Road trip sighting what is it

[onuthin]

On a recent road trip I saw this car along the way.Never seen one like it before.Can anyone identify it?Also here is the reason for the trip.

[260Zed]

Initially I thought it might be a goggomobil dart . But it's wheel arches are way too high. I'm thinking maybe a 50's Jag XKSS

[sblake01]

Or one of the Lister Jags from that era.

[Arne]

No, it's an Alfa Romeo Disco Volante. It's from the early 50's.

Was supposed to be very wind cheating but it did not handle well so was not very successful in competition. Needed spoilers of some sort to hold it down to the road.

More pictures, courtesy of Google

[montoya_fan01]

good call. I'm impressed!

[Zthing]

Awwe come on guys........everybody knows that is Speed Racer's car. :laugh:

[Arne]

good call. I'm impressed!

I cheated. I can probably ID almost anything from the late '50s on, but for older cars like this, I consult my expert - my dad. Shoot him an e-mail with a couple pictures, wait 5 minutes, answer comes back. (And then verify via Google.) Piece of cake.

Actually, I was pretty sure the grill looked like an Alfa to me before I asked him, but the knock-offs threw me because they look so English. The pictures I linked show the more typical Italian knock-off. Either way, I couldn't have pinned the model down without some searching. Quicker to ask the old man.

[Fun_in_my_z]

I thought the grill looked like a alfa but wasnt sure

[moonpup]

Ronnie, Where are you coming up with these cars.

First it's Fuelie Corvettes & SS Cameros and now a Alfa Romeo Disco Volante. Is there something in the water over there in Mansfield, Georgia.

[Alfadog]

Holy crap!

Looks like it has been covered in dust for a while... might get a new lease on life soon! I can't believe you saw this, just on a trailer being transported... not covered up or anything.

That's just BONKERS! Very famous car. "Disco Volante" literally means "Flying Saucer" in Italian. No prizes for guessing why it's called that!

[26th-Z]

Isn't that from the Pininfirina studio? Yea....Holy Crap is right. That would make me smile all day.

[Arne]

After looking at the pictures some more, I've decided that the car sited is not a real Disco Volante. Compare to the pictures here and you'll see some differences. The headlight trim, the shape of the door and opening, trim and detail of the taillights, ect.

I suspect it's a fiberglass body on perhaps a right-hand drive MGA chassis. That would explain the English style wire wheels and knock-offs, as well.