About Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #199

Yeah yeah we know, it’s been a while since the last Tough to Crack Car Puzzle appeared online but we didn’t forget it. How could we, as it was a stunning Italian sports car. No, it wasn’t a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini. It was, as most of you knew, the one-off 1969 Intermeccanica Italia IMX. 

 

The first one came from Canada and was spot on. Daniel said “The basis of this car is a Intermeccanica Italia that has been modified for the Italian market and named it the Italia IMX. This prototype was built for the 1969 Turin Automobile Show and according to Internet research it never went into production”

Soon after it was Gerd Klioba who told us more about the car and also gave us the tragic end: “powered by a 314 hp Ford V8, supposedly capable of 265 kph. It was based on the Franco Scaglione-designed Italia (which was initially called Torino, but that name was owned by Ford). As the IMX was meant for European markets, the headlights had to be changed for better side visibility. Alongside Intermeccanica owner Frank Reisner had the fenders and the rear flared out, as well as a moveable rear wing and front winglets added. The car was destroyed in an Alpine train derailment on the way to its owner in Germany.”

Our German friend Fritz Hegemann gave more information about the Intermeccanica make “built by the Italian manufacturer Costruzione Automobili Intermeccanica (est. 1959) in Torino for the 1969 Torino Automobile Show as a modified Italia, confirming to Italian requirements and having some special features such as a rear movable airfoil. It had a Ford Cleveland 335-series 351C V-8 (5766 cm) engine with 231 KW, man. 4speeder, and a clutch of a Mustang. Overall 72 Italas sold, 15 of these as spiders and 57 coupés. In 1976 Intermeccanica moved to California, now its seat is in Vancouver, engaged in the construction of electric vehicles.”

Other good answers came from Robbie Marenzi and Neil Beadle.

 

Over to the winner of this week's Puzzle and therefore the first one to get 5 points in the 6-month competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars. It was a battle between Gerd and Fritz, as both had very interesting information, but it was the complete answer with the tragic ending of the car itself that made Gerd Klioba the winner! Congratulations Gerd!

 

 

Source: Autopuzzles.com