Filter

While hunting for Split-Screen campers!



"Junior Editor" Griff sends in a recent discovery. You may know what it is. We know what it is. It's just hat he doesn't know what it is. It seems that Amilcars pop in from everywhere currently... Today from a remote country on the southern hemisphere, no not Australia/New Zealand! Here's the story, we decided to edit as little as possible, just because we love the story so much, and how the search can be if you don't know where to start looking:  

"My friend went to Peru on Holiday and whilst he was there I asked him to get Splitscreen Campers, if possible. The designers Son Mr Pon lives a mile away in Somerset and we have always liked them
When travelling to see a 1960 Kombi my friend spotted an advert for a "1920's Roadster" in the same area
My friend said what did I think of it and I said I don't really know much about pre war cars but will try and do some research.
Then on Friday I had an email saying my friend had purchased it !
The car has been packed up and is going to be shipped in May

We have found a brass stamp on the block saying "VISITE DU COLLECTEU" which means Visit the collector in French (editor: haven seen one of those before).  Also "Establts Ducellier" on the starter motor which seems to be Italian but the translation just said Italian dialect detected. (editor: Ducellier is a french margque of auto electric s). Also the head has the letters "FPS" Stamped on it it two places. (editor: we know these as marking of the F-oundry) 

There are two pairs of numbers 13  58 stamped on the chassis , I did a Google search of GP cars of 1913 and a photo of Albert Guyot in a 6-2l 4 cylinder Delage in the 1913 French GP (WITH N0 10 0N GRILLE) he finished 5th  (editor: we're afraid Griff, this has little to do with your otherwise amazing find)

The radiator looks very similar and the engine is a flat head 4 cylinder(side valve possibly) so I think it may be pre war rather than 1920's.  The hoops for the body work look like early Ferrari or Alfa Romeo there is also letters on the hoops but until we get the chassis cleaned up identifying the letters from the photos is difficult

It may be a red herring but there was a photo of Jimmy Murphy in a white Duesenberg in 1921 at the indy 500 (with n0 35 on the car) in the original advert and the car had some similarities. The last bit of information is that we have been informed that the engine runs, hence the new spark plugs. (editor: ....er well miracles do happen from time to time)

Having paid very little for the car and because the engine runs whatever it is , wether its a "Bitsy" we will restore it regardless of its value as a fun project
However we would love to find out what it is so we can( if applicable), restore it to its original condition if its a historic car
All we know from the chaps in Peru is the car was rescued from a car "Grave yard"
The car is pretty complete but the chassis does not seem to have the leg irons for the front suspension

Once again thanks so much for your help in this matter and any help in solving the mystery would be wonderful


R A Griffiths,  'Junior Editor' 

Gepubliceerd:
zondag maart 27th, 2016
Onbekend
30 Maart 2016, 20:28
Stuart why not get the spark plug number from the old plugs in the engine?
Lees verder
Onbekend
29 Maart 2016, 19:26
Perhaps the Italian/French combo is Piedmontese
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 22:42
You just never know what's around, even in unexpected places. 'Visite du Collecteur' is stamped on the blank cap on the Ducellier Z209 12-v generator originally fitted to our 1928 Le Zèbre Z-10. The correct translation is 'Inspect the commutator'. The other caps hold the carbon brushes. Our starter motor is Ducellier Z-313. This Amilcar is possibly 6-volt? If you need a Ducellier Electrical installation guidebook, I can send you a soft copy.
Good luck with recommissioning!
Graeme
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 10:22
Thanks everybody for your help in identifying the "Mystery Find'
It looks like we have found a Amilcar!

The hoops are stamped with "Republic RC" if that helps identify the coach builder.
it looks like the car will arrive with the kombis in late june/July Then we can have a better look and try find more numbers.
My friend only had 20 mins to look and photograph the car before he needed to catch his flight.
He was assured from the sellers mechanics that the engine runs hence the new plugs/leads
It seems to be LHD which seems to be unusual does anybody know of other LHD Amilcars?.
The car is going to be restored to "original" condition and any help in achieving this would be much appreciated.
I would like to thank Joris and Fons from PREWAR and Len Battyll from the UK Amilcar register for their wonderful help shedding some light on this exciting find.

It still amazes me that a 1920's LHD French car has found its way to Peruvian Desert. If only the car could talk i am sure it would have some wonderful stories to tell
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 10:21
The engine and gearbox look like C4 to me, any numbers may help confirm this.
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 10:15
The 13. 58 is the crown wheel and pinion ratio fitted by the factory, which seems to be the most common ratio for C4 Amilcars.
The car is also very likely to have a differential, while CC, CS, CGS and CGSs just have a crown wheel and pinion.
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 05:06
A fascinating find story. But it looks like this could be a trick question, as to me it appears so obvious. But then again I have been wrong before.
Judging from the photos it is an Amilcar model C4 chassis and rear end, married to a type CC or CS Amilcar engine and gearbox,
The front end of the chassis has had the front spring mounts ingeniously altered to become out-hug rather than under the front chassis rails.
To these would have been attached standard CC,CS, C4 type quarter elliptic springs.
The front axle is of the early type CC fabricated variety.
Judging from it's width it has been cut in the centre and widened.
Hence the repositioned spring mounts.
Finally to accommodate the new wider front track, it looks like
a track rod from a touring G series Amilcar may have been used, although there are many others that could be adapted to suit..
As to the body a fascinating, unusual one -off, using a novel method of construction.
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 04:55
Boy O Boy, you just hit a jackpot.. What an amazing Amilcar find, Remains look completely original of what might be a C4 or CS.. there would be a number on the gearbox and also the front base of the engine that carries the Magneto. It is more fun then a Bugatti and some times more durable and dependable.
You will find countless Amilcar family members across the world including me who would be there to help you bring it back to life and on the roads that it belongs to. Let me know if any help required from Pakistan, labor and body making is really top class yet economical in this part of the world!

Congratulations!!!
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 00:53
How can you buy spark plugs, if you don't even know what car it is ?
Lees verder
Onbekend
28 Maart 2016, 00:06
It's an Amilcar C4 of course!
Lees verder

Plaats een reactie, stel een vraag, geef uw mening, deel aanvullende informatie of start een discussie door de onderstaande velden in te vullen


Login om uw reactie direct te plaatsen

Afbeeldingen toevoegen aan uw reactie