Whatsthisthen?

[NewcastleFalcon]

More Microcar action from the Crown Inn at Humshaugh.

Easy enough to research, I can say its French, and its bound for California.

bit more...it departed this very day, and has been bought for a "motion picture" so is off to Hollywood



REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

No holds barred, unless you are in the know about Microcars unlikely to be a top of the head guess.
but really easy to research....any sort of search engine....yes even google....will find the answer with a simple query.

Its French for a start, and its a microcar..................not a huge population and the search engine will come up with the answer on the image list.

To make it even easier, and for a bit of colateral knowledge-gaining, try these sales particulars for one sold at auction. Looked like an immense bargain, the IOM similar sized and looking Peel sells for £30,000 plus.

Come on folks I know Mick's on his jollies, but its not difficult for anyone to come up with the answer...

Entries invited

Designed and produced in France, whatsthisthen? was built in the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s to take advantage of one of the country’s more perplexing regulations at the time: the ‘L-Category’ of voiture sans permis, or cars available to be driven by individuals without licenses, a slightly terrifying proposition for licensed and law-abiding drivers, but an exciting one for those without!

In terms of powerplant, the whatsthisthen? , the smallest of the microcars produced by XXXXX , was similar to England’s Peel P50, boasting three wheels and a 49-cc, single-cylinder engine which only produced 3 bhp (compared to the 4.5 bhp of the Peel). With a smaller output in terms of horsepower, it comes as no surprise that the whatsthisthen? only had two forward gears (compared to the Peel’s three) and no reverse gear as well. Top speed was quoted at 20 mph.

One of the car’s more unique features, especially when considering its size, was the fact that it had not one but two doors. On the driver’s right is a conventionally hinged door, while on the driver’s left is a roof-hinged gullwing door. This was implemented due to the whatsthisthen? size, which allowed it to park perpendicularly between two parked cars. In this case, it would prove difficult to disembark from the driver’s right. To the left, however, egress and entry would be much easier.

Quirky and seldom seen, this is the perfect microcar for the Francophile looking for something a bit different with great joie de vivre!

Regards Neil

[bobins]

That'd be a Mini Comtesse, and I'm sure it's featured on the FCF before, but can't find a result for it

[NewcastleFalcon]

That'd be a Mini Comtesse, and I'm sure it's featured on the FCF before, but can't find a result for it

It is indeed. I suppose when the film is made, and IMCDB catches up, shove in mini comtesse to the search engine and up will come the film.

I know I posted up something about the Peel P50 when it achived a staggering amount at one of the auctions some time ago maybe the comtesse got a mention on the back of that.

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

In the meantime here's a film, albeit a very short film, of the Comtesse, on its last outing on Humshaugh tarmac before being loaded up and shipped off to the USA.


https://www.facebook.com/humshaugh/vide ... 343660995/

regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Just pulled up a list of Peel P50's sold at auction, staggering amounts...

https://www.glenmarch.com/cars/results? ... old_cars=1

and a very similar offering the Acoma Mini Comtesse....peanuts in comparison

https://www.glenmarch.com/cars/results? ... old_cars=1

Regards Neil

[bobins]

I found the reference to it - no wonder I remember it as I posted about it, but apparently it might have been mentioned before as well

viewtopic.php?p=607942#p607942

[NewcastleFalcon]

too easy?
whatsthisthen?

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I think it might go well with this:

BFTW

[CitroJim]

I know exactly what it is The only thing I don't know is if it's a V12 or a straight 6

[mickthemaverick]

You do realise, Jim, that Neil will want to know which Series it is ? I have to say I'm not certain on that one !!

[NewcastleFalcon]

I do, but are there any distinguishing features apart from the badge on the boot which tells you whether its a V12 or a straight 6?

Are the exhausts different?

Nf own work

Regards Neil

[Hell Razor5543]

Series 1. Later series E Types had the front indicators under the bumper, and different rear lights. Straight 6, as all Series 1 E Types were (but you had either 3.8l or 4.2l engines).

[mickthemaverick]

I'd go Series 1 straight 6, all the V12s I remember had centre exhausts with 4 pipes!

[NewcastleFalcon]

That nails the engine debate although with a series 1 it could be a 3.8 Straight 6 for the earlier cars or the 4,2 for the later cars, but not a V12.

Here's the front and an accompanying oil slick....

Thats what I believe in e-type circles is an "open-mouth"

Regards Neil