Spohn Carosserie customs on US chassis

[StillOutThere]

I own a 1952 Spohn custom built by the Ravensburg Germany coach building company. Spohn had built bodies for Maybach, Horch, Mercedes, etc. prior to WWII. After the war they bodied Veritas sports cars, created numerous projects like bodies for the Valkyrie cars and also built individualized customs on new or used American chassis brought to them by occupying US military officers. My '52 Spohn was built on a 1940 Ford chassis.

Any knowledge about Spohn that you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[StillOutThere]

I am sure at least a couple of these cars exist in the US and one in Australia. Would appreciate hearing from their owners, or anyone who has seen them.

[Vertigo]

Are you aware of the Veritas that will be up for auction in the Chicago area, first week in November? It looks a lot like your car in the back.
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/event...e=LH11&ID=r142

[StillOutThere]

Yes, I was aware of the Hartung museum /estate auction of the '49/50 Veritas with custom body by Spohn done around 1952. Owners chose design elements for their customized cars from a catalog of sketches offered by the Spohn Carosserie. With the GM /Harley Earl /Le Sabre concept car's immense influence on design at its 1951 European introduction, several Spohn customers requested the Le Sabre tail fin and taper trunk for their cars. The Veritas and my car are two that share this trait.

I am in contact with the owner of a '41 Packard custom redone by Spohn in the '50s which also has the Le Sabre tail. Spohn did quite a few cars. Others?

[StillOutThere]

Recently corresponded with the owner of a '52 Lincoln Cosmo customized by Spohn when new. Car is in Ohio. Owner has an album of history with the car. The original owner, Lt Luiscombe, USAF, is said to have sold the car to Warner Bros. in SoCal who re-modified the car with "Batmobile" details.

[StillOutThere]

I'm sure many of you watched Wayne Carini's TV show "Chasing Classic Cars" last night during which he and Ralph purchase a red Spohn Custom from the Dezer Collection museum in Florida.

Nice purchase. Wish they had told us anything more about the car other than that "might be" a '57 Cadillac motor (which was not shown). Would like to know the chassis upon which it was coachbuilt, see the engine, see the interior, know its history.

[MarrsCars]

I do believe your Spohn bodied vehicle is one of the more successfully styled cars I have seen. Most, including both cars featured on Chasing Classic Cars, are just too over the top for my tastes but yours has a restraint (if I can use that word on a car such as this) that the others do not share. Great find!

[StillOutThere]

Thank you Marrs.

Newly discovered history on another Spohn Custom. This a '47 Cadillac done for Charles Justice of Gainesville, Virginia. Car was photographed on a used car lot in that city in the early 1970s. Current whereabouts unknown

[StillOutThere]

There is considerable information on the customs by Spohn to be found on the Facebook page titled "Spohn Custom Enthusiasts" and you don't have to be a member of FB to view pics or read.

[StillOutThere]

The unrestored 1952 Spohn Palos custom is currently on display as part of the "FINS" exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Continues to Feb of 2014. Photo shows the arrival prior to display.