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Boattail Speedster
Chassis Num: 32304E
 
This 1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster was the ninth speedster built and it was the Chicago Auto Salon show car. After the show, the car was sold to a Chicago area man as a new car. He sold it in the early 1950s to Mr. Maisnick from Oak Lawn, IL. The car was lightly damaged in a garage fire - another car caught fire, but the owner was able to save the speedster and two other cars by pulling them out of the garage. He would keep the car for many years, but never got around to repairing the damage. It was purchased by John Ehresman who undertook a restoration in the mid-1980s. Upon completion, it won many awards in CCCA, AACA and ACD club judging.

The next owner was Mr. Noel Thompson via RM Auctions Inc. It was later sold to Mr. Giesecke, where it remained for several years before entering an Indiana collection in 2003.

The early examples were different from the cars that followed. The first 12 to 15 cars share certain early features, which gradually disappeared until the 15th or 16th cars, by which time they were essentially identical to the subsequent production cars. These differences include the following:
• Enclosed fender shields
• Lower rear exhaust manifold ports
• Brown steering wheels, as used on ‘34 production, as
opposed to later cars with black wheels.
• Dash trim panels carried over from 1934
• Speedsters got simpler six cylinder dash trim
• Sedan-style door handles
• Lower hood panel on S/C side is one piece with hidden
screws, requiring upholstery removal to undo nuts
(modified for easier mechanical maintenance).

In 2009, this example was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $450,000 - $650,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $462,000 including buyer's premium.

AuctionVintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook
Estimated Value:$450,000-$650,000 
Sale Price$462,000

EventGroup 
Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook1933-1936