Auto ID #219 Finished

[otherunicorn]

Pontiac - 1928 6-28 Roadster (or phaeton)

http://www.vintagevehicleclubaustralia.com/categories/pontiac/pontiac_1928_1.php
http://www.earlytimeschapter.org/28ad4.html

 

 

 

This week we will try something a little different. These photos were taken from a "please help identify this car" post. Even though I did not know the car, I was able to identify it using the skills gained playing this game. Let's see if you can too.

 

Edited August 22, 2016 by otherunicorn

[Ace-Garageguy]

Though there are several characteristics that would identify it immediately to someone familiar with the make, after 1/4 hour of searching, I'm coming up dry. That's my time limit. I'll be curious to see what she is.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[otherunicorn]

Okay, I'm opening this up to discussion. Share your clues. We have had one correct, and one incorrect answer. That's not a lot!

 

[landman]

Essex.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Okay, I'm opening this up to discussion. Share your clues...

The closely-spaced vertical ribs stamped in the lower area of the radiator shell should be a positive identifier. I have found similar, but nothing exact.

There also appears to be an unusual curlicue stamped into the cowl side as part of the character line. Again, I've found nothing even similar.

The fact that this car is missing its rear bodywork may be an indication that it was a alloy-bodied coachbuilt car, the aluminum portion having been scrounged for the war effort. I've seen this in junkyards everywhere there are pre-WWII cars.

[otherunicorn]

The closely-spaced vertical ribs stamped in the lower area of the radiator shell should be a positive identifier. I have found similar, but nothing exact.

There also appears to be an unusual curlicue stamped into the cowl side as part of the character line. Again, I've found nothing even similar.

The fact that this car is missing its rear bodywork may be an indication that it was a alloy-bodied coachbuilt car, the aluminum portion having been scrounged for the war effort. I've seen this in junkyards everywhere there are pre-WWII cars.

That curlicue is a vital clue. Searching for it won't yield much, but when you find a car with it, you know you have the right car.

You don't even need to worry about the rear of the car when searching. They keys to finding it are:

1) the year, and going on styling, that shouldn't be hard to guess

2) what it isn't. It obviously isn't a ford or a chev, so exclude them from your search. Exclude anything else that it isn't as well. You'll work that out with each successive search.

So your search would look something like this: 19xx car -ford -chev -chevrolet

Don't waste your time searching for "1920's" or "1930s" etc. Go through the years one at a time, starting at your best guess.

What clues do we have here?

1) distinctive radiator.

2) curlicue

3) headlight shape.

4) hood length and grill

5) shape of fenders

6) six wheel bolt holes.

Some of these are more important than others, but each will help you eliminate wrong models.

So, for example, we go with the popular, but incorrect guess "Essex", so we create a second search for "1928 essex", then we search for "1929 essex", then "1930 essex" and so on, and it becomes quite clear that the Essex has the wrong headlights, and a plain cowl, so we go back to our main search and remove essex from it, so now we have: 19xx car -ford -chev -chevrolet -essex

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup, that's how you do it. And after another half hour of searching, still no joy. I'm done. Nobody is paying me. 

[dw1603]

This thing has probably had a good thump on the front at some time so the inclined radiator made me think it was much later than it actually is. I eventually found it using more or less the technique described by Ken, but I admit there was an element of luck involved.

[otherunicorn]

If no one else works out what it is this week, I am very tempted to use a restored example as next week's subject!

 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Another important feature for the list is the windshield frame which indicates its an open car.

[Ace-Garageguy]

[Draggon]

 x 2

[dodgefever]

I believe I have it.

[otherunicorn]

From the original pictures:
dw1603
From photo of restored car.
Draggon
dodgefever
Ace-Garageguy
bobthehobbyguy