When a reader asked for help identifying the car above, we quickly thought it would be an easy and fun piece of detective work. One caption mentioned Bugatti, and then a friend who knows a thing or two about Alfa Romeos got all excited and suggested it may be a long lost Alfa P2 with road-going bodywork ( because of the distinctive filler caps.) The same enthusiast then wondered about a Jano designed Fiat?The correspondence then turned to the underskirt ( on the CAR gentlemen, on the CAR!) and whilst gazing at this lovely sports car's body we soon realised that it screamed 'Amilcar'. The rear wheels and brake drums should have told us straightaway.
We blame the distractions, which is, after all, why we share the picture with you this friday the thirteenth. The date is associated with bad luck, but these two elegant girls were lucky, because they had been chosen to pose for the photograph taken by photographer Heinz von Perckhammer .
Perkhammer was better known for his photographs of nudes, but this picture was for a 1935 issue of magazine 'Sieben Tage' and during our investigations we came across this delightful study of the same car....
And another image which helps identify the model - CGS or CGSs ?
Perhaps YOU can tell us more details about the car, the ladies or the photographer?
Despite the date today, we wish you luck, and plenty of it.
( Ed. Thank you to Stefano Bortoletto for his definitive identification of the car - a Fiat 501 S with Bertone body. )
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures by Heinz von Perckhammer 1895 - 1965.