1935 Auburn 851 Speedster Replica

The designer of the Auburn 851 Speedster was Gordon Beuhrig who dropped out of college and at 25, became chief body designer at Duesenberg. Later he designed the epic Cord 810/812 and after joining Ford in 1949, he designed the 1956 Continental Mark II. All these cars are flagship automobiles and historic, but Beuhrig is also credited with inventing and holding the patent on the removable T-top!

For consignment, a replica of a 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster. The original cars were groundbreaking and “certified” to go “100 mph or more” by Auburn. Our car is a faithful fiberglass replica of an iconic American automobile known to be the car of the stars including Lana Turner, Barbara Hutton, Clark Gable, and Gary Cooper.

Exterior
Painted in two tone black and silver for a classic look that's complemented with chrome elements and unique body parts. A smooth, flowing front bumper leads the car with fog lamps, an integrated grille, and large, external drum headlights. A winged woman is the hood ornament and her clothes have been blown off apparently. The side covers include long louvered vents and the faux exhaust pipes that crown its exotic looks. The front and rear fenders mirror each other with the rears outstretching from the body as the boat tail tapers inward, creating aerodynamic tunnels that allow air to pass around the car, (the latest iteration of the Ford GT uses a similar configuration). And that tail is something special as it comes to a point, flanked by round tail lights and in the case of our car, show two large exhaust tips protruding from under the sculpted bumper. Chrome rock guards match the chrome step guards on the running board and enhance the wonderful profile. An ivory canvas top with landau bars shows quite a bit of staining and if cleaned, would better match the wide white wall tires on 15-inch wire wheels. Other imperfections include some random scratches and scrapes, chipped paint, and some uneven gaps.

Interior
Beige leather door panels include a stitched wing design and pleated pocket along with door actuator which open the door suicide style. The split bench leather seat looks more modern and shows some wear, as expected on a car that has been used and enjoyed, but no major tears are seen. The rear seat, also in stitched beige leather has fared better and includes side mounted armrests on the walls. Leather also wraps the steering wheel which also shows its age but fully intact. The shifter is on the column which leads to a red backed dashboard with art deco design and Stewart Warner gauges that appear to be from the late 1970's era. The passenger side of the dash contains an AM/FM/CD radio and a flower vase is mounted to the right. Tan low pile carpet covers the floor along with floor mats, while the footwells also contain speakers. While down here, we note some door trim on the driver's side is detaching.

Drivetrain
A 350ci V8 is under the engine covers and is topped with a 4-barrel carburetor and tied to a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. Power gets sent to the rear 10 bolt axle and braking is accomplished with power disc up front and power drums in the rear. Visually, the engine is driver quality and not as showy as the exterior of the car.

Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath as well with ample surface rust as expected, some residual oil, and overall evidence of usage. The dual exhaust finds a pair of stock style mufflers then exits out the back as previously noted. Front suspension is independent and consists of coil springs while the back is a 4 link with coil springs.

Drive-Ability
The trusty 350 started up and rumbled under the car as we launched this neo-classic replica onto the test loop. We're not sure what chassis this car uses, but it feels not dissimilar from mid-70's to early 80's GM full size car. The ride is not bad, and the driving position is comfortable. Acceleration and braking are certainly adequate and everything worked as it should save for the air conditioning and we got the okay from the coast guard to dock this baby!

Well loved and well used, this Auburn replica might fool a few people who've never seen a real one. There's a ton of potential here. Refresh the car with some restoration or leave it as is and have fun driving it. Don't forget your Fedora hat, topcoat, and wing tipped shoes!

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.

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