One of the hottest and most interesting segments of the collectible car hobby is that of kit cars. From accurate recreations to aesthetically questionable representations of classics of days past, these vehicles have become popular once again for the same reason they sold well in their heyday. They are for having fun and fun only. Some are far more refined than others, and this 1978 California Custom Coach Auburn Speedster replica for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Surprise, Arizona is one of the most polished replica automobiles you can own. Most of these beautiful recreations of the famed Auburn Boattail Speedster were factory-built in the seventies on a new LTD chassis and were priced at around $37,500. This pristine example is being offered today at a princely $57,000. With original Auburns selling in the high six figures, is this fiberglass beauty a bargain at that price? Thanks to TJ for another incredible find!
The website auburnspeedsters.com provides a concise history of these interesting replicas. Built by a California company by the name of California Custom Coach, these replica Auburn Speedsters were a cut above your average seventies kit car. Customers were at first given the option of building their kit on a contemporary LTD chassis, but that soon gave way to the factory offering completed cars only. The company offered not just standard speedsters, but a Phaeton version on a stretched chassis that offered seating for four. They also offered a Ferrari Daytona Spyder replica body for C3 Corvettes and four-door conversions for then-new C3s. Basic kits, called the 876, started at just under $7,000, and factory-built cars sold for $37,500.
The company managed to live on until the early eighties, but the molds for the body parts seem to pop up from time to time. Other companies have also tried to produce replicas of Auburn’s famed Speedster with mixed success. The difference between the CCC factory-built versions and just about every other Speedster is that the fit and finish on the manufactured ones are impressive. These cars, when painted in vintage colors and given a proper set of wheels and tires, can pass for the real thing at a glance. The proportions are correct, the little details are there, and the design itself stops traffic just as it did so many years ago.
The Speedster you see here is titled in Arizona as a 1978 vehicle based upon its LTD chassis. We are not told if it was customer-built or factory-constructed, but the outstanding fit and finish allude to the latter. The exterior looks like an original Auburn except for the brown and tan finish and the modern wire wheels. Imagine it in all black with a set of steel wheels and period-correct hubcaps and you can see why these replicas are coveted by some collectors.
A shot of the well-cared-for interior shows a passing similarity to the original Auburn but with a host of modern features. Most prominent is the automatic transmission, but the aftermarket gauges and chromed and billet aluminum parts and pieces do detract a bit. The vintage-style steering wheel, however, is perfect for the interior of such a car and the well-made vinyl interior is in great shape after all these years.
Under the long, elegant hood rests a 351 Windsor V-8 according to the seller. The ad lists the car having a questionable 1,111 miles on the odometer, but all signs point to this car being driven little and having been garaged all its life. We are told that it has front disc brakes to help slow it down. We can also see that power brakes are present, and it is safe to assume that power steering is there as well.
Overall, this is an exceptionally nice example of one of the finest replicars ever made. The condition of the car is amazing given that it is likely 47 years old. Is it worth the asking price? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Apparently one of these CCC replicas was used as the “Auburn” featured in many episodes of Remington Steele:
https://www.imcdb.org/v368114.html
Yep, they’ve been seen in 29 movies and TV shows to date from that to Chips, Seabiscuit, Magnum PI, Gran Torino and Charlie’s Angels. If you do a car Make and Model search it will pull them all up.
A good looking kit car that has nothing even remotely VW inspired poking out from underneath.
I thought I could spot a kit car from a mile away, but this car proves me wrong, lol. This is really beautiful and will be a head turner where ever it goes.
CT Dave
Release your inner Banacek!
I’ve never cared for these cars much from the doors forward they look cool but I just don’t like the boat tail rear end, I know personal taste
For me, the boattail makes it, like in the early ’70s Rivieras … but, like you said, it’s personal taste …
Have a good friend who has one of these.
If you are a introvert, you won’t be after spending a day driving around Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, WA. on a sunny summer day.
Women everywhere.
Oh, back to the car…his is a maroonish burgundy. Very responsive.! !
Looks like a well kept, nice shape kit. A plus would be if the mileage is correct. Put it on a rack do a FULL fluid flush and go for a week cruise..for a week or so. Really can’t beat the dependability of the frame and drive train.
You will be amazed at the 0-60 time. No real weight to them.
They’re a BLAST.
I can believe the mileage for the car after it left the factory. The question is did they start with a brand new LTD, or did the donor chassis and drive train have a bunch of miles on the clock? A beauty regardless. If I had it the only changes I would make would be a new set of gauges with a period correct look to them, and I’d replace that billet gas pedal.
My uncle had a real Auburn that he bought as a basket case. I remember walking around that car, on blocks in his barn, where is sat for decades. I was a young teen at the time and I was impressed at the great size and nobility of that car. I like the kit car you have pictured here but against the “real thing” of my memories, it looks smaller and the wheels appear diminutive.
Bruce Doxey, Lake Tahoe, Nv.
Jeff, I agree with all your comments. One hundred percent a replica but very well done. If you accept it for what it is it could be a lot of fun. If I had it I would have a sign that would say YES I know it is a replica, I am not stupid, I just like it!
Fred, after reading your comments I went back through the fb ad pictures. I noticed a drip pan under the engine/transmission area. Appears that it is getting some use.
I’m curious who’s name is on the title. I suppose you could find out by running the license plate. Most likely isn’t the Jeff that is listing the car. I looked over his recent listings. Makes a guy go…humm?
If these had proper narrow tall wheels and tires, they would look so much better. Glenn Pray built some of the earliest replicas – with proper wheels, a Buick straight eight and a floor shifted three speed they probably even drove Ike a real one!
I think these are really cool.. but then I’m partial to boats too so I’m a bit prejudice I guess. To my mind though Beuhrig had an awesome idea for an American sports car. They were guaranteed to do 100 mph right out of the factory with the Lycoming inline 8 and every one was tested to make sure it would. I think this one is a little overpriced to me though, the replicas by Speedster Motorcars have a better build quality overall and with greater attention to detail and are sought after for that reason, so if I was in the market for one that’s the way I’d go.