Nice car. I think you were going for "brawn" not Werner Von "Braun", but I like the rocket age reference.
I started a thread about these cars several years ago, and there's some more information there: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150959 The original version was called "Comete", and had the V8-60 based engine and a grille sorta similar to a '53 Ford. The later model was the Monte Carlo, with a 239, a hood scoop and the eggcrate grille. I have always loved them, and have actively looked for an affordable one to buy, but they currently come in two flavors: 1. Rusty beyond repair 2. Fully restored, with prices >$50,000. Maybe in the next life.
And thats where most fancy French cars ended after the war. First they had the rear body cut of to qualify for rural tax. Then they got put to work. Another less drastic measure was to cut a panelvan type rear door in the body.
Holy Von Smolly!! what a knock out machine. Thanx for dipping into this well of super rare vintage iron. Sports cars born as hot rods with adoring parents, wish they would have spawned in the U.S.A. Thanx for the hip visit to this dreamy creation. ~Sololobo~
Great-looking car! I wish that some of the guys building coach-built rods and customs (Foose, Trepanier, Peratt, etc.) would craft clones or tributes of cars like this (and other '50s concept cars). Instead, we tend to get a constant re-hash of '30s Ford designs. Looks like VooDoo Rod & Custom is on the right track with his.
this and the car posted by Jive Bomber must of been influenced by these... The sign says that this car was given to Ford, it had to be quite an influence at the time. I see that this car in particular was too late to influence the Monte Carlo.
There was one on eBay.UK last time I was here - didn't go for a great deal of money, really - I just didn't have it extra. They also have a nice 4-spd tranny...
Ah. I was looking among the photos in the HAMB thread, rather than the JJ post. Sorry, I can't help with the location.
Hello Everyone. I'm form Poland and i see that you know very well Ford Monte Carlo and other similar cars. I have small problem... I found car which looks like Ford Monte Carlo but not every points are the same. Some details can say that it may be Simca Super Sport 8 but some details don't fit. I would be appreciate to help me find correct name of car, because it help me to decide about car future. Thanks Milosz
Hi. Sorry to bump an old thread, but do youor anyone else, for that matterknow how to get in touch with Buck? I need to ask him a couple of questions about his Comete. Thanks. Cris Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
OK, so there were people out there wondering why this neat machine wasn't built for long and with so low numbers. First, this thing clocked in at a weight of 1400 kgs, close to 3000 lbs.. And in the first version with the '60 flathead with 80 horses, it was hopelessly underpowered. 80 mph top speed: See what I mean? Bodywork seems to have been way overweight. Later, when they added the 3.9 litre truck flathead with 105 HP, it just barely got better. Hopeless power/weight ratio compared to other European makes. Second, talking about 3-litre-engines (that's roughly 3 quarts of cc): France's socialistic post-war government issued killing taxes for big cars and big engines (starting from 2000cc, increasing rapidly) in the early fifties as a horrific luxury tax. Something that amounted to twice the price of the complete car just as taxes for anything above 2500cc (like it is still valid in Denmark and Norway). This is why the wide variety of car makers from France (including Bugatti) just plain VANISHED after the war: France's government successfully destroyed one of the main industries of France. What war and Nazis hadn't managed, the government killed off. As so often. Third: (this is another question in this thread): Facel needed the capacity and the facilities (facelities? ;oD) to go into production with their own brand: The Facel Vega. If you look at the roofline of the first HKs, you can't help but notice which design Jean Daninos reused... Fourth: Ford France folded. They sold off their complete property, machinery, production line AND designs to Simca in 1954. So, the next Ford Vedette, completely developed by Ford, was introduced on the Paris salon as a Ford, but then immediately rebranded as Simca and ran until the seventies (in Brazil). Simca did in fact produce the last handful of Comete Monte Carlos but then chose to discontinue this model. BTW: I just love that Simca Vedette with the flathead V8. Far from being as beautiful as the Comete, it still is tres charmant (French for: very charming). Well, it looks like all the odds were against this beautiful creation. So, beauties are rare and will stay rare, as always. BTW: 50 k$ WAS the price long ago. Today, we're talking six figures in any case. I've been searching for these things when they were still cheap. And even then it was completely hopeless... I came out empty handed... At least I know some who own a Comete and will have a chance to travel on a passenger seat in an early Comete in 2016... Just as addendum for all the open questions.
The car above sold recently through BringATrailer, and brought a price somewhere in the mid $40Ks. This was a beautifully restored car with the early (V8-60) engine:
My project is currently "resting" in a barn. Long story,short; it is for sale if anyone is interested. Otherwise, I will restart the project once I have a shop to work in. VR&C.