Quiz Archive

What is it? # 120 (UPDATE II & I : 1937 Buick Model 67X ....)

UPDATE II: by Terry Dunham (author of: 'The Buick: A Complete History'):"The following comment is made in the recap: "You should know that US defence cars were usually LHD cars and all X-port models are RHD cars." I am not quite sure how a determination can be made that "US defecne cars were usually LHD cars" unless one looks only at the photos that survived from this period. To the best of my knowledge, no data from Buick shows this to be the case, though the statement probably is true. However, the statement that "all X-port models are RHD cars," in so far as Buick is concerned, isn't correct. This is a confusing area and it often comes up for discussion. When Buick stamped an X on a Fisher Body plate, or when Buick counted up the total number of export jobs they had built during a model year, they were counting both LHD and RHD cars built for export. The only determining factor as to whether or not an X was stamped on the Fisher Body plate, or as to whether or not a vehicle was counted as an export model, was whether or not the car had been produced for export sale. Bottom line, not all Buick export models were RHD cars. For the record, Buick built 21 1937 Model 67 for export. 12 were LHD and 9 were RHD. So the car on the trailer was one of nine, a very rare car indeed." (well,well, well that's something to chew on...!)

UPDATE I: A new season with new hard to crack quizes. That's what we promised and that's what you got. With the first one the tone is set. As usual the hardest part was not to give the answer, but to determine WHICH exactly IS the good answer ;-) As you are always more precise then we can imagine before ... ;-)) The answers that came in varied from Chevrolet to Buick, Plymouth, Dodge, Oldsmobile and Packard! So you agreed with us on the fact that it is a US car! OK, so far so good. Amongst you seven decided it is Buick, which is right and in our view already a great accomplishment. Well done, but..... we will not have seven winners, so let's proceed... ---> Read More (photo Hans Compter) ....to the year. No less then 5 out of seven had the correct 1937. Incredible according to the minimal visual info you had. Yet we still had four competitors to loose.... The type is almost always the killing part. Just like this time. Only two of you named Model 47, which was the common model of that year, but not this 'fastback'. This is the much rarer Model 67..., Jury members Don Edwards & Kit Foster totally agree with the sender of the photo. Now we had only two competitors left, Alan Brosnahan (AU) and Jan Stauffing(S). You should know that US defence cars were usually LHD cars and all X-port models are RHD cars. You cannot see but only gamble which one this is, but it is a RHD. Now you can argue that it maybe is a modified US-domestic, but you can also say the car was acquired locally on behalf of Commander in Chief Nimitz. As we have no information on the chassis nr. we have decided it is one of the 21 built Model 67X RHD's as from factory. Amazingly Alan Brosnahnan had all this. Congratulations Alan! However....! when new information turns up proving it is originally a Model 67 (LHD) that was converted Jan Gauffing will get the prize as well of course. Many thanks for all your efforts and special thanks to Kit Foster and Hans Compter for providing in depth info.

EARLIER TEXT: It is a body on a trailer. A piece of history photographed in New Zealand many years ago. Still earlier -during WW II - the car was in use by the Commander in Chief of the Pacific (any idea who that was?) It is not simple to identify but with everything on, it would be too easy. The car is of a very wellknown US make. The coachwork is a sort of fastback sedan, like a Riley Kestrel. That year 4750 units were produced plus 21 for export. Even more rare was the 2 door version.... Yes, it is difficult, but keep in mind that the Olympics have started and its not easy to win there either. What we like to hear from you is the 1.Make 3.Year 2.Model-type-coachwork (be very specific). In that order. Only the best answer winner will get the PreWarCar gillet as provided by Roadmap. Rules:

- send your answer to \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it BEFORE Monday, August 16

- PLEASE mention in the subject line of your e-mail: # 120

- include, for in case you win: the SIZE of shirt, being S,M or XL and a mailing ADDRESS where we should send the shirt

- unless otherwise stated there is ONE winner

- please mention if you were an earlier winner (1,2 or J)

- THREE time winners automatically become Jury member, but of course there is no obligation in any way

Friday, 13 August 2004