View Full Version : Enzmann 506
Spacenut
09-02-2009, 10:06 PM
Pretty Porsche-inspired coupe and spider from an enterprising Swiss VW dealer. No doors - you step over the side courtesy of the pockets either side, with neat wooden strakes for grip :D
The version that impressed me many years ago had a completely glazed canopy roof that slid back on rails to reveal an spartan, RSK type interior. The chrome loop bumper was a distinctive feature.
Sadly, most surviving examples seem to be roadsters :(
http://www.motorbase.com/uploads/2007/05/28/fs_enzmann_506_026.jpg
http://www.motorbase.com/uploads/2005/11/15/fs_image016_25.jpg
Not bad for starters!
Lauren
Simpatico
09-02-2009, 11:38 PM
Very neat, I had a picture somwhere of one with the canopy, brilliant idea.
http://www.bubaklubrijeka.hr/slike/enzmann_506a.jpg
The step idea was very novel too. When they were designing the Elise the first drawings had a step over sill too high for safety regs; a step was proffered to many guffaws from the engineering team and they diluted the styling to accomodate normal doors. They should have made a feature of it like this.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/848049356_921f37f0ac_o.jpg
MicksRedNova
10-02-2009, 12:00 AM
Must be one of those 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' things. Personally I would stick this in Alex's other contender category. It's that bulbous nose I can't live with. :nonono: And I had to look twice at the overhead shot to work out which end was the front!
Mick
Spacenut
10-02-2009, 12:41 PM
Well... that is the problem with rear-mounted engines Mick! You're right about the styling, it is a matter of taste, but consider what Porsche were producing at the time (RS60, 718RSK, 356) I think it stands up well to comparison. It uses vertical headlamps instead of laid back Beetle items, thats all. Chevrolet pinched the idea for the infamous 1960 Corvette (but had to do it with four headlights to satisfy C&U regulations that came in that year).
It is only a personal list of favourites :D
Thanks for finding a picture of the canopy roof Mark, that is just sooooo cool - in a head-roasting sort of way. You can tell the design hailed from Switzerland. I'd love to have a putter over a few mountain passes in that one... slide the canopy back to get some air (plenty of American concept cars were promoting this at the time, but absolutely none made it into series production)... All together now,
"The Hills are alive... with the sound of Music..." :whistling:
I never knew the Lotus designers were considering a stepside Elise - makes a lot of sense given the height of the car, and might have stemmed some of the chassis rigidity problems suffered by the bonded aluminium frame. Should have made a feature of it, like you said :D
Lauren
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