"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 wonderfulR A Griffiths, 'Junior Editor'