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Marquis of Mystery Part 3

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Marquis Catalogue

By Roy Smith

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

Shattered Dreams
Unknown to all parties, Reed was being poorly advised by the men he had recruited to put the “Marquis”, the name they had given to the proposed fiber glass car, into production. A former Chief Design Engineer at Ford who had joined PlastiCar was not up to the mark, and he and his colleagues got off to a bad start. They found it difficult to full appreciate the concept of the rear-engine design which they would have on the Marquis, planned to be a direct copy of the Rédélé “Renault Special” which would be made after the Rogue.

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Marquis of Mystery: Dreams of Glass

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Announcing the Rogue.

In Part 1, Smith described the search for the elusive “Marquis” which resulted in the amazing barn find of the Rédélé Special Number 2 in Pennsylvania. Part 2 deals with an eager American businessman, Zark W. Reed, who had a plan for Jean Rédélé and his car. Above, the Rogue; was this design by French racing driver Louis Rosier really the “Marquis”? And what is the connection to Rédélé? Read on.

By Roy Smith

Dreams of Glass
1953 witnessed the first Chevrolet Corvette to roll off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. The concept of an all-glass-fiber production sports car had just become a reality. Glass fiber had arrived on the scene many years before. In the 1880s a glass maker from Massachusetts by the name of Edward Drummond Libbey had first discovered that glass in fiber “staple” silk-like format could be woven as a fabric – he even had a dress made that was exhibited at the Chicago World Fair in 1893.

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Marquis of Mystery Part 1

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From the VeloceToday Archives, August 2012

A rare barn find in the States leads Roy Smith to Alpine’s Jean Rédélé, French Champion Louis Rosier, the post-war US sports car craze, Porsche champion Bob Holbert, and back to France for Retromobile, all in search of a car that never existed. An incredible story in three parts.

By Roy Smith

“The car belonged to my father, Raymond Buckwalter; he drove it for a while, and then parked it. I soon found out why he parked it when I wanted to drive the car for a few months in 1958. Every time I turned the motor off and left it for a while, the car wouldn’t start again without a push. This kind of thing you remember, believe me! I always parked in the same parking lot and the attendant always saved a spot for me. Five days a week they would push me to get it started. I guess my father figured I couldn’t go shopping unless I could find some kind person to push it a few feet, but as I was a young lady at the time, I always found some kind gentleman to give me a push. It was the battery; something was draining it. Rather than fix it my father liked to challenge me and he would often laugh at how I managed these small challenges. Now the memory of it makes me laugh – I can just imagine me in a parking lot at my age trying to get someone to give my car a push! When I went to get it painted in the late 90s we found traces of blue, so I assumed that was the original color.” —Mary Ann Wood

Photo of the strange French special taken by the Wood family in 2009.

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Spring Arrives at Silverstone

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A beautiful and rare Triumph Gloria.

A beautiful and rare Triumph Gloria.

By Roy P. Smith

Silverstone, April 18th 2015…Now for something different…the incredible race meeting that is the VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) Spring Start. Roy Smith brings us the news in pictures of just some of the hundreds of amazing vehicles to be seen in the paddock. Not just the racers, there were parking areas full of exotica. We can say no more other than just enjoy. And perhaps our readers might help us with the background of the last car in this feature.< ERA Type R4A ERA Type R4A[/caption]

1932 Austin 7 Special

1932 Austin 7 Special

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Stony Stratford Vintage and Classic Meeting, UK

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Gorddon-Keeble-

The Gordon Keeble once owned by the Author.

Story and photos by Roy P. Smith

Author of the four volume Alpine & Renault series, “Gordini-a true racing legend” and a VeloceToday correspondent, Roy Smith is photographed signing a limited number of copies of his latest book “The Porsche 924 Carrera”. Order your signed copy from Veloce Publishing now.

January the 1st 2015; what’s the first thing any old car enthusiast does? He goes to the wonderfully-supported and well-respected Stony Stratford Vintage and Classic gathering.

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Roy Smith at the NEC: An Old Friend Returns

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The A220 Apine 3 Liter Chassis 1731 at this year's NEC.

By Roy P. Smith
Color photos by Roy P. Smith
B&W photos courtesy Roy P. Smith and Veloce Publishing from Volume 1 of Alpine Renault- The Sports Prototypes.

November 14-16, 2014 was the scene of the now-enormous NEC Classic Motorshow in the UK. I was there of course and having been tipped off was not disappointed to see the Alpine A220 Chassis number 1731 on display, fully restored and in fully working order with Alpine specialist historian Tim Moores in attendance. Of course having written a book about these cars I knew well the vehicle in question and Tim had kept me informed of the recent happenings. As with all Alpine Sports Prototypes there is a story to tell, so here is a little bit about this one. [Read more…] about Roy Smith at the NEC: An Old Friend Returns

Inside Race Retro with Roy P. Smith

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Stunning Sprint Speciale at Race Retro.

Story and photos by Roy Smith

Roy P. Smith takes a look at Race Retro’s Inside Offerings

29,000 visitors were greeted by James Hunt’s McLaren M23 Formula One car on arrival to this year’s Race Retro before heading towards the popular ‘Speed Street’, passing a superb line-up of McLarens on the way including the centerpiece of the 50th anniversary celebrations – Emerson Fittipaldi’s 1974 double championship winning M23. [Read more…] about Inside Race Retro with Roy P. Smith

Retro Alpine Exhibition by Roy P. Smith

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One photo captures the excitement of the Alpine Display. Photo by Jonathan Sharp.

Roy Smith on Retro’s fabulous Alpine Renault exhibition
Photos by Roy P. Smith and Jonathan Sharp

One of the best qualified persons to write about this year’s Alpine Renault Exhibition at Retro is Roy P. Smith, author of four books on the complete history of the Alpine saga, from the 4CV to the F1 Turbo cars. We asked Roy to do a bit about this remarkable display while he was at the show and from Retro, Smith turned in this equally remarkable story.

How great to see part of the private collection of rare Alpine Renaults of Jean-Charles Rédélé, son of Alpine’s founder Jean Rédélé, on display at this year’s Retro! Rarely seen in public all together, this was a show coup, ably organized by Hervé Charbonneaux under his Rally Story banner.
[Read more…] about Retro Alpine Exhibition by Roy P. Smith

The Ultimate Alpine Recreation

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ultimate alpine

For passion and fun…Entent Cordiale

By Roy Smith
Photos © Roy Smith /John Wheeler/SAMCMOORE

At first glance you might think, “That’s a nicely restored A110 berlinette – Group 5 perhaps– certainly looks interesting.” Then you hear the figures from its owner; max power DIN HP 359.8, max torque DIN 325(441 Nms), weight 698Kg, and you’re forgiven for thinking, “WOW!” Then “Impossible! No berlinette A110 ever saw those figures!”

You would be right. It’s not an A110 berlinette, but unless you are a died-in-the-wool purist, unsettled by those who dare to look into the future of what might have been had Renault extended the life of the A110 model, you will find this fabulous recreation not only a true work of art and engineering perfection but, like its ancestors, one of the most beautiful shapes ever created for a motor car, and a worthy contender to extend the name of Alpine in the current world of the super-car aficionados.

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The Marquis of Mystery Part 3: Shattered Dreams

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By Roy Smith

In Part 1, Barn Find, and Part 2 Glass Dreams Smith described the Rédélé barn find, the relationship to Jean Rédélé, Zark W. Reed, Renault Rosier and the search for the elusive Fiberglas car called “Marquis”. Part 3 explains how everything went badly for Reed and how Porsche-Meister Bob Holbert played a part in this incredible story.
[Read more…] about The Marquis of Mystery Part 3: Shattered Dreams

Marquis of Mystery: Barn Find

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A rare barn find in the States leads Roy Smith to Alpine’s Jean Rédélé, French Champion Louis Rosier, the post-war US sports car craze, Porsche champion Bob Hobert, and back to France for Retromobile, all in search of a car that never existed. An incredible story in three parts.

By Roy Smith

Barn Find

“The car belonged to my father, Raymond Buckwalter; he drove it for a while, and then parked it. I soon found out why he parked it when I wanted to drive the car for a few months in 1958. Every time I turned the motor off and left it for a while, the car wouldn’t start again without a push. This kind of thing you remember, believe me! I always parked in the same parking lot and the attendant always saved a spot for me. Five days a week they would push me to get it started. I guess my father figured I couldn’t go shopping unless I could find some kind person to push it a few feet, but as I was a young lady at the time, I always found some kind gentleman to give me a push. It was the battery; something was draining it. Rather than fix it my father liked to challenge me and he would often laugh at how I managed these small challenges. Now the memory of it makes me laugh – I can just imagine me in a parking lot at my age trying to get someone to give my car a push! When I went to get it painted in the late 90s we found traces of blue, so I assumed that was the original color.” —Mary Ann Wood

Redele Found-in-a-barn

Photo of the strange French special taken by the Wood family in 2009.

[Read more…] about Marquis of Mystery: Barn Find

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