The Magazine

About Quiz #344: 1942 Hispano-Suiza T60 RLA

Our latest pre-war quizes seem even harder than usual. After our last Florentia (with no correct answer), this time we have received only one answer with the right make. One would expect that our esteemed visitors can easily recognise a Hispano Suiza..! However Jean Claude Poisson wrote "Hispano Suiza T 60 1937 made in Barcelona?". The answer to his hesitant participation is largely yes. The car pictured above is a Hispano-Suiza of the T 60 series, but in this case is one of the late RLA models, produced in Barcelona between 1939 and 1945, with a number plate of January 1942 and in complete original and unrestored condition. Yet it is not easy to find something characteristic of the well known marque in this car; the engine was not designed by the famous Marc Birkigt, but by the spanish engineer J. Burdin. The front grille was redesigned, and the overall body design is closer to any american car of the late 30s than to a true Hispano-Suiza. Even the logos in the wheel hubcaps have a rare form!! Only the front and rear logos or the steering wheel are typical of this luxurious cars.. So our congratulations to Mr. Poisson, our one and true winner! (photos & text Francisco Carríon)

Saturday, 11 May 2013

Trash or Treasure? What's hiding behind these doors?

No Friday girl today, but not less fascinating. Regular visitor 'Pete'(*) sends this photo of the double garage he rented out more than twenty years ago to a gentlemen who passed away recently. "The garages are padlocked, and haven't been used over 20 years, when I rented it to a man, who is no longer with us. I do remember, he mentioned that he stored two old cars in the garage." Now Pete wants to have the location cleaned out and is prepared to give away whatever is inside, provided that you will clean out the full 10 x 11 meter area (garages & grounds). Wow, that's something to get your imagination take off! Is it a late series Austin Seven and Beetle? Or possibly a forgotten SSK and Alfa 8C ? Or just a pile of rusty bits or even worse. Pete never had a peek inside, so it will be an total surprise - or sheer disappointment - to see what's inside.  Now in order to prevent riots of treasure hunters we have decided to gather your e-mails and hand them over to Pete for him to decide to what will happen further. For your information the garages are in an urban area in the southern part of the UK. Pete will be available to visit the location between 14 and the 28th of May. Now if you are interested, send a serious yet very short e-mail to info & prewarcar.com (exchange & for an @) with your name, email address and telephone  number. We will send on all collected e-mails after Sunday May 12. 
(*) real name of 'Pete' known with editor

Friday, 10 May 2013

What happened to Al Jolson's 1928 Mercedes? (upd. appearing in 'A night in Casablanca')

Keith Nordquist sends this nice period photo of a Merc spotted in 1953 in Seattle Washington. Keith says this 1928 Mercedes Benz  convertible sedan was formerly owned by singer and  film star Al Jolson. Also that the body is by Saoutchik, Paris. We see a lot of similarities if not a full match with the 'concours pimped' 1928 K series convertible sedan photographed by Richard Spiegelman. Anybody who knows today's whereabouts of the car in the picture above?

Thursday, 09 May 2013

Vintage traffic jam for Jim Boland's marriage

One of the world's biggest veteran and vintage car collectors, Jim Boland of Naas Co Kildare (20 miles west of Dublin), tied the knot on Wednesday last to his long-term friend and partner Brenda. It was a wonderfull wedding. As many said on the day it was like a Gordon Bennett rally because of all the wonderful cars. Jim was very appreciative of the effort people made to join him. We all wish them many many more years of happiness, (report by Derek Wilson, active member of the IVVCC.ie )

Wednesday, 08 May 2013