boat tail speedsters

[whtbaron]

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?

[Barry Wolk]

If it had a top it wouldn't be a speedster! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[West Peterson]

Go here for photos of Barney Oldfield's Golden Submarine (http://www.vintageracecars.com/sub.htm).

Go here for photos of the Auburn Cabin Speedster (http://www.trombinoscar.com/auburn/2901.html).

Both of these are of boattail design.

And don't forget about the 1971-73 Buick Riviera <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[West Peterson]

I'm wondering what this would look like with a fastback boattail design. Once I inherit it, maybe I'll modify it a bit <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[1937hd45]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If it had a top it wouldn't be a speedster! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

Don't tell that to an Auburn fan! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Barry Wolk]

I stand corrected. Was that a production car?

[West Peterson]

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.

[Rusty_OToole]

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.

[MCHinson]

Smoking a cigar at 100mph! That sounds like a real example of smoking being dangerous to your health. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Heaven help you if that heater landed in your lap @ 100 MPH !!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

[oldcarfudd]

Weren't there boat-tailed Franklin coupes in the late '20s? I think Dick Burnham in Connecticut has one.

[1937hd45]

<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="" />

[Barry Wolk]

<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.

[CarlLaFong]

One-off is not a production car. Clones are not production cars. Please name another "Speedster" that's not a convertible.

Studebaker

[Barry Wolk]

I stand corrected again.

[West Peterson]

<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.

[1937hd45]

<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.

[K8096]

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.

[West Peterson]

Yup. You're right. Here's the thread address:

http://forums.aaca.org/showflat.php?Cat=...true#Post357332

[whtbaron]

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.

[West Peterson]

Yeah, but besides for the windshield height, that Auburn is much, much more attractive than the Rickenbacker. I would call the Rickenbacker interesting, though.

[whtbaron]

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.

[West Peterson]

That rounded portion below the frame rails is the leaf spring.

Did you go to this sight to see the "reproduction" car?

http://www.trombinoscar.com/auburn/2901.html

[1937hd45]

<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.

[whtbaron]

Ok........I get it now.....those pics on West's site are good too, shows the back window and headlite details I'd missed with the side view.

[willysgirl]

What else do you know about the Auburn? or do you know of any websites that would be a good source of information?

[West Peterson]

<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]

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

No hardtop.

[Guest bkazmer]

there was an article in Special interest Autos a while back

[Guest roadtrip]

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