.

One was famously destroyed on a vintage episode of Top Gear:

ab348 said:

So let's try something else:

texases

How about this:

andys120

I think it's a Simca with a Frua body, limited production ca. mid 60s.

texases

Nope.

texases

100% Italian, limited production, famous roots...

stickguy

I assumed it was a Fiat. so I got a shot at it!

Mr_Shiftright

Kinda looks like an Iso.

texases

Not an Iso...created at the behest of a famous guy...

magnette

I think this is an ASA 1000 - the engine was about 1040cc

It was a pet project of Enzo Ferrari - they made about 50 of them but it was nearly Ferrari money for a complex car which performed like an Alfa.

omarman

magnette said:

I think this is an ASA 1000 - the engine was about 1040cc

It was a pet project of Enzo Ferrari - they made about 50 of them but it was nearly Ferrari money for a complex car which performed like an Alfa.

Well that explains the "limited production" part!

andys120

Not a pet project of Enzo IIRC but of Carlo Chiti and several others who walked out on il Commendatore in the palace revolt of '62 or '63.

Back in the day I saw American driver Phil Hill drive ASA's F1 car. Like the little 1000 coupe it was short-lived.

texases

The articles I saw put Enzo in charge. The engine was basically 1/3 of the Ferrari V12 (a straight 4).
Here's one for sale for $180k. Lots of great pics of the engine:
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6092-1967-asa-1000gt-coupe/?utm_source=eblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=vehicle_6127

ab348

Cool little car. I find the pair of inverted hooks on the passenger side dash curious. They do not seem particularly functional.

Mr_Shiftright

Hyman knows what he's talking about, so I'd tend to believe his ad copy.

omarman

ab348 said:

Cool little car. I find the pair of inverted hooks on the passenger side dash curious. They do not seem particularly functional.

the grab bar?

texases

Yes, those 'inverted hooks' are the grab bar mounts, look at the blown-up photos. The grab bar lines up with the dash trim in each photo, kind of obscuring it.

qbrozen

neat little car, but I don't think I'll ever understand spending that kind of dough on such a piece of machinery. I suppose if you are an art collector ... which I also don't understand.

andys120

My bad, guys. I got mixed up between the little ASA Mille and the ATS
2500 (Automobili Turismo e Sport) which was built by Carlo Chiti and Giacinno Bizarrini after the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ferrari#1961_-_The_great_walkout

The ATS was a bit more imposing than the ASA but wasn't a commercial success either>

texases

Wow, one would sure be the hit at the local 'cars and coffee'...

qbrozen

texases said:

Wow, one would sure be the hit at the local 'cars and coffee'...

quite interesting. seems like the front canopy should slide forward for you to climb out.

ab348

texases said:

Yes, those 'inverted hooks' are the grab bar mounts, look at the blown-up photos. The grab bar lines up with the dash trim in each photo, kind of obscuring it.

That grab bar is a master of disguise.

Interesting that Ruth Lesson, the original owner, is still alive at age 91 and living in Duanesburg according to a quick search.

andys120

andys120

Apparently youse are stumped by the black car w the wraparound so here's another look>

Mr_Shiftright

Oh I wasn't stumped on this one--I was just waiting for others to jump in.

It's a Facel Vega FV4 Typhoon with Chrysler power and 2X4 carbs (I think, perhaps optional). Probably a 1958.

fintail

Facel Vega HK500, "typhoon" badge for senior engine option, I think.

ab348

And with a simply gorgeous interior, especially for 1958. I always liked the Facel Vega.

qbrozen

with the typhoon badge on the side, it was easy enough to google, so i waited for someone who knew without the research to chime in.

Mr_Shiftright

I've driven a FV--across the Golden Gate Bridge no less! It's...it's.....a boat. Very comfy straight line GT car, built for a very different world than the one we live in, that's for sure.

andys120

The nomenclature and lineage is more than a little confusing but technically it's a 1957 Facel Vega FV4 Typhoon powered by a DeSoto 383 Hemi "Wedge" motor. It seems to slot in between the mid 50s SV and the later HK500 which debuted in 1959 and was a favored ride of wealthy Euros.

Here's a look under the hood>



..and a look inside>



There's something about the style of Facels that appeals to me, it's disappointing to learn that they're "boats", might as well get a Chrysler 300 (letter).

texases

Very nice. But that windshield washer bottle under the hood looks out of place.

omarman

"...technically it's a 1957 Facel Vega FV4 Typhoon powered by a DeSoto 383 Hemi "Wedge" motor."

Hemi wedge?

texases

Yep, a hemi, not a wedge, and not a 383. 392?

texases

Per wiki:
"The Vega production cars (FV, later and more famously the HK500) appeared in 1954 using Chrysler V8 engines, at first a 4.5-litre (275 cu in) DeSoto Hemi engine; the overall engineering was straightforward, with a tubular chassis, double wishbone suspension at the front and a live axle at the back, as in standard American practice. They were also as heavy as American cars, at about 1,800 kg (3,968 lb). Performance was brisk, with an approx 190 km/h (118 mph) top speed and 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just under ten seconds.
Most cars were two-door hardtops with no centre pillar, but a few convertibles were built. Fully 77% of production was exported, due to the punitive Tax horsepower system in France.[2]
The 1956 model was improved with a bigger 5.4-litre (330 cu in) Chrysler engine and updated transmission and other mechanicals. In the same year production began of a four-door model, the Excellence, with rear-hinged doors (suicide doors) at the back and no centre pillar. The pillarless design unfortunately made it less rigid and the handling was thus poorer than that of the two-door cars, and surviving examples are rare.
1959 models had even bigger engines, a 5.8-litre (354 cu in) and later a 6.28-litre (383 cu in) Chrysler V8..."

andys120

texases said:

Yep, a hemi, not a wedge, and not a 383. 392?

Well i did say the nomenclature is confusing

andys120

stickguy

1965 Olds 442?

andys120

stickguy said:

1965 Olds 442?

On the nose, nice looking car except for the fake wire wheels (very common in that era).

kyfdx

andys120 said:

stickguy said:

1965 Olds 442?

On the nose, nice looking car except for the fake wire wheels (very common in that era).

Easily fixed.. very cool.

andys120

texases

To me, one of VW's plainest cars ever, a 1990-ish Passat. Followed by one I liked much better:

fintail

1990-94

stickguy

I am having trouble remembering years on cars of that vintage lately. I often get off by a decade, a feature I assume of getting old! I do remember test driving one like that (a sedan) when they first came out. That would have been around the time we got a Mazda 626 and a Sube Legacy.

always thought that model, before they retrofitted a grill, reminded me of the old 412.

at least, I think they did a refresh and added a grill. maybe that is the model I remember driving? So long ago!

stickguy

OK, googled 1994 passat. same car, with a grill added. So I am not going totally senile

fintail

USDM Passat had a facelift with grille for MY 1995 through 97.