# What Kind of (Weird Little) Car is This?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 23, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447 "2012-01-23T23:52:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/21 "2012-01-24T17:47:58Z")

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Well it shares a lot of parts with MGAs. It is vintage, and a coupe.  
Two out of three isn’t bad. 😃

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**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/22 "2012-01-24T19:11:26Z")

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> [@jjimm](#):
>
> And [here’s a full pic](http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1957-Nash-Metropolitan.jpg) of a 1957 Nash Metropolitan.

It looks like there should be a hole somewhere for a wind-up key.

Seriously, for those who want to see one moving–the 1956 Nash Metropolitan is what Weird Al Yankovic drove in his film, UHF. It still looks like it needs a wind-up key.

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/23 "2012-01-24T20:16:14Z")

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> [@Spoons](#):
>
> It looks like there should be a hole somewhere for a wind-up key.
> 
> Seriously, for those who want to see one moving–the 1956 Nash Metropolitan is what Weird Al Yankovic drove in his film, UHF. It still looks like it needs a wind-up key.

I’ve got a brand new Nash Metropolitan  
You’ve got a brand new key…

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**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/24 "2012-01-24T20:21:34Z")

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If the car is for sale and you are close enough to read the year, you can presumably read the phone number to call and find out the make and model. If someone is selling a 1957 ANYTHING, they’re probably more than happy to have someone call and say, “Hey, I noticed your car - can you tell me about it?” even if you aren’t interested in buying it.

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**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/25 "2012-01-24T21:57:21Z")

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An [Auto Union 100SP](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Auto_Union_1000_SP_von_hinten.jpg) looks very much like a T-Bird two-seater but it would be an extremely rare find in Illinois. It also would have an emblem recognizable to you as the four Audi rings.

[front view](http://www.toycollector.com/hwdphotos/originals/4034/359/Auto_Union_1000_Coupe_ad.jpg)

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**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/26 "2012-01-24T22:09:44Z")

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> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> Yes. I was going to nominate the [Studebaker Silver Hawk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Silver_Hawk) based on the T-Bird comparison.

A Studebaker Hawk is a good guess but would be both larger and taller, contrary to the OP’s description. But then he may not have a clear idea what an early Thunderbird looks like. The Sunbeam Alpine is also a good guess, but those didn’t start until 1959.

best guess: It’s a 1957 Thunderbird !

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**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-weird-little-car-is-this/610447/27 "2012-01-24T22:13:37Z")

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One more shot: a [Triumph TR3](http://www.triumphexperience.com/pictures/1025.jpg)

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