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Posted

Just wondering if anyone has come across ( either the car, or preferably pics of ) a boat tail speedster with a steel top. All the ones I have seen that look half decent are of the roadster type, and I'd be really interested in one with a coupe style top. Any ideas?

Posted

If you're asking about the Auburn, one was originally built, and two exist. It was a one-off that burned in the great-big-huge L.A. Auto Show fire in 1929. It was replicated (two-fold) by a doctor in Indiana, both of which are stunning.

The Golden Submarine was also a one-off, built for Barney Oldfield. Oldfield requested the closed car to see if it was safer than the open cars, in which many of his friends had died in race accidents.

Posted

Interesting point about the Golden Submarine. The windows are black wire mesh, no glass. But Barney reported the air was so calm inside he could smoke his cigar at 100 MPH. Not sure if this is due to the streamlined shape directing the air around rather than thru the body. Or just because the windows were so small.

Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Weren't there boat-tailed Franklin coupes in the late '20s? I think Dick Burnham in Connecticut has one. </div></div>

The Burnham Franklin is a roadster, can't remember the name of the coach builder. Nice car, I got to drive it a few years ago, nice transmission. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you're asking about the Auburn, one was originally built, and two exist. It was a one-off that burned in the great-big-huge L.A. Auto Show fire in 1929. It was replicated (two-fold) by a doctor in Indiana, both of which are stunning.

The Golden Submarine was also a one-off, built for Barney Oldfield. Oldfield requested the closed car to see if it was safer than the open cars, in which many of his friends had died in race accidents. </div></div>

One-off is not a production car. Clones are not production cars. Please name another "Speedster" that's not a convertible. I can't think of any.

Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Weren't there boat-tailed Franklin coupes in the late '20s?</div></div>

I think you're thinking of the Essex coupes that had boattail rear ends. But they weren't called speedsters, I don't think. I'll check tomorrow.

Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Weren't there boat-tailed Franklin coupes in the late '20s?</div></div>

I think you're thinking of the Essex coupes that had boattail rear ends. But they weren't called speedsters, I don't think. I'll check tomorrow. </div></div>

The Rickenbacker Sport Sedan turned a lot of heads when it was at Hershey @15 years ago.416152-images.jpg

post-31159-143137911496_thumb.jpg

Posted

Wasn't there a late 20's Peerless boattailed coupe for sale in the AACA forum a year ago or so? It was the small series car & priced around $15000 I think.

Posted

wow........haven't been on to check for a while, but great responses guys. lol.....not sure about that auburn, it kinda borders on what I would affectionately call ugly...lol. Think the designer messed up when he didn't match the windshield and side window hieghts, but that Rickenbacker is what I'm looking for......very cool car.

Posted

I have to admit the design flows from front to back better on the Auburn than it does on the Peerless or the Rickenbacker. Now..........if we evened up the windows, chopped the top another inch, took that rounded portion off the rear below the frame rails and recentered the rear fenders.........yea.......it kinda grows on u.

Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wow........haven't been on to check for a while, but great responses guys. lol.....not sure about that auburn, it kinda borders on what I would affectionately call ugly...lol. Think the designer messed up when he didn't match the windshield and side window hieghts, but that Rickenbacker is what I'm looking for......very cool car. </div></div>

The Auburn Cabin Speedster was designed to look like an aeroplane cabin of the late 1920's. Once you know that the windsheild height and low side windows can be judged in their proper light.

  • 1 month later...
Posted

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What else do you know about the Auburn? or do you know of any websites that would be a good source of information? </div></div>

Are you seeking information on the original, or the reproductions?

Guest imported_PWN
Posted

My Grandfather had a 1926 Franklin Boat Tailed Speedster. Very nice car.

No hardtop.

Guest bkazmer
Posted

there was an article in Special interest Autos a while back

Guest roadtrip
Posted

1926 Franklin baby all the way........ [color:"red"]

post-37110-143137911497_thumb.jpg

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