Vehicle Description
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.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
