|
|
Post by Jean B. on May 12, 2022 10:15:33 GMT -5
Gentlemen, as you may know, I'm currently following my "Horch project". For my next builds I'm researching the history of the Horch roadsters, especially those bodied by Erdmann & Rossi. It is very difficult to do that, there are lots of photos in the www, but most reports are contradictory, and so I try to bring all available information in a consistent order. Here's a photo I've found today, showing a Horch 855 Spezial Roadster. Obviously the picture was taken after WWII, the car seems to be quite original but in a rather derelict condition (with an Auburn 851 bumper!). Does anyone of you cracks have an idea about the origin of the number plate? Perhaps the shape, the colour, anything would give a hint of where and when this photo had been taken: Any ideas?
|
|
|
|
Post by alex on May 13, 2022 16:20:07 GMT -5
Gentlemen, as you may know, I'm currently following my "Horch project". For my next builds I'm researching the history of the Horch roadsters, especially those bodied by Erdmann & Rossi. It is very difficult to do that, there are lots of photos in the www, but most reports are contradictory, and so I try to bring all available information in a consistent order. Here's a photo I've found today, showing a Horch 855 Spezial Roadster. Obviously the picture was taken after WWII, the car seems to be quite original but in a rather derelict condition (with an Auburn 851 bumper!). Does anyone of you cracks have an idea about the origin of the number plate? Perhaps the shape, the colour, anything would give a hint of where and when this photo had been taken: Any ideas?
I have no first-hand knowledge of European plates (of course). But, I did a bit of research and as far as I have been able to find out only Portugal and the Netherlands used the ab12-34 format. It looks like it's white and black so if my information is correct that would be Portugal. I could be way off, but I hope this helps. |
|
|
|
Post by Tom on May 13, 2022 17:01:47 GMT -5
Both PO and NL used to have white lettering on a dark background. I think this is a very early US registration from before when the plates were standardised.
|
|
|
|
Post by alex on May 13, 2022 22:23:18 GMT -5
Both PO and NL used to have white lettering on a dark background. I think this is a very early US registration from before when the plates were standardised. Could well be. I thought it was European due to the superscript and the shape, but that was just an assumption. I don't know of any US plates in that format but I'm no expert.
US plates are pretty well documented due to the collector market so we should do a bit more digging. I have a friend who restores old Rollers (he restored the #1 Silver Ghost in the Americas) so I'll send the photo to him and see if he has any insight.
Veasey is a real artist (he would hate to hear me say that) who "gets it". He doesn't build trailer queens. If he builds'em, they get driven.
Also, I'm not sure that is an Auburn 851 bumper. The sweep (drop) looks a bit off to me, but that could just be the camera angle.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom on May 14, 2022 1:02:30 GMT -5
Those rear wheels also look like early US truck wheels to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jean B. on May 14, 2022 11:36:27 GMT -5
Dear Alex,
dear Tom,
thank you already very much for your efforts! Indeed, the general shape of the front bumper seems to be the one from the Auburn, but I've checked the photos, and the original bumper had the center bow deeper and wider. Nevertheless, the two attachments left and right seem to be originally Auburn. This could lead to an American origin, as half of the German classic cars went to the U.S. after war, and the other half was kidnapped by the Russians, like most of artisanal treasuries. The American G.I.s were often "paid" for some food or chocolate with old cars, which were of no use anymore for the Germans (and also the other Europeans). After 1945, there was no fuel, no spare parts, but first of all the time was simply over for driving straight eight roadsters and luxury limousines. The people were left with absolutely nothing, and many owners of the great cars were dead, missing or had no homes anymore. I know from my grandparents that the last remaining jewelry, some rings and earrings, changed owners for a slice of bread and a spoonful of sugar. So very many of those dreamcars made a trip across the Atlantic, finding new homes from New Jersey to California - and if they had a lucky fate, they can nowadays be admired in fully restored condition in Pebble Beach.
My researching for the Horch Roadsters resulted in hundreds of questions, most of them are impossible for me to solve. But I plan to contact one of the greatest Erdmann & Rossi experts, residing in Berlin, and will try to verify some (at least for me) extremely interesting news I think I've found out about the whereabouts of some gorgeous Horch roadsters.
Any information would help, and so I would really appreciate if you would have any opportunity to verify where the number plates may had been issued. I already searched Indian (!) origins, but they had no "px", as it seems.
It will take a while, but I am sure that sometime in the future I will be able to supply a brief history of the origins and the whereabouts of the magnificent Horch roadsters!
|
|
|
|
Post by thecollector on May 9, 2024 21:07:07 GMT -5
|
|
