About Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #193: 1972 GVANG Steam car

The first puzzle of the new six months competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars. We started with quite a rare car. A steamer that looks a bit like a Miura. Yes, we are talking about the GVANG, made by Gene Van Grecken of Sydney, Australia in 1972.

 

We gave 2 hints and this might have helped you on the way. We did get 4 good answers. The first one came from Fritz Hegemann. He told us that 'Gene VAN Grecken (acronym) developed and built this car together with Bob Britton and Stan Smith in Newport, Australia; introduced at the Sidney Motor Show in 1972. Two-cylinder-steam engines with oscillating pistons (2.9 l, 300-400bhp) between the rear wheels and lots of torque made clutch and gearbox superfluent. Lightweight alloy structure, theoretically reaching 320 km/h - optimistic. The car survived with a Toyota MR2 engine implanted. There is a conspiracy rumour, that Shell -unsuccessfully- tried to buy the blueprints. The factory at Newport was destroyed by fire a little later, Gene is said to have gone into hiding."

 

After his very complete answer, Gerd Klioba added that the engine with 400 bhp was only a plan and that the one that was inside, is only a 40 bhp. He also told us that the car was built with the attempt to break the 1906 Land speed record for Steam cars. The car has cost $300.000 to build and develop. Apparently, it didn't become the new speed record holder. Too bad. We would like to know what happened.

 

Other good answers came in from Robbie Marenzi and Phil Bruce.

 

The winner of this week is Fritz Hegemann, although we cannot check the rumour.  We believe his source and that it really was Shell who tried to buy the blueprints. Thank you all for competing and we hope you have a good weekend.

 

As it is the first puzzle, the top 4 can be made:

1. Fritz Hegemann - 5 points

2. Gerd Klioba - 3 points

3. Phil Bruce - 3 points

4. Robbie Marenzi - 3 points.