StillOutThere Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 (edited) 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/events/feature-lots.cfm?SaleCode=LH11&ID=r142 Edited October 24, 2011 by Vertigo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 (edited) 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? Edited November 20, 2011 by StillOutThere (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share Posted June 24, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarrsCars Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 (edited) 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! Edited November 30, 2012 by MarrsCars grammar, it was a mess :) (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted November 29, 2012 Author Share Posted November 29, 2012 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted December 16, 2012 Author Share Posted December 16, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pbaptist Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Here is an article about a Spohn build on a VW chassisI don't think teh car is still alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 Photos of the VW Plastik by Spohn during construction. Not known to still exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted August 20, 2015 Author Share Posted August 20, 2015 My interest in the Spohn Customs built 1950-57 on primarily US (and a few foreign) chassis continues. If you have any knowledge of these cars historical or present day, please post here or message me. THANKS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted August 11, 2016 Author Share Posted August 11, 2016 My Spohn Palos is undergoing concours restoration at Manns Restoration in Missouri. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 Another of the Spohn Customs has been discovered and has a destiny in restoration. It is known as the Charles (Chuck) Justice Spohn. Based on a 1947 Cadillac chassis. Photo credit to Geoff Hacker and Rick D'Louhy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 On 11/14/2012 at 10:50 AM, StillOutThere said: 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. From June 1972 confirming Caddy engine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) The Wayne and Ralph purchase has been Cadillac powered probably since the used '57 Cadillac motor became available. The chassis is '39 Ford, partly evidenced by the Ford pedals and the floor shifter (last on floor at Ford was '39) and the wheelbase and the baby buggy suspension. Thanks for the magazine scan /photo. What is the publication? The "Boston Blackie" text has given fans of that series fits for years. There is simply NO footage or record of this car ever having been used in the series. It was likely the seller's whim to promote interest in the oddball car. Edited October 17, 2017 by StillOutThere add info (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Cars and Parts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 A year later the car was still being advertised for sale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 Update on the restoration of my '52 Spohn Custom. It is painted in original color, chrome all worked and fitted and going to plating. Mint used front medallion located. Chassis beginning reassembly after rebuild and painting. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Here's a Spohn customization of a 300 SL from the mid-1950s: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 There is a Spohn bodied car tucked away in a building about 25 miles from our shop. Guy has maybe 200 cars jammed cheek by jowl in several buildings. Never sells anything, never seems to work on any of his cars. I could not get close enough to the Spohn to determine what it actually was but it obviously was a Spohn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share Posted December 23, 2019 27 minutes ago, Restorer32 said: There is a Spohn bodied car tucked away in a building about 25 miles from our shop. Guy has maybe 200 cars jammed cheek by jowl in several buildings. Never sells anything, never seems to work on any of his cars. I could not get close enough to the Spohn to determine what it actually was but it obviously was a Spohn. Have sent you a message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted February 4, 2020 Author Share Posted February 4, 2020 The Spohn Palos very recently. Cabrio top bows finished, blasted frame, fitted, painted. Body trim being fitted and installed. Meanwhile suspension and rear axle have been restored awaiting installation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 Update on the Spohn built (above) 1947 Cadillac custom. Photos when new. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesone Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Good morning, just noticed these pictures of Spohn on 1947 caddy chassis I have a Spohn looks a lot like it . Any information on car, photos or gentleman in pictures would be very interesting Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 Good morning. Would like to correspond directly with you. Will try a private message (email). Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesone Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 On 11/29/2012 at 12:36 PM, StillOutThere said: 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 Good morning. Would like to correspond directly with you. Will try a private message (email). Thanks. I assume that is Charles Justice, who had Spohn built the Custom on a new '47 Cadillac chassis to his preferences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 On 4/19/2022 at 8:24 PM, StillOutThere said: Update on the Spohn built (above) 1947 Cadillac custom. Photos when new. The GN-13-45 licence plate is from the Netherlands. It was used for import/export of cars. It is a pity I can't recognise the background. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillOutThere Posted May 2, 2023 Author Share Posted May 2, 2023 HermanOTO, appreciate your adding the comment as it adds to the history of this still existing car. Up to the owner now to figure out why it would have been in the Netherlands on that day. Perhaps being driven to the dock for shipment to the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesone Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 Thanks for information, Have a lot of areas to research. Thoughts were auto tag from small area in Germany. Photos help answer some, and created new questions, any other information on photos, gentleman, would be appreciated. Thanks for all the help Spohn Talk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HermanOTO Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 It looks that the car has a badge of the A.N.W.B. (Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijder Bond, a Dutch club for cyclists & automobists) above the licence plate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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