The Car from Kokomo
1921 Haynes Model 47 Special Speedster. Bonhams
Our first example to consider is Lot 152, a 1921 Haynes Model 47 Special Speedster which, for the record, did not sell at the auction after having been bid to $65,000. In contrast to other speedsters at the event, the Haynes did not have a consistently competitive history, and this may have affected bidding. After all, by 1921 Haynes Automobile Company had focused on vehicles with “character” instead of beasts that snorted and ripped up board track lumber—like other speedster examples that had crossed the block at the Bonhams stand and then proudly found a home with new owners...
1921 Haynes catalog cover. Editor’s collection
Bidders are fickle—who knows?
Elwood Haynes, founder of the company, was a brilliant engineer who prided himself on engineering a high level of build quality in his vehicles. Haynes Automobile dipped its toes in competitive waters for 1906 in building a Vanderbilt Model V Racer, but did not pursue this path any further.
1907 Haynes Model V Racer. image courtesy Detroit Public Library
Haynes Automobile had competed in endurance events early on in the company’s history, but only to prove the quality of construction and durability of the vehicle. Its sport models looked speedsterish, but they were not significantly tracked or supported by a factory team.
The 1921 Special Speedster rode on a 132-inch chassis and came with a six- or twelve-cylinder power plant. The body was aluminum, the two seats were leather. It was a snazzy car in a jazzy time, this being the onset of the Roaring Twenties.
1921 Haynes Model 47 Special Speedster. catalog image Editor collection
However, this period also suffered through a depression, the aftermath of both World War I and the pandemic flu of 1918-19. Economic roller coasters crashed Haynes Automobile by 1925. Haynes cars to this day are not well known, despite their reputation for quality.
1921 Haynes Model 47 Special Speedster. Bonhams
Marmon of Indy
Lot 158 was a 1922 Marmon Model 34b (four-passenger) Speedster, one of the first in a series of speedsters that would challenge the idea that a speedster had to be a two-passenger contrivance. In fact, the thought of “the more, the merrier” was not lost on other makes that would go on to offer speedsters which could carry up to seven fun-loving passengers. Fancy that!
1922 Marmon Model 34B Four-Passenger Speedster. Bonhams
The Model 34’s high quality execution was due to the engineering brilliance and exacting standards of Howard C. Marmon, chief engineer at the automobile division of Nordyke Marmon and Company, also known as Nordyke & Marmon. Most of the body was aluminum and mounted on a lightweight 136-inch wheelbase chassis, and so too was its 340 CID six-cylinder engine all aluminum. All in all, Model 34 Speedsters weighed under 3200 pounds, helping it possess excellent road manners.
1920 Marmon 34 Speedster Article in the Automobile Trade Journal. courtesy AACA Library
1921 4-Passenger Speedster; Marmon press release. courtesy AACA Library
The two passenger Speedster was introduced for 1921 and the four passenger for 1922. These models would continue until superseded by the Model D-74 in 1925.
This particular Speedster, which had achieved an AACA First Senior award in the 1990s, sold below its estimated range of $70,000-$90,000 at $63,800, a bargain for a car of this quality. Perhaps if it had been a two passenger Model 34 Speedster it would have commanded more? The auction spoke as the gavel descended…
1922 Marmon 4-Passenger Speedster. Bonhams
Holy Recreation, Batman!
Not to seem irreverent, this next example seemed a bit out of step when considering the gravitas of the classic Rolls-Royce brand, but what resulted from this marriage of a conservative automobile firm’s idea for a sport racer with a rip-roaring WWII vintage tank engine is—well— another example of speedster fever!
1928 'EX' Series Rolls-Royce P1 Recreation. Several modern upgrades are hidden from view to help tame this beast, a recreation of one of three “EX” series Rolls Sports models Bonhams
Lot 176 was a recreation of a somewhat obscure series by Rolls-Royce—a “sports,” model, which is Britspeak for “speedster.” Three examples of the EX design were made using three different coachbuilders. The EX series was intended to outperform the Bentleys driven by the Bentley Boys, who had been mopping up at LeMans for several years; Bentleys would eventually rack up four wins at Circuit de la Sarthe between 1924-1931.
Merlin tank engine in 1928 EX-17. The original EX-17 had a Phantom 1 trick engine in it, but apparently the former owner wanted something more, and so a WWII-vintage engine was repurposed for this exercise. The carburetors are a modern upgrade over the original as seen below. Bonhams
The “EX” series consisted of three special speed models, and this example was a replica of EX-17. However, this example was also upgraded to have a more powerful period engine, modern disk brakes hidden from view, and a few other tweaks. Built on a Phantom 1 chassis, the EX-17 replica has a RR Merlin tank engine for its power, mated to a beefed-up Ford C-6 automatic. Featuring 12 cylinders, the tank engine Merlin was a non-supercharged version of the famous aero engines that helped win WWII.
Merlin tank engine circa 1942. This is probably what the Merlin looked like when lifted off its storage pallet. photo by Geni, courtesy Wikipedia
Being naturally aspirated, this 27 Liter V-12 Merlin “only” pumps out 850 gob-smacking Quarter horses at 2,800 rpm, with a pavement-destroying 1650 pound-feet of torque. All of this for a gaveled price of only $128,800, which was within its estimated auction price range.
So, whatta ya say we drive this to the 7-Eleven for a Slurpy, eh?
1928 EX-17 Rolls-Royce P1 Recreation. Bonhams
1931 Hudson Sport Roadster: Greater Result
Hudsons had a long history of competitive involvement and winning ways. The heyday of Hudson racing cars was between 1915-1930, but that was not all: who can forget “Doc Hudson,” the 1952 Hudson Hornet that starred in the feature-length cartoon, Toy Story? Inspired by a NASCAR-prepared Hudson of the 1950s, Doc symbolized the fabulous Hudson Hornet, a low and sleek fastback design that commanded the high-speed tracks from 1951-54 and launched a generation of customized “lead sleds” by famous hotrod designers. But that’s another story…
1931 Hudson Greater Eight Sport Roadster. Bonhams
Lot 206 was a 1931 Hudson Greater Eight two-passenger roadster, penned by Ray Dietrich while at Murray Body, which then executed the design for Hudson’s sport model. This was a derivative of the 1927-28 Essex Speedster, Hudson’s down-market brand, whose boatailed speedster, a 111-inch wheelbase design, was a trial balloon for the later Hudson model. Essex and Hudson together achieved over 300,000 produced and sold in 1929—they dominated their market segment. Hudson thusly adapted the Essex Boattail Speedster’s design to their new Greater Eight Sport Roadster for 1931.
1931 Hudson boattail. Boattails were all the rage in this period, a shape that signified sportiness. Bonhams
The Greater Eight Sport Roadster was built on a T-series 119-inch wheelbase. The 214 CID side valve L-head engine, an inline-eight, produced 80 horsepower at 3400 rpm.
1931 Hudson Greater Eight Sport Roadster. Bonhams
Lot 206 was a classy and rare Hudson model that had achieved an AACA First Senior award in the 1990s as well as a CCCA First award in 2007; both organizations grade members’ cars for originality and presentation. The estimated auction price range was $75,000-$100,00, but Hudson fans were in the room, and this speedster drove home after commanding a spectacular $179,200 gavel price. Well, done, sir!
Iconic Design: The Auburn 851 Speedster
Lot 145 was a 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster, a classic Art Deco style speedster that still commands attention wherever it appears. As my friend Rob would say whenever one of these would roll onto the concours show field where he was showing his car: “Oh, (bleep!)— it’s a speedster!” Rob knew then that his chances of winning his class were over…
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster. Bonhams
Auburn 851s were actually remade Auburn 8-105A Custom Dual Ratio Salon Speedsters from 1933 that had not sold. Harold Ames, who was president of Auburn at that time, directed designer Gordon Buehrig to redesign the 80 unsold 1933 units using parts on hand, which is what Buehrig largely did. His design team modified the upcoming 1935 Auburn hood and mated it to the 1933 Salon Series passenger cowl. Then they adapted the positive taper tail that had been used on the Weymann-designed Duesenberg SJ and created the tail end.
1935 Auburn 851 Speedster boattail. Buehrig had commented that this was the best boattail that he had ever designed— a real beaut! Bonhams
The 280 CID Lycoming Inline-eight produced a solid 150 horsepower at 3400 rpm after saddling a supercharger to the intake manifold. A solid 250 foot-pounds of torque moved the 120-inch wheelbase in a spirited fashion upon engaging the three speed transmission. And—voila!—the 1935 851 Supercharged Speedster!
1935 Auburn Lycoming I-8. Not much engine detail to see on this side, but those horns sure are impressive! Bonhams
1935 Auburn Lycoming I-8 Intake-Exhaust side. Seen in shadow is the supercharger. Definitely under-carbureted, the external exhaust pipes actually provided more room for the engine and steering gear. Bonhams
Unfortunately, very few 851 Speedsters left the showroom floor in 1935, so for 1936 they were rebadged as 852s. As many as 185 were sold all in, which makes them as scarce as they are beautiful. Achieving several awards over the years at various concours events and from leading classic car clubs, this 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster was expected to sell for between $600,000-$800,000, as it is a known market. Surprising to many, the final call on this magnificent car was only $450,600. But the owners had said “sell it”, and sell it Bonhams did.
A bargain if there ever was one!
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster. Bonhams
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Special thanks go to Bonhams for use of their photos in this two-part look at the current market for classic speedsters.