“What is it?” “Is it real?” Questions the new owner of this car will invariably get whenever they stop for gas. Is it real? It wasn’t built in 1935 by Auburn, but it’s a real car that looks almost identical to what it’s trying to replicate, and offers pretty much the same driving experience for far less money than the real deal. This one’s bound to be decently reliable, too, due to what’s under the butterfly hood, but we’ll get to that later. Is it real? Years ago, my uncle had a replica Cobra that he took me for a drive in once. I burned the skin off my ankle on the sidepipe when I was getting out after the legitimately terrifying drive. The most intense feeling of fear and excitement I had, thanks to the thundering exhaust and zero protection, was real. The scar on my ankle is real. The car isn’t the car, the car is the experience. It looks like an Auburn, presumably drives like an Auburn, but this isn’t an Auburn. It was built in 1979, per the seller, by California Custom Coach, and has only covered 23,956 miles since then. If you’re in the market for the most stylish roadster ever built, but aren’t a multibillionaire, here’s your answer on eBay right now.
Inside is a leather bench seat big enough for two. Included in the sale is the softtop pictured in the first image, as well as a button-on tonneau cover for when you want some elemental protection, but still want the wind in your hair. The entire point of a roadster is to be a part of the landscape that you’re driving through, and to enjoy unlimited headroom and an abundance of vitamin D from the sun. Since this was built in 1979 and not 1935, you have a modern single-DIN radio, complete with a 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth, USB, and AM/FM functionality. The engine-turned dash panels and wood-rimmed steering wheel complement the styling and are wonderful additions to really drive home that this is something special.
Under the butterfly hood is a 400 Ford V-8 driving the rear wheels through an automatic transmission. Robust mechanicals, coupled with good parts availability and aftermarket support, mean that being stylish isn’t impractical. The car includes a spare tire in the luggage compartment behind the seat, as well as the Auburn signature golf club door on the passenger side.
Is it real? Well, when genuine Auburn Speedsters average for more than the price of a new house, the only way most people can experience an Auburn is if it’s as faithful a recreation as this example. Unlike the original, this one benefits from a reliable and common powertrain, comes equipped with many luxurious features to make daily life more bearable, and will be significantly more affordable to run and drive. The cherry on top of this beautiful beige cake is that it’s accessible, especially when compared to what it’s emulating. If the whole point of a car is the driving experience, this supplies it in spades. Is it real? It’s as real as you want it to be.
“..the whole point of a car is the driving experience,..”
“ Is it real? It’s as real as you want it to be.”
WOW. Perfect twist of the quill, Ben.
This could be the iteration of a modern project that someone started after finding just a shell and using what they had to build something THEY appreciated.
I guess not really a kit car, but it is one of those small niche vehicles like the other “neoclassics” of the time. I think this is the only build I have seen that I actually would want. Seems very well executed
This is a beautiful car. I loved the way they made them back in the 30’s. Since it says Supercharger on it. Why not get a Holley supercharger and put it on the 400. That way you wouldn’t be fibbing on the name plate. And a extra boost to move it. Being the bid is at $40,200.00 I would not have a clue what the reserve is. But the BIN is over $61,000.00. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
The question isn’t “What is it?”
The Question is “Why is it?”
Sorry, but I see a garish ‘recreation’ that plain misses the mark. My father had a friend who owned a real one. I never rode in it, but I was dazzled by the size and shape, now more than sixty years ago.
The subject car’s styling is close, but no cigar.
You are a lucky man, Den, to have the good fortune of forming your ideal based on the real thing. Many of us have never seen one “up close and personal” other than perhaps at a car show or in a museum, collection etc. like Harrahs. A friend was one of the paint team leads there at Harrahs and I was blessed with being front and center when the real deal was brought back to life from someone’s “barn/garage/basement find” that one of Mr. Harrahs team found. “There’s nothing like the real thing” as more than one girl said when she found her promise ring was actually Zircon and there’s no real, true substitute for that in a car either.
But then again, can’t we want our own version of what a car is by what we hold to be something we appreciate? Someone will drive and enjoy this in a heartbeat and when someone said “But it’s not the real thing” they’ll reply “Sure, but it’s as close as I can get-do you own YOUR dream machine?”
The probable ensuing silence will be as loud as a 10 yard thunderclap..
Genuine car-people never ask “What is it?”.
That’s a question marking a civilian.
I like these. I was lucky enough to have been in a real one, a 36. The car had a two speed rear and other neat items. I know I could never afford a real one but I would have this in a flash. Almost or just as beautiful and easy to repair and drive unlike it’s Grandfather.
Stunning
There is a new 1934 Packard Victoria twin six to compare it to. They are taking orders at Packard Motors.
And I wish Packard Motors every success. Every automobile company started out as a dream.
While I admire the new Packard company, I just can’t see there being much of a market for it, not enough for them to make money on them,
A friend’s dad had red and cream replica speedster just like this when I was in junior high, it was absolutely silent at school zone speeds and very convincing to my 7th grade car nut eyes.
Real or not this is a real beauty and I would rather have this than a “real” one. My goodness if only I had the money for this sweet ride.
the rag top is just that and need appearance on curb side in the cylindrical file. The hrd top to replace it (from the oem). Glad we got the 1st, 2nd, 4th pic as it seems to do the authentic best. I might go for this as to today’s parts sourceability (rather than original).
851 Speedster:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=1935+aburn+boat+tail&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
this 2 me is the beginning of classic car period (Merican) ending in very early ’50s. Others available too (cord 812, it seems others doing low volumn ’35 – 50) and more modern have been in ‘kit cars’ (delorean, 356 2/C, mg t A/F, & more). Europe was post was to late ’70s (pretty much, no exact stop date like Merican).