About Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #189

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Great again to see the response on last week’s quiz. We had a one-off car. Built by aircraft designers in 1953 and till last year, stored away for almost 60 years.

Yes, we are talking about the Manta Ray!

The first response came in from Robbie Marenzi, who told us what it was. But no other information. But soon, Ace Zanek told us: “the Manta Ray built by Glen Hire and Vernon Antoine. The first national appearance was at the sixth annual National Hot Rod and Motor Sports Show, 10-13 September 1953, at the National Guard Armory in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, California. Newspapers throughout the United States showed the car under the caption “MANTA RAY IS SLICK HIGHWAY BUZZER” when the show opened. Detailed in period Popular Science and Motor Trend magazines, it appeared at Amelia Island in 2015, and its history was published in Hemmings 2016. Hire was a WWII pilot. Auto pioneer makes a model of the Manta Ray.” After that, Fried Stol added some fun info: “the body was made of 14 segments fibreglass. Bumpers handmade of Hudson parts, taillights came from a 1952 Lincoln as the steering, Stewart-Warner instruments and a Plymouth Speedometer. It took them 4200 hrs to build. Car dealer Bob Yeakel bought the car, plans were made to produce a small number of cars, which never happened. In 1959 the car sold to “Peanuts” Lacer who traded the car for a 1952 Morris, a 1952 Volkswagen and a 1953 Packard total value $600!.” After his very complete response, some good answers came in from Gerd Klioba and Verner Johnsen.

As Fried had so much, very good info; we give him full points for winning this week’s quiz. Congratulations Fried, you are taking over the second place in the 6-month competition! Thank you all for participating.

Top 3 in the six-month competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars:

1. Gerd Klioba: 33 points.
2. Fried Stol: 27 points.
3. Fritz HegemannL 23 points.
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