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The
Second Generation
AUBURNS
established in 1968 by
Glenn Pray |
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The original 1935 and 1936 Auburn
Speedster has become one of the most sought after Collector Cars
from the Classic Car era. You only have to see one to understand
why. With prices now north of a half million dollars for
Concours quality cars I know I will not be buying one anytime
soon. They are definitely "for those who have never relished the
commonplace".
Thanks to those who decided years ago to start building Auburn
Speedsters again, the newer Auburns (non 1935 / 1936 models) are
readily available at a 10th
of the price of an original. These newer cars are referred to as
Reproductions, Replicas, Replicars or Recreations.
Glenn Pray, President of the
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company, refers to his 866 Speedsters
as Second Generation Cars or Auburn Continuations. Glenn states
that his cars were never meant to be Replica's of the originals.
His cars are modern day versions of the original Auburn
Speedster. Luxuries such as power steering, power brakes, air
conditioning and modern V8 drive trains with independent
suspensions were not available on the original cars, but they
were on his cars. Since Glenn has owned the original Auburn Cord
Duesenberg Company (ACD Co.) since 1960 I would have to agree
with his line of thinking.
Glenn Pray's (ACD) Company, located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma,
put the Auburn Speedster back into production in 1968. His cars
were referred to as Auburn 866 Speedsters. The "8" was in
keeping with Auburns
original 8 cylinder series of cars and the "66" from the year
1966 when the engineering started on the New Speedster. 866
Speedsters were built from 1968 through 1981. Due to health
reasons, Glenn stopped building cars. He continued selling
original Auburn and Cord parts and performing restoration work
from his factory.
Long time friend Felix De Geyter and Glenn have started a
registry for the
cars that the ACD Co. built. Glenn's cars are still considered
by owners of original and newer cars to be the
most authentic looking neo-Speedsters. His early cars used
straight Auburn 6 style bumpers front and rear but that changed
and the correct style bumpers were incorporated into later
production cars. Glenn used original Auburn trim and chrome on
his cars as inventory allowed. As parts were depleted, new parts
were produced. Glenn's 866 Speedsters found homes in Americas
wealthiest garages and around the world.
Due to the success of the 866 Speedster, new replicar companies
were started. These new players were soon offering their
versions of Glenn Pray's Auburn. At the peak of the Auburn
Speedster Replica wave, there were as many as a dozen Speedster variations being offered by
other manufacturers. Many of these companies lasted into the
early to mid eighties.
Thinking back, Glenn Pray's company was one of the first to
reintroduce the styling of the Classic Cars with modern drive
trains. It was this line of thinking that started the Replicar
industry. I can remember from the early seventies through the
eighties some really exciting cars being offered. Reproduction
Jaguars like the SS100's, C and D Types Jag's, Cobra's, '55-'57
Thunderbirds, Classic Mercedes, '53 Corvettes and Ferraris of
all models seemed to be in all of the car publications at that
time. There were lawsuits from the original manufacturers trying
to stop the offering of these cars, some succeeded; others did
not. Some are still in the court rooms today. The market was
there for Replicars. These cars were available three ways; (1).
Turn Key Complete (2) Complete, less drive trains or (3) As a Do
it Yourself Kit. In my opinion, the "Do It Yourself Kit" was
responsible for the death of so many of the replicar company's
and the end of this type of car. There were build quality issues
along with safety concerns. Once a kit left the manufacturers
doors, no matter how high of quality the kit was, the finished
cars end result was determined by the abilities of the
builder(s). Offering kits made these cars more affordable, but
it also yielded many poorly constructed and or never completed
cars. If the early replica manufacturers had only offered completed cars or
completed cars less drive train; I think that there would still
be a high market demand for new replicars today. Carroll Shelby and
Superformance are certainly selling a lot of Cobra's. Anyway,
those are just my thoughts. The non-Auburn Replicar Industry is
another story.
Below is a listing of the Auburn Speedster manufacturers that I
am aware of. Keep in mind that some of the contact
information can be more than 30 years old. I have also included
Auburn Speedster parts suppliers that are currently doing
business. After researching the history of the Auburn Automobile
Company and compiling this list, I found it interesting to see
all of the use or misuse of the registered trademark names
"Auburn", "Cord" and "Duesenberg" that have taken place.
last updated:
December 2007 |
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Auburn Speedster parts suppliers
These Companies
were still actively in Business as of this publishing |
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Auburn Cord Duesenberg
Club / website:
www.acdclub.org
It is a
 great
organization that will allow you to learn more about your Auburn.
The website and the monthly catalog are helpful in finding those
parts that you have been seeking. Being able to attend the National
meet in Auburn, Indiana each Labor Day weekend is worth the
membership alone. Test drive their web-site. Membership does not require
you to own an ACD car. "For those who have never relished the commonplace"
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Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Company / contact: Glenn Pray
(ACD
club member)
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Company
122 S. Elm Place, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74012
Tel: 918-251-3161
website:
www.acdco.com
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Auburn-Cord Parts / contact: Stan Gililand
(ACD
club member)
Auburn-Cord Parts
1400 N. "A" Street, PO Box 547, Wellington, Ks. 67152
Tel: 620-326-7751 / Fax: 620-326-6302
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Auburn Midwest / contact: Curt Schulze
(ACD
club member)
Auburn Midwest
N. 4864 1180th
Street, Prescott, Wis. 54021
Tel: 715-262-3183 / email:
thecarguy@pressenter.com
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Auburn Parts / contact: Walter Pfeifer
(ACD
club member)
Auburn Parts, Woodmere, NY.
Tel: 516-569-4638 am / 516-295-3712 pm
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California
Custom Coach / contact: Alex Christodulidis
California
Custom Coach
5215 N.
O'Connor Blvd, Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75039
Tel:
972-443-9823
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Milestone
Motorcars (ACD Club Member)
We have a few Auburn Parts and Accessory's on our website.
Visit
Speedster Market Place &
our
Auburn Building
for parts
Our website: www.auburnspeedsters.com
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Prototype Research Ltd /
contact: David Carlaw
(ACD club member)
Prototype Research Ltd
230 Alberta Lane, Box 1330, Cambellford Ontario, Canada, KOL
110
Tel: 705-653-4525 / Fax: 705-653-4800
email:
sales@prototyperesearch.com
website:
www.prototyperesearch.com
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Speedster Motorcars / contact: Mike Akins or Jeff Akins
(ACD club member)
Speedster Motorcars
3226 Big Ridge Road
Glenville, NC 28736
website: www.speedsterhardware.com
Contact Mike Akins, email: speedstermotorcars@gmail.com
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Auburn Speedster manufacturers
These companies were
still actively in Business as of this publishing |
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Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company / contact: Doug Pray
(ACD
club member)
Manufactures: Auburn 866
Speedsters 1968-1981, 874 Auburn Phaetons
1974 -1981 and the 8/10 Cords 1964 -1966.
Currently offers parts and restoration service for original
Auburns, Cords
and 2nd
Generation Auburns and Cords
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Company
122 S. Elm Place, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74012
Tel: 918-251-3161 /
website: www.acdco.com
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Classic City Motors / contact: Gene Daley
Manufactures: Auburn 2 and 4 place Speedsters
starting in 2007
Classic City Motors
Auburn, Indiana
Tel: 260-402-7163
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Prototype
Research Ltd. / contact: David Carlaw
(ACD
club member)
Currently manufacturers: Auburn 2 and 4 place
Speedsters
Replacement parts: Original and
Reproduction cars.
Prototype Research Ltd
230 Alberta Lane, Box 1330,
Cambellford Ontario,
Canada, KOL 110
Tel: 705-653-4525 / Fax: 705-653-4800
email:
sales@prototyperesearch.com
website:
www.prototyperesearch.com
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Speedster Motorcars / contact: Mike Akins or Jeff Akins
(ACD
club member)
Currently
manufactures: 1936 Auburn Speedsters.
Replacement parts: Original and
Reproduction cars
Restoration Services are availa
Speedster Motorcars
3226 Big Ridge Road
Glenville, NC 28736
website: www.speedsterhardware.com
Contact Mike Akins, email: speedstermotorcars@gmail.com
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Former
Auburn Speedster
manufacturers
note: The Companies listed below are NO longer in business,
some of this information can be as old as 30 years... |
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Antique Auto of America
Manufactured: Auburn 2 and 4
place Speedsters and a Cord
DBA
as the following:
Antique Auto of America / Antique Auburn of America
611 Commerce Drive, Largo Florida, 33540
Tel: 813-586-2824
Southeastern Replicars / President: David Samuel
12082 62nd
street, North Largo Fla. 33543
Tel: 813-535-1957
Northeastern Replicars
23 Orchard Place, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12601
Tel: 914-229-7792
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Auburn Cord Duesenberg Motor Company of California
Manufactured: Auburn AR211
Speedsters (2 place) and Auburn AR411
Speedsters (4 place)
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Motor Company of California
3004 West Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90026
Tel: 213-666-9092
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Auburn Cord Motorcars / Auburn (Cord) Motorcars of America
Manufactured: the "Encore"
Auburn Speedsters in 2001 and 2002
Auburn Encores
were priced at $57,795. A Cord was planned
but never materialized.
Auburn Cord Motorcars
9036 Ila Road, Carsville, Georgia, 30521
Tel: 770-338-9634 / website:
www.auburncord.com
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Auburn Speedsters Company / established 1971
Manufactured: Auburn Speedsters "they looked like a
copy
of a Glenn Pray Speedster on a
shorter 126" wheelbase..."
Auburn Speedsters Company
361-B Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY. 14202
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California Custom Coach / subsidiary of the Auburn
Speedster Co.
Manufactured: Auburn 876
Speedster, 2 and 4 place cars
California Custom Coach
1285 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, California,
91106
Tel: 213-796-4395
California Custom Coach
830 N. Lake Street, Burbank, California, 91504
Tel: 213-841-1342
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Classic Cars of London / division of Anden Holdings Ltd.
Manufactured: Auburn 886
Speedsters
Classic Cars of London
980 Adelaide Street South, London Ontario, N6E
1123
Tel: 519-686-5480 / 519-672-2091
Classic Cars of London
341 Talbot Street, London Ontario, N6A 2R5
Tel: 519-672-2091 / 519-686-5480
Classic Cars of Lauderdale
Royal Trust Plaza, Suite 204,
2810 East Oakland
Park Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306
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The Classic Factory / owner: H.T. Price
Manufactured: Auburn 2 and 4
place Speedsters and a Cord
The Classic Factory
1454 E. Ninth Street, Pamona, California, 91766
Tel: 909-629-5968
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Elegant Motors / owners: Del Amy and Dick Passwater
Manufactured: Auburn 856
Speedsters (2 place car) and the
Auburn
898 Speedsters (4 place car), 820 Cord and a
Duesenberg "LaGrande"
1973 - unknown
Elegant Motors
832 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204
Tel: 317-634-5200
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Glassic dba: Replicars / The Parker-West Group
Manufactured: Auburn
Speedster, called the Romulus. Supposedly only produced 4-5
cars. Their molds... or others, I do not know..."
Glassic - Replicars
3175 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33406
Tel: 305-684-2888
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Indy Exotics / owner: Harry Broaddux
Manufactured: Auburn
Speedsters 2 and 4 Place and a Cord
"Indy Exotics bought the old Elegant
Motors"
Indy Exotics
7610 Lake Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46217
Tel: 317-881-9067
Indy Exotics
1551 Churchman Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46203
Tel: 317-784-1119
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Linberg Engineering / owner: Bob Linberg
Manufactured: The A36 Auburn
Speedster "these cars are small cars and were built on VW chassis..."
Linberg Engineering
35111 Lodge Road, Tollhouse, Ca. 93667
Tel: 209-855-8221
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Vintage Autoworks Incorporated
Manufactured: Auburn WL
Speedster "I really do not know if they were a
manufacturer or just a builder..."
Vintage Autoworks Incorporated
6615 North Ave., West Palm, Florida 33405
Tel: 305-583-6037
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email / Contact us regarding the website or the swap
meet
www.auburnspeedsters.com |
