It is always fascinating to find a mysterious automobile whose manufacturer is unknown. Bulbous with a pinch of deco styling this “Meteor” automobile is a curious machine. Little is known about this automobile other than its “Meteor” emblem. There is no surviving drivetrain, or suspension, so this Meteor lends no hints. The seller suspects it is an American made car, but upon looking over the car, we are thinking otherwise. This mystery machine is currently bid up to $533.00 New Zealand. Find it here on trademe out of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Thanks to Andrew G for the submission!!!

Although there is little left of this automobile, the frame is still present and is a trick little piece of work. Thin and certainly light weight, this frame is notched with a very nice “S” shaped “door bar” if that is what you wish to call it. We would imagine that the “S” shaped piece has more to do with structural integrity of the notch than it does anything else. There is a frame connecter that the rear axle would have hung from tying this frame together. Looking at the length of the cabin from the axle location to the dash shows this is a small car indeed. The front portion of the frame shows little in the way of engine location, or suspension layout. There isn’t much to the structure, so at this point it is a guessing game as to what this Meteor would have come with. Also take note of how narrow the frame is, you would have been hard pressed to have two grown men stuffed into the cockpit of this Meteor.

The body of this Meteor is interesting as it is made up of several body panels, and the metal shaping and fit is good, even though this car has become a bit thinner over the years. But what of the styling, and the name? “Meteor” was a rather hip word to use in the 1930’s, and the styling on this Meteor certainly has a deco flair to it. The center of the body is peaked in front of, and behind, the cockpit. There looks to have been plenty of room for a windscreen, but there is no real evidence of there ever being one. The styling on this automobile is reminiscent of some German automobiles, having reminded us of a German Veritas. Featuring an interesting face, the tall tear drop like slated grills are equal and uniform with evidence of being plated. Curiously there are three holes in the lower portion of the front end of this car. The openings may have been for a bumper, driving lights, or perhaps the center opening being for a crank handle start?

The front end of this Meteor is very interesting to study, with its low but bubble like appearance, almost resembling some strange insect. The pointed but bulbous hood then looks as if it would part the air over either side of the immense fenders. Interestingly, the fenders have no opening much like a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C, and other streamlined cars of this era. Purely speculating, but we imagine that this was a racer of the 1930s or 1940s. It would be fascinating to discover the origins, and history of this car. Having seen better days, this Meteor is more of a museum relic, though it would be fantastic to create a new wooden buck of this car to build a modern day replica with period correct components. Do any of you recognize this Interesting Meteor?