1979 Auburn Speedster Glenn Pray 866 Replica

Description

When you know Auburn Speedsters, you know there is a huge difference between a replica and a Glenn Pray car. This is thankfully the latter. Pray officially owned the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company name and often utilized NOS parts in his continuation production. That's why if you're a collector, you jump at this rare opportunity for one of his 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedsters.

Originally built in 1979, this A866 is a faithful continuation car. It has led a pampered life that goes well beyond it low 19,128 miles on the odometer. The durable fiberglass body is an exact replica of the half-million dollar Speedster. It was accomplished by utilizing a real car for Pray's continuation series. You can see it today on this one with all the right details like the flaring pontoon fenders, the sloping enclosed radiator shell, and of course, the iconic pointed "boattail" that made the entire rear end an exercise in opulence. The level of preservation on this roadster is excellent. The white paint has a thin red pinstripe that is great for those who get close enough to love the details. All of this is believed to be original, and has held up nicely for its age. That's why the doors still shut with confidence. All the intricate brightwork is complete, including in critical places such as the flying lady hood ornament, intricate chrome bumpers, large headlight surrounds, spotlights, steeply raked windshield surrounds, and the even the functional side exhaust tubes that are almost as iconic as the rear end styling. This car remains authentic right down to the Auburn insignia on the hubcaps.

The red pinstripe on the exterior is a great link to the bold red interior. This continuation feels like a great mix of old and newer worlds. The traditional folding roof, bench seat, and side curtains are balanced with an AM/FM/cassette stereo and provisions for air conditioning. You slip behind the wood-rimed tilt steering wheel, and soon realize the smaller diameter makes this a much more pleasurable driver's roadster. Plus, there's a full set of SW gauges to keep you informed about everything that's going on under the hood.

If you're a driver, the best reason for owning a continuation car like this is under the hood. It's a 460 cubic-inch Ford V8. This is the same torque-filled big block that allowed the Lincoln Continentals of the day to move with ease, so there's plenty of power in this roadster. More importantly, component maintenance for the V8 and its three-speed automatic transmission are easy to find and well within budget. It is this kind of affordable ownership that has led to this car being so well cared for over the years. The motor fires up nicely, and it's easy to feel the '30s driving experience as wind whips past the low windshield. Great features like power steering and front disc brakes further this ability to enjoy a classic built for driving.

It's a roadster with pedigree, presence, and the right price. This is the solution for drivers who get nervous taking out high-dollar classics, or the dreamer who can't afford a Boattail from the original run. These were only produced by the handful during their dozen years of availability, so don't let this exceptionally well preserved Pray Auburn slip away. Call today!!!