Did You know the gorgeous classic Paul Arzens' whales?

Maybe some of you still remember the article we wrote and published some time ago about the figure of a tiny car known as L'Oeuf or L'Oeuf Electrique (Electric Egg). This futuristic car was made by French visionary artist, industrial designer and engineer named Paul Arzens in 1942.

1938 La Baleine, an almost 7 meters long two-seater cabriolet built on a 1920s old Buick chassis by Paul Arzens. (Picture from: Carsthatnevermadeitetc)

As quoted from Wikipedia, apart from designing and making the unique car mentioned above, it turns out that Paul Arzens had previously designed and made another unique car known as La Baleine (the whale) twice. It seems that the car's name in addition referring to its size is also to its design which resembles to those biggest marine mammal at glance.

1938 La Baleine featured with the integrated headlights, a panoramic curved windshield (made of the plexiglas) and a proto-pontoon format style. (Picture from: Carsthatnevermadeitetc)

The first prototype of La Baleine was a sleek and attractive two-seater cabriolet built in 1937 - 1938 on a 1920s old Buick chassis. The car, which is nearly 7 meters long, is powered by a 3.5 liter (214 cubic inch) six-cylinder engine and is claimed to be capable of producing enough power to carry it to a top speed of 160 kph.

1938 La Baleine now sat on display as one of the many collections that are incorporated in the Bugattis of the Schlumpf Collection at the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France. (Picture from: Carsthatnevermadeitetc)

This gorgeous car figure features integrated headlights, a panoramic curved windshield (made of the plexiglas) and a proto-pontoon format style, a design that was later anticipated to be the sports car of the 1950s and 1960s. It was remained one-off and once featured in the famous Tintin cartoon series.

1938 La Baleine was remained one-off and once featured in the famous Tintin cartoon series. (Picture from: Carsthatnevermadeitetc)

Then the 2nd prototype of La Baliene was made by Paul Arzens two years after the first. At that time France was during the German occupation which made the fuel especially gasoline for civilians use, being scarce. Due to it was made in difficult conditions for fuel, Paul Arzens made it as an electric powered vehicle sourced of the accumulator batteries that weighs 1,100 kg.

1938 La Baleine powered by a 3.5 liter (214 cubic inch) six-cylinder engine and is claimed to be capable of producing enough power to carry it to a top speed of 160 kph. (Picture from: Carsthatnevermadeitetc)

The second La Belaine prototype is made similar to the first (at least on the exterior), but is built on the chassis of an old Fiat which is much lighter than the Buick. The electric motor of this car is claimed capable of generating the power around 10 hp with a range of 200 km at speeds ranging from 65/70 kph.

The electric version of La Baleine (2nd prototype) while on driving by Paul Arzens in the 1942. (Picture from: Bubblemania)

Today, the first La Belaine prototype of 1937 together with the 1942 L'Oeuf Electrique are one of the many collections that are incorporated in the Bugattis of the Schlumpf Collection in the place what has become the Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | CARSTHATNEVERMADEITETC | LAUTOMOBILEANCIENNE | BUBBLEMANIA ]

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A weird wheeled crocodile crawling to you

In fact it has been a long time we want to write about this car, since seeing its unusual shape for the first time in one of the QuirkyRides's tweets in January 2021. At first, we were not sure if there was any one who willing to spend lot of money for changed the look of their cars by commissioned the automotive company to make it in such way to be look like this? We thought that's not make any senses.

1970 Caruna Spider VW-Porsche 914 may seem it like a wheeled crocodile crawling to You. (Picture from: QuirkyRides)

To be honest, it could be said that the cars is very strange, (sorry) tend to be very ugly or it could be one of the oddest cars you've ever seen in whole life.🙏 C'est la vie, as said by the French. That's life. It is undeniable, sometimes life is strange and beyond our reasoning, sometimes the favorite factor of something unique can bury one's sanity in judging an automotive work. Like the unique-shaped cars made by Caruna AG, a Swiss car company as follow.

1970 Caruna Spider Porsche 914 may seem it like a wheeled crocodile crawling to You. (Picture from: QuirkyRides)

This Switzerland's Spreitenbach-domiciled coachbuilder company founded by Erwin Schill in 1965, and was known active between 1965 and 2010. And the Caruna stands for "CARrosserien und NeuAnfertigungen". Initially, it's known as a company with its main bussiness to convert the coupé especially the Mercedes-Benz brand into a convertible or open air targa.

Even among the service users of the Caruna are the Dutch royal family who had once commissioned the Swiss-based auto company to change the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL coupé of they owned into a four-doors convertible limousine.

1985 Dutch Royal Family's Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL four-doors convertible limoussine by Caruna. (Picture from: Jalopnik)

But for some reason, the brand is also launched several vehicle models of its own, such as the Caruna Spider, which considered has quite an odd shape wedge-shaped body featured with protruded boxy headlights, and may seem it like a wheeled crocodile crawling. Because of its unusual shape and built using parts taken from other cars, and no wonder if the Caruna Spider had dubbed 'the Frankenstein of cars' at the time.

1977 Caruna Staccato model remained using the wedge-shaped body profile includes folding headlights. (Picture from: Coachbuild)

And maybe this is the distinctive style of the Switzerland's coachbuilder has to distinguish it from the others. As if it doesn't matter what people say about the car and even in 1973, Caruna had created other one-off spider based on the chassis of the VW Karmann Ghia type 34, is featured with an all steel body and powered by a rear-mounted 1,971 cc 4-cylinder 100 hp engine, and coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission taken from VW-Porsche 914/4.

That's not ends up here, the model is built of many hodgepodge parts including Marcos windshields, Volvo bumpers, door locks of Austin Mini, windshield wipers from Citroen SM, taillights from Saab 99 and Ford Capri's headlights.

The Caruna Staccato was the Swiss coachbuilder's second unique car model was produced in 1976 and is powered by a rear-mounted 2.7-liter air-cooled 6-cylinder engine coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox of the Porsche 911. And the model remained using the wedge-shaped body profile includes folding headlights.

1978 Datsun 180B SSS Cabriolet by Caruna. (Picture from: Jacque-Leretrait)

At glance the design is reminiscent of the popular beach party car of the day and apart from having the folding headlights, the car is also equipped with other features such as a retractable rear window, and turn signals. The Caruna Staccato was debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1977, and is recognized as the brand's first car presentation to an international audience.

Until the late 1970s, Caruna remained consistent with those weird wedge-shaped style and also offered its convertion packages for the Datsun 180B SSS, Pontiac Firebird, Jaguar XJ, and Cadillac Eldorado car models into convertible versions.

On November 21, 1991, Erwin Schill, the Caruna owner moved his business from Spreitenbach to Dietikon in the Canton of Zurich. And entering the 2000s, the company's financial condition deteriorated and was getting deeper into debt problems with the banks and investors.😔 

The company was also doing some car conversion works on the Opel Manta, VW Golf and Peugeot 504 V6 during that time to the early of 2007s when bankruptcy was filed in and finally in 2010 this coachbuilder was declared bankrupt by the court and should ceased all the activity.😭 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | BETTELBRUENNELICOLLECTION | KLASSIEKERWEB | JACQUES-LERETRAIT | JALOPNIIK | ALLCARINDEX | 47768 | QUIRKYRIDES | COACHBUILD ]

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A unique French two-wheeled car called Pagnon Mauto

In its development after World War II, in France had ever developed a two-wheeled vehicle style called a mauto (two-wheeled car). This style presented a unique scooter figure made by Armand Pagnon, a railcars development engineer worked for Renault. In his spare time, he built this mauto-style scooter by his-owned hand in his Nancy-located garage in 1955.

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter built by Armand Pagnon while sat on display at the Auto Motocycle Museum, the French's Châtellerault-located bicycles, motor-cars, motor bikes and scooters museum. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

Actually, there's no official name for the scooter model, however here we will refer to it as the Pagnon Mauto (as a homage to its maker). After completion of construction, then the scooter was shown on display and presented to the public for the first time at the 1957 Salon de l'Automobile de Paris (Paris Auto Salon). 

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter has been designed in such a way with a high windshield and proper front shield that the rider and passenger (if any) are effectively protected of the wind and rain exposure. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

This Pagnon Mauto has been designed in such a way that the rider and passenger (if any) are effectively protected of the wind and rain exposure. This is because the the scooter design adopts a unique appearance with a seating position in short distance from the floor, coupled with a high windshield and proper front shield.

The sketch of the Pagnon Mauto with a 125 cc two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

For the bodywork of this unique scooter, Pagnon then gave the to the Eslassant company that specializes in the production of racing cars by using the moulding machine. The Pagnon-made scooter is powered a 125 cc two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar.

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter adopted a rear wheel drive system with universal joint of cardan types, and what makes it at glance similar to a car. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

The scooter adopted a rear wheel drive system with universal joint of cardan types, and what makes it at glance similar to a car. And for its suspension system, in the front with the thrust wheels and Neiman ring. While in the rear features a deformable parallelogram and a triple of Neiman rings. And the steering is moved to the back by a cardan coupling as well. There is something confusing about the scooter riding, when you turn the handlebar to the right, it leans to the left (considered could be dangerous).

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter powered by two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar. (Picture from: Alienor.Org)

This may be due to the fork designs so that movement is transmitted to the handlebars with a cardan clutch, but most importantly, if we believe the sketch published by the "scooter review", this fork hunt is not a good fit. However this did not prevent Armand Pagnon, the builder from taking the Metz-Paris trip to present the scooter at the 1957 Paris Motor Show along with his brother as a passenger in the back.

This three-wheeled vehicle had a similar design to the scooter mentioned before and also designed by Armand Pagnon. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

Besides designed and built this unique scooter like the one above, it turns out that Armand Pagnon also had time to design (only on paper) a three-wheeled vehicle had a similar design to the scooter above (called the Tri-Pagnon), but until today never been made into real one.

This prototype is the only scooter made by Armand Pagnon, and after several decades it was restored by Yves Dumez, who later in the 1999 sold it to the Auto Motocycle Museum, the French's Châtellerault-located bicycles, motor-cars, motor bikes and scooters museum.

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information relate to the Pagnon Mauto, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops.....*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | STABILCAR | ALIENOR.ORG ] 

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Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine

Adler was a German manufacturing company was founded in 1880 by Heinrich Klenyer based in Frankfurt and has quite a lot of automotive productions and even aircraft engines. Besides produced various types of motorbikes, scooters are also known to have built some really unique and interesting cars before World War II.

1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine's design adopted the Paul Jaray philosophy by using a feature called a 'spindle' shape inspired by the Zeppelin airship, and cutting it in half through the middle-line to form the car bodywork. (Picture from: Silodrome)

And on their list of employees, there's the name of Hans-Gustav Rohr, a brilliantt engineer who later in the 1938 developed the Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine uses a thermosiphon-cooled four-cylinder engine is utilized gravity-fed oil supply coupled with all-round independent suspension and front-wheel drive.

1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine uses a thermosiphon-cooled four-cylinder engine is utilized gravity-fed oil supply coupled with all-round independent suspension and front-wheel drive. (Picture from: QuirkyRides)

Although those engine only capable of producing about 56 horsepower and actually indicates that it is not a fast vehicle, but Adler managed to turn things by making its car more faster due to it has low drag coefficient. It could be happened, because the car design adopted the Paul Jaray philosophy by using a feature called a 'spindle' shape inspired by the Zeppelin airship, and cutting it in half through the middle-line to form the car bodywork.

1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine's windshield is mounted completely curves nearly 180 degrees, this is to help direct the air around the car rather than above it. (Picture from: Flickr)

After done further testing and design, then it was concluded that greater stability could be achieved when the 'half-spindle' shape was tapered into flat wings on either side of the tapered rear. Meanwhile, at the front, the car's windshield is mounted completely curves nearly 180 degrees, this is to help direct the air around the car rather than above it.

1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine built in limited numbers ie six samples and based on the Trumpf chassis, while each sample is a continuous evolution from the previous one. (Picture from: Flickr)

In the late 1930s, at least six samples of Rennlimousine (German for the racing sedans) were built on the Trumpf chassis, while each sample is a continuous evolution from the previous one. Besides it's tested, demonstrated and exhibited extensively at various events. They are also used in the competitions and for setting records. Sadly, the program was ceased by the outbreak of 2nd World War across Europe.

1938 Adler Trumpf Rennlimousine's design adopted the Paul Jaray philosophy by using a feature called a 'spindle' shape inspired by the Zeppelin airship, and cutting it in half through the middle-line to form the car bodywork. (Picture from: TheCoolist)

In the postwar years, there was a Trumpf Rennlimousine was found while driven like an ordinary car in Ansbach, Northern Bavaria and even registered by the owner and has a plate number of AB 549-485. That's so strange, given that it was a scarce car and made as a racing vehicle and should not be used on public roads.

After being traced and finally discovered, it turned out that the owner at that time had acquired it with a split front bumper, with the license plate in the center and two fog lights. It wore hubcaps over the front wheels and had aluminum strips on the nose and front fender openings. And after its restoration completed, then the car was sold to an American car collector and made its way across the Atlantic.

Since then this classic car has settled in America and has been meticulously maintained. The Adler authorities considered this to be the finest known Rennlimousine anywhere in the world. So it is believed going to fetch a suitably impressive amount (could be in the seven digit range) when it is sold in the auction event. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS | CONCEPTCARZ | QUIRKYRIDES | GRAFZEPPELIN | SILODROME ]

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The lost Fiat-OSCA 1500 Bertone

This time we are in Italy, a beautiful country in Europe which is known for its long and legendary automotive history. Like stars in the sky, countless beautiful cars were produced by the country's renowned and talented experts. Some are still well maintained today, but some are unknown. And one of the Italian beautiful cars whose its existence is unknown is the 1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 by Bertone.

1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Berlinetta by Bertone while sat on display at the Turin Auto Show 1959. (Picture from: ItaliAuto)

As it is well known that OSCA (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili - Fratelli Maserati SpA) is an Italian racing and sports car manufacturer founded by the Maserati brothers in 1947 at San Lazzaro in Savena, Bologna, and sadly the company closed in 1967.😢 Its name is usually shortened to OSCA or Osca.

1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Berlinetta design clearly saw has a strong American influence on its style with a typical tail "fin". (Picture from: RuoteClassiche)

The beginning of OSCA's involvement with Fiat dates back to the late 1950s, when the Italian carmaker was looking for a reliable and brilliant partner to equip its newest convertible to compete with the rival's talented and highly respected spider called Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Berlinetta is designed by the legendary automotive designer, Franco Scaglione while he worked for the Bertone. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

Then the Italian automaker decided to collaborate with OSCA and the result was the OSCA 1500 Spider powered by a four-cylinder dual-axle drivetrain, which would later manufacture by Fiat under license. It was like a gift that would bring some subsidies to the Maserati brothers' company which at that time had always been lack of money and fortune as their long careers in the world's automotive.

When launched for the first time and exhibited in the Turin Motor Show 1958, the Fiat-OSCA 1500 Spider was accompanied by the Fiat-OSCA 1500 GT, a coupe-shaped prototype designed by Pinin Farina that was no less beautiful.

1960 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Spider is intended to build as the rival for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. (Picture from: BresciaCar)

A year later in the 1959, amidst the busy schedule of the company, in presenting several 1500 convertible versions, they also gave Bertone, another renowned Italian coachbuilder opportunity to present the Fiat-OSCA 1500 Berlinetta. The car was known as the creation of the legendary automotive designer, Franco Scaglione with the appearance looked like a typical American muscle car.

Indeed, overall of the car design clearly saw  has a strong American influence on its style, that's a commonplace was not felt only in the auto industry, but in all sectors of production at that time. As it is known that in the late fifties the automotive tastes of the Americans were specifically marked by a tail "fin" and later this was nicely adopted by the talented designer of those Italian coachbuilder to this Fiat-OSCA 1500 figure.

1958 Fiat-OSCA 1500 GT, a coupe-shaped prototype designed by Pinin Farin. (Picture from: AutoVerCity)

The Bertone's Fiat-OSCA 1500 was presented for the first time at the Turin Motor Show 1959. The car showed the trends of its time, with its fashionable side-cuts coupled with a sleek and thin profiles, with an overall style of the two seater berlinetta reminiscent of neat fusion between the typical Italian and American designs. Video below was not about the Fiat-OSCA 1500 Bertone but the Fiat-OSCA 1500 Spider.

But unfortunately, after the event, the gorgeous car was never put into the production line of the Italian company and its whereabouts are tragically unknown to anyone, as if it just disappeared (gone with the wind), even the photos or pictures that existed and circulated in cyberspace are also not many.😭 Its fate is similar to the 1966 Titania Veltro GTT 1500 Coupe (Intermecanicca), known also as the other Franco Scaglione's beautiful car creations.😒

And if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to this marque, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIWAND | RUOTECLASSICHE | ITALIAUTO | ALLCARINDEX | ARCHIOPROTOTIPO | COACHBUILD | CARSTYLING.RU | MOTORLEGEND | CLASSICCARCATALOGUE ]

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The flying scooter in between reality and fictional

'Flying like a bird,' may be one of humanity's longstanding obsessions. And now maybe part of that obsession has been fulfilled with the invention of the airplane. Why only partly, because humans always try to develop it continuously up to a certain point of achievement which is considered to be the most recent or become what it should be. When was that accomplished? No one knows.

Vespa Alpha played a role as the Dick Smart's sophisticated rides in a spy action movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' released in 1967. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In the context of the scooter, which we know as a two-wheeled vehicle that experienced its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, has there ever been the creation of a flying scooter, both fictional and reality?

In fiction, this has been illustrated by a well-known Belgian writer named André Franquin in his famous comic strips entitled 'Spirou et Fantasio' which published from 1947 to 1969. Well, in those comic strips he illustrated neatly a yellow-colored flying scooter named Zandajet. 

The amazing Zandajet flying scooter model is built based of the André Franquin's comic illustrations and sat on display at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Brussels. (Picture from: Meinekleinfabrik)

Although this  yellow-colored scooter can only fly in comic books, it has actually been brought to the real world in a 1 : 1 scaled model to homage to the author and has been exhibited at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin which was held in Brussels.

Vespa Alpha built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' in the 1967 and now sat on display at the Vespa Museum in Tuscany. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In reality, there's an Italian company called Piaggio which is also known as one of the world's scooter pioneers as well as the largest and most successful scooter manufacturer to date turn out has ever made a flying scooter named Vespa Alpha in 1967. As we all know that before producing scooters, this Italian company is a manufacturing company that is familiar with the world of aviation until today.

The Vespa Alpha was built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007', starring Richard Wyler, Margaret Lee, Rosanna Tapados in the 1967.

Only in the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. (Picture from: Vespacountry)

The Dick Smart's sophisticated scooter built based of the Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by 2-stroke single cylinder 180cc engine which in the standard condition is claimed able to run up to top speed of 105kph on the streets.

In the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. The flying scooter's front is resembled like a tilapia fish. Moreover, there is a lamp that looks like a fish's eye and a hole in the muzzle is added as the fish's mouth.

Vespa Alpha built is built based of Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by a single cylinder 2-stroke 180 cc engine. (Picture from: Arttrav)

Even though it looks like a helicopter, we believe that the Vespa Alpha cannot fly at all, especially if it is used as a submarine. As mentioned before, it built just for the movie making and furthermore its shape and condition are not proper being a flying vehicle or submarine. Yes, at least the scooter can still be used for speeding on the streets, if you look at the engine specifications. 

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to the Piaggio's Vespa Alpha flying scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. 

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MUSEOPIAGGIO | MEINEKLEINFABRIK | VESPARESTORATION ]

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Meow! Panhard Le Zebre appeared much too soon before the time it should be

Looking at this car image below as if we are greeted by a large banner that reads 'Welcome to the world of unique vehicles.' Judging from the shape, this car is somewhat unique and can be said to be eccentric because of its unusual design. The car that became known as the Panhard Le Zebre could be said much too soon because appeared before the time it should be.

1953 Panhard Le Zebre was a collaboration result of the French sculptor Jean-Pierre Darnat and silversmith/designer Serge Mouille for Pierre Pothier. (Picture from: Flickr.com)

This retro futuristic two-seater car is built by two French industrial designers, namely Jean-Pierre Darnat (a sculptor) and Serge Mouille (a silversmith and designer of banisters and chandeliers). This unique custom-made car built based on 1953 Panhard X87 owned by Pierre Pothier. As it is known that the car donor is a small car model produced by Panhard, a French car manufacturer between 1952 and 1956.

1953 Panhard Le Zebre posed with Pierre Pothier, the car owner at the Paris district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. (Picture from: Reddit.com)

As quoted of several sources on the internet, the custom car bodywork was made by hand based of Duralinox, an alloy of lightweight aluminum and magnesium materials. Unfortunately there is not enough data to describe in detail what inspired the car's design when it was started to be built. In our opinion, after seeing the pictures circulating on the Internet, it seems that the car design was inspired by the world of aviation which was becoming a trend in the 1950s.

1953 Panhard Le Zebre built based on the Panhard X87 and made of the duralinox, an alloy of aluminum and magnesium. (Picture from: Customrodder)

It's could be seen clearly on the car's upper construction included its wraparound windshields which is very similar to the one on the jet fighter. Uniquely, the car bodywork does not provide door frames, the only access to enter into the car cabin was jump into through the small gullwing doors attached on the roof just like to access the jet fighter cockpit.

1953 Panhard Le Zebre seem functioned as show car and parked somewhere with the front hood are the writing of "Je ne prête mes yeux qu'a Marchal". (Picture from: Automania.be)

Then if You look carefully ranging from the front to the back-ends, the design looks like a stingray. At the front end is given a different color finish (such as metal or silver), there are a pair of headlights, grille and a pair of small lights with metal shell combined in such a way as to form a pair of mini bumpers placed at right-left of the embossed vehicle number plate. Then on top of the hood there is a large scoop, but it is not known whether it is just an accessory or is it used to cool the engine or what? 

1953 Panhard Le Zebre seem functioned as show car and parked somewhere with the body was full advertisements of the 'Marchal' sparkplugs. (Picture from: Automania.be)

While in the side-look, there's large niche around the front wheels and the rear-ends equipped an unusual fender line with small niche. In our opinion, in the rear-end is where the most extreme uniqueness of this custom car laid. And among the many forms that are similar, but we see it like a stingray tail which later many modern fighter planes adopted.

Too bad there is no information about the engine, and it seems that the drivetrain sector has not changed and continues to use the the Panhard X87's original engine, ie. a 745 cc air-cooled 2-cylinder boxer engine is capable of producing power of about 25.7 kW (34.5 hp). And then those power chanelled through a 4-speed manual transmission system to drive its front wheels.

1953 Panhard Le Zebre seem functioned as show car and parked somewhere with the body was full advertisements of the 'Marchal' sparkplugs. (Picture from: Automania.be)

The existence had now to be a mystery and followed by its uses status as well. As mentioned earlier that the car first owner was Pierre Pothier, and there's no-data about the purposed of the car making. But then it seem be functioned as a show car to promote automotive products (possibly by him or somebody else who was the next car owner), because on a website we found several old pictures show this car parked somewhere with the body was full advertisements of the 'Marchal' sparkplugs and on the front hood are the writing of "Je ne prête mes yeux qu'a Marchal". Meow!😺

Where's the car now? Although from a comment on the Flickr page from someone who claims to be one of the family of the maker estimated that the car is in Tahiti now, because after it was bought and then brought there. Until today, its whereabouts are now completely unknown.😿

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to these Panhard Le Zebre unique car, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. Or might be You are willing to see another weird car such the Aurora? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FLICKR | CUSTOMRODDER | REDDIT | AUTOMANIA ]

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