Help me identify a classic car by this limited description.

August 30, 2008 12:24 AM

Help me identify a classic car by this limited description.

I saw a very brief image of a car on a tv show (Future Cars: The Body, the segment with Dr Mitchel Joachim if that should help you). I'm trying to figure out what it is.

It was probably a late 50s early 60s car, but that is a guess. I only say that because it was slightly reminiscent of a late 50s Corvette. The car was a convertible with only two small individual windshields. Similar to this.

http://right-thoughts.us/images/uploads/red_barchetta.jpg

Only the car I saw had smaller windshields, with a larger gap between them. In this gap was the rear view mirror, mounted directly to the body of the car. The hood was quite long, with two depressions that ran front to rear almost the complete length of the hood. Those depressions were dark (the car was silver I think) and perhaps were actually vents of some kind or something similar. Sort of like the two stripes that run up the hood of a viper, only vents or whatever.

That's all I've got. I know it's not much. Maybe if anyone just knows of some more cars that have that two windshield thing, that would be enough. I would definitely recognize the car if I saw it.

Thanks.

posted by gummo to travel & transportation (13 answers total)

old porsche 356?
posted by tremspeed at 12:41 AM on August 30, 2008

Nope. The windshields are closer, but the car definitely didn't have that shape. It was more of a Vette type shape. Long hood, with those vents running up the hood.
posted by gummo at 12:46 AM on August 30, 2008

Maybe a vintage Lotus?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:22 AM on August 30, 2008

This is identified as a 1954 Jaguar XK 140, and this page shows a couple of other (unidentified) similar Jaguars.
posted by stefanie at 1:24 AM on August 30, 2008

Not an answer, but this may be helpful: Wikipedia list of sports car manufacturers. The list is extensive and has lots of links. Happy hunting!
posted by mosk at 1:25 AM on August 30, 2008

There are lots of variations on the Barchetta (Ferrari 166) including windshield variations and hood vents. Do you have more information about the impression of this car versus the one you're looking for, like "too tall a hood", "more side flares on the wheels" or something like that?
posted by jet_silver at 8:11 AM on August 30, 2008

Here are lots of FutureCar episodes - might be helpful if you could point us to the segment it's in.
posted by chez shoes at 8:17 AM on August 30, 2008

Maybe a big Healey?
posted by Killick at 8:21 AM on August 30, 2008

Corvette concept car?
posted by Max Power at 9:08 AM on August 30, 2008

Max Power has it - at the 7:50 mark you can get a look at the hood - a 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer.
posted by milkrate at 10:13 AM on August 30, 2008

None of the cars linked to in the above guesses are correct. But the youtube links have delivered gold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaSWpHrAn9k

Many shots of it starting at 6:52. The best shot look at the car is at 7:51.

That's the car.
posted by gummo at 4:14 PM on August 30, 2008

I don't know what I was just looking at. I missed the correct answer somehow. Thanks.
posted by gummo at 4:17 PM on August 30, 2008

Man, that Corvette concept is not nearly as attractive when you can see the whole thing.

But there are some beauties in the Healey, Porsche, and Jag suggestions above.
posted by gummo at 4:20 PM on August 30, 2008