Set to cross the auction block at Hershey 2024, Lot 160 offers collectors and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to own a recreation of one of the most iconic and innovative vehicles in automotive history: the 1934 Ford Model 40 Special Speedster. With an estimated value of $100,000 to $120,000 USD, this meticulously crafted homage celebrates the vision of Edsel Ford and the design genius of E.T. “Bob” Gregorie.
The original Ford Model 40 Special Speedster, created in the early 1930s, was a bold departure from the designs of its time. Built on a modified 1934 Ford Model 40 chassis, this bespoke vehicle featured cutting-edge aluminum coachwork and a custom-welded tubular frame fabricated by Ford’s Aircraft Division. The Speedster’s 100 horsepower flathead V-8 engine, combined with its lightweight 2,100-pound body, endowed it with remarkable speed and agility, symbolizing a leap forward in performance and design.
While the original Model 40 Special Speedster is now housed in the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House museum, this expertly crafted recreation presents an opportunity to experience the legacy of this automotive masterpiece. Using detailed research and measurements taken from the original car, Vintage Racing Cars of Florida recreated the Speedster, starting with a modified 1935 Ford Model 48 chassis. The car’s handcrafted aluminum body mirrors the original, and it features a period-correct Ford flathead V-8 engine paired with a Ford three-speed manual transmission.
Inside, the cabin is a testament to precision craftsmanship, featuring a turned aluminum dashboard and Lincoln-sourced instruments. Former owner Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, has praised this recreation as a “most faithful” tribute to the original Speedster.
For those captivated by the blend of advanced engineering and sophisticated design that defined the original Edsel Ford Special Speedster, this recreation offers a rare chance to own a piece of American automotive history.
Source: rmsothebys.com
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