Vehicle Description
When you know Auburn Speedsters, you know there is a huge
difference between a replica and a Glenn Pray car. This is
thankfully the latter. Pray officially owned the Auburn Cord
Duesenberg Company name and often utilized NOS parts in his
continuation production. That's why if you're a collector, you jump
at this rare opportunity for one of his 1935 Auburn Boattail
Speedsters.
Originally built in 1979, this A866 is a faithful continuation car.
It has led a pampered life that goes well beyond it low 19,128
miles on the odometer. The durable fiberglass body is an exact
replica of the half-million dollar Speedster. It was accomplished
by utilizing a real car for Pray's continuation series. You can see
it today on this one with all the right details like the flaring
pontoon fenders, the sloping enclosed radiator shell, and of
course, the iconic pointed "boattail" that made the entire rear end
an exercise in opulence. The level of preservation on this roadster
is excellent. The white paint has a thin red pinstripe that is
great for those who get close enough to love the details. All of
this is believed to be original, and has held up nicely for its
age. That's why the doors still shut with confidence. All the
intricate brightwork is complete, including in critical places such
as the flying lady hood ornament, intricate chrome bumpers, large
headlight surrounds, spotlights, steeply raked windshield
surrounds, and the even the functional side exhaust tubes that are
almost as iconic as the rear end styling. This car remains
authentic right down to the Auburn insignia on the hubcaps.
The red pinstripe on the exterior is a great link to the bold red
interior. This continuation feels like a great mix of old and newer
worlds. The traditional folding roof, bench seat, and side curtains
are balanced with an AM/FM/cassette stereo and provisions for air
conditioning. You slip behind the wood-rimed tilt steering wheel,
and soon realize the smaller diameter makes this a much more
pleasurable driver's roadster. Plus, there's a full set of SW
gauges to keep you informed about everything that's going on under
the hood.
If you're a driver, the best reason for owning a continuation car
like this is under the hood. It's a 460 cubic-inch Ford V8. This is
the same torque-filled big block that allowed the Lincoln
Continentals of the day to move with ease, so there's plenty of
power in this roadster. More importantly, component maintenance for
the V8 and its three-speed automatic transmission are easy to find
and well within budget. It is this kind of affordable ownership
that has led to this car being so well cared for over the years.
The motor fires up nicely, and it's easy to feel the '30s driving
experience as wind whips past the low windshield. Great features
like power steering and front disc brakes further this ability to
enjoy a classic built for driving.
It's a roadster with pedigree, presence, and the right price. This
is the solution for drivers who get nervous taking out high-dollar
classics, or the dreamer who can't afford a Boattail from the
original run. These were only produced by the handful during their
dozen years of availability, so don't let this exceptionally well
preserved Pray Auburn slip away. Call today!!!
