Fairpack Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 (edited) Hello, I was advised to post this old picture my mother in law gave me from her family photo albums. I am puzzled as to what it is. The holes in the doors and the strange windshield post have me the most puzzled. Also the grill bars over the top of the radiator are strange to me. Any ideas? Thanks, Don Edited February 1, 2019 by Fairpack turn the picture upright. (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) I don't recognize the radiator badge. Looks European to me. The door holes and grille bars give it a bullet proof or armored car look. Maybe a custom rig. Edited February 2, 2019 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMc Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 What would be the point of an open top armored car? Extra ventilation? Not much point in that either. Intriguing. Any idea of where the photo was taken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 minute ago, DavidMc said: What would be the point of an open top armored car? Extra ventilation? Not much point in that either. Intriguing. Any idea of where the photo was taken? I know....sounds lame, but maybe it has a full top that fits it. Maybe it's really a boat car and those holes are for oars.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 The 'Hitler Mercedes' were armored open cars. . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Holes are continued on the hood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMc Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Maybe the holes were someones idea of decoration or styling, strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Where was the license plate issued? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viv w Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Dave Mellor, I don't think there are holes along the hood side, It looks more like a shadow from the right front fender side light. The car was obviously a custom built high end car, that was chauffeur driven, as it has a top only at the back to protect the owner and his passengers. The driver would have had to drive and get wet. The license plate has U22 on it, perhaps this was a license date, as the car is obviously built around that era. It is possible the whole body including the RAD shell were custom made specifically for the owner, and the radiator badge may have had the guys family name put on it? The holes in the door, maybe for sticking a shotgun or pistol out of to shoot at bandits?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 minute ago, viv w said: Dave Mellor, I don't think there are holes along the hood side, It looks more like a shadow from the right front fender side light. The car was obviously a custom built high end car, that was chauffeur driven, as it has a top only at the back to protect the owner and his passengers. The driver would have had to drive and get wet. The license plate has U22 on it, perhaps this was a license date, as the car is obviously built around that era. It is possible the whole body including the RAD shell were custom made specifically for the owner, and the radiator badge may have had the guys family name put on it? The holes in the door, maybe for sticking a shotgun or pistol out of to shoot at bandits?? Those are definitely the same sort of holes in the hood as in the door. You can see the screws to mount the trim.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 It is a large car from the mid teens that has been customised. I reckon the top half of the radiator, at least, is 'stock' and it is just a case of remembering what the badge is. That is a Utah licence plate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Utah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viv w Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Is this the car badge? This picture is obviously from a later car, but the emblem looks right. Excelsior were built from 1903 and their cars were built in small numbers in Belguim. They were high end cars with some going to royalty. Sorry I could not find pictures of early Excelsior cars. Viv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairpack Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 Thank you for your thoughts. I will pass this info on to my mother in law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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