Need help IDing a car

[Fritzo]

Saw a pair of race cars zipping around today, and they were WAY cool. The thing that's driving me nuts though is I have no idea what kind of cars they were. I'm hoping someone here can help figure it out with these clues:

1: They were small- about the size of a Triumph or a Karmann Ghia, but with hard tops.
2: They looked like they were from the late 60's or 70's.
3: The grill was oval and the headlights were embedded in the grill (like this):

4: The rear looked like a hatchback (large sloping rear window). The tail lights were small faceted horizontal rectangles. The rear looked very similar to an MGB:

I'm hoping with the unique grill description someone can put an ID on these puppies. Thanks!

 

[XavierMace]

Some of the Nash's had that kind of setup and are in the general size category you're talking about, but that was the 50's. Toyota 2000GT had popup headlights in addition to in the grill, but fits your general description as well.

 

[Fritzo]

Some of the Nash's had that kind of setup and are in the general size category you're talking about, but that was the 50's. Toyota 2000GT had popup headlights in addition to in the grill, but fits your general description as well.

Thanks for the reply. It wasn't a Toyota or a Nash. The body was nearly identical to the MGB listed above, but the front grill took up most of the front and was exactly in the configuration listed above.

 

[twinrider1]

Sounds like the body style known as a Shooting Brake. Here's an MGB version... (EDIT: oops, just a front view of the same style you posted)

But, any chance the original headlights were removed and covers put on, and the other headlights were aftermarket like these? Not sure about cars, but motorcycle racing orgs often require headlights be removed or at least taped over.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Zipping around on a race track? If not, what made them "race cars"?

 

[ISAslot]

Avanti?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Triumph TR4 perhaps?

 

[kitatech]

Mgb-gt...as twinrider alluded to....

 

[JulesMaximus]

Austin Healey? Correct grill shape but headlights are not embedded in the grill.

Or maybe even a Triumph TR6?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nash Healey?

 

[Fritzo]

Triumph TR4 perhaps?

Close, but the grill was perfectly oval, and the only headlights were mounted in the grill (as shown above). It was also a hatchback-style hard top.

I saw the two cars on the street. They had mods, numbers, and livery...and sounded awesome 😀

 

[ElFenix]

Could be custom coachwork.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe "Bumblebee"

 

[JulesMaximus]

1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe "Bumblebee"

:thumbsup: I bet that's it.

That is a pretty rare car. I was searching old Italian and British 2+2 coupes but never saw that one in the google images. I have seen pics of this car before though. It's a cool car for sure.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

That is a pretty rare car.

Yeah, really hard to find images of it, but I did find another very similar version (large image gallery). They have great lines until you look at it straight on.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I also found this, though that rear window is very distinctive.

 

[Fritzo]

1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe "Bumblebee"

Wow...that might be IT!!! From the description, it's a rare care, so it was most likely a kit. But WOW did they look awesome in person (fast as hell too!). I'm going to go car hunting this weekend to see if I can get any pics.

Thanks for the effort everyone!