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INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL

  • AuburnNut
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10 Feb 2023 16:52 #46798 by AuburnNut
Replied by AuburnNut on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
That’s very interesting Mike. Thanks for sharing.

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  • mikespeed35
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10 Feb 2023 04:50 - 10 Feb 2023 04:52 #46797 by mikespeed35
Replied by mikespeed35 on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
The car in the photo does belong to me. The modifications were made for the Boston Blackie TV series 1951 and 1952. The modifications were removed by Don Real from OH. before Vern Cunningham bought it around 1958. The car has always had four pipes. As Pete said the fromt two are behind the fender in the photo. It has its original motor and never had any other. I have many photos of the car in that time period. During the Boston Blackie period it was owned by Aca Clark who was the film editor of Boston Blackie and many other TV shows. If anyone knows who ownes the shell I would be interested.
CORDially Mike

Mike Huffman
Last edit: 10 Feb 2023 04:52 by mikespeed35.

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  • JIM.OBRIEN
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07 Feb 2023 02:03 #46780 by JIM.OBRIEN
Replied by JIM.OBRIEN on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Door handle alignment is just in the handle. The door latches and contacts are for door alignment and to lock the door in position when closed. Again this is for the Cord 810/812
 
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06 Feb 2023 21:59 #46779 by 1748 S
Replied by 1748 S on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Thanks Jim for completing the original design. I had a little information. But not this was an original design. 
Jim can some of the door handle alignment be corrected by the body latch the door closer contacts? I know these are a fluted latch or is this JUST USED to get the doors flush with the body lines.


Gary Parsons
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  • JIM.OBRIEN
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06 Feb 2023 20:46 #46778 by JIM.OBRIEN
Replied by JIM.OBRIEN on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Gary and RG - the shafts of the Cord 810/812 were originally twisted so the outside handle was horizontal and the square shaft lines up to the mechanism inside. The ones that sag are usually because someone made new door handles and never twisted the shafts. 

Pete - sorry for hi-jacking the thread.
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  • Terry Cockerell
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06 Feb 2023 20:14 #46777 by Terry Cockerell
Replied by Terry Cockerell on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
You can see the Auburn Speedster in question in the First Reunion film at the 1 minute 19 second mark. The driver's door is also partially open.

T cockerell

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  • rg171352
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06 Feb 2023 16:43 #46775 by rg171352
Replied by rg171352 on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Gary, That is interesting. I was wondering why the shaft on my handle was twisted. Perhaps it doesn't need to be replaced. Is there any other way to adjust the door closure action?

Thanks

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  • pete kelly
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06 Feb 2023 01:10 #46769 by pete kelly
Replied by pete kelly on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Sorry No other pics
Maybe Mike will chime in with a link to the movie.

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  • AuburnNut
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06 Feb 2023 00:43 #46768 by AuburnNut
Replied by AuburnNut on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Ok Pete. Thanks for the info. If you have other photos please post them
Regards
Jerome

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  • pete kelly
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05 Feb 2023 21:01 #46767 by pete kelly
Replied by pete kelly on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Hi Auburn nut
"The second feature I can see from the supplied black and white photo is that the exhausts exit the engine bay body with only 2 stainless steel exhausts on the driver side"
The other 2 exhaust flex pipes are hidden behind the fender.
Pete

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  • 1748 S
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05 Feb 2023 18:44 #46765 by 1748 S
Replied by 1748 S on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
over the years I have "learned" why many Cord cars have the door handles pointing in so many different planes. Turns out it the door closures action with the latch adjustments. What many owners do is heat up the square shaft and make a twist in it so it lines up correctly once installed in the door. You can place the square shaft in a vice and use a large  wrench to make the twist too. I suspect the same issues happens in the Auburn too but not sure.


Gary Parsons

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  • AuburnNut
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05 Feb 2023 17:54 - 05 Feb 2023 17:55 #46764 by AuburnNut
Replied by AuburnNut on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Pete
That’s incredibly interesting. I know Randy Ema is an absolute guru on everything to do with original Auburn cars…..and I am certainly not that. I’d love to meet him one day. But I would like to make a couple of comments regarding the two photos. My expertise (somewhat limited compared to Randy) relates to replica 851/852 speedsters. I own an Elegant Motors speedster, and have been studying various replica features for probably 10 years.

If the car in question was modified in the 1930s, why does it have door handles that rest in the 45 degree angle position compared to the horizontal position of original speedsters. I’m sensitive to this issue as my own replica speedster originally had steering handles at that position, as do many other replica cars (as compared to original cars that are horizontal). To rectify I had to heat up the square shaft to red hot, and then twist the shaft so the exterior handle sits in the horizontal position. So that’s an interesting feature. I don’t understand why a customizer would pick such a tiny feature to modify….not impossible of course.
The second feature I can see from the supplied black and white photo is that the exhausts exit the engine bay body with only 2 stainless steel exhausts on the driver side. Obviously this is not an original feature of a speedster. Why would someone with an original 851/852 speedster modify it to only have 2 exhausts on the driver side. It doesn’t look as grand as the original 4 exhausts coming from the Lycoming straight 8…..that just sounds strange to me. Plus, does it mean they changed the original straight 8 Lycoming engine to a flathead (eg Ford) in the 30s. It’s possible of course, just highly unusual. That being said, the modified radiator shell is certainly well made and appears to be made in metal rather than fiberglass….as far as I can tell with the photos.

Also, the rear wheel position relative to the fender appears closer than an original car. In other words the car in the photo appears to be a wider width at the rear wheels (closer to a replica car). Just an observation from the limited photos.

Just a few thoughts. It’s a forum after all, and multiple opinions often create a better collective understanding. That being said, it’s pretty hard to look at 2 low resolution photos and identify differences.

Best wishes Jerome
Last edit: 05 Feb 2023 17:55 by AuburnNut.

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  • pete kelly
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05 Feb 2023 00:11 #46761 by pete kelly
Replied by pete kelly on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
I received a call today from Randy Ema giving me the details of this modified shell. He reports that:
--this car was modified for the BOSTON BLACKIE MOVIE in the late 30's
--as well as the shell the headlights were changed to update the styling
--the car has been returned to original and is now owned by Mike Huffman
Thank You Randy
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  • Mike Brady
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05 Feb 2023 00:05 #46760 by Mike Brady
Replied by Mike Brady on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Pete,

That was on the Vern Cunningham (now Mike Huffman) speedster in the 1950's. Maybe Mike will tell us if Vern removed it or if it was removed before Vern bought the car.

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  • pete kelly
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04 Feb 2023 15:18 #46756 by pete kelly
Replied by pete kelly on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
I looked at this shell or possibly an identical shell probably 20 years ago at a swap meet and the backside was perfect; NO indication the snout had been modified. The pic of the speedster shows modified headlights but that is all I see.
Pete

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  • Curt Schulze
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04 Feb 2023 14:39 #46754 by Curt Schulze
Replied by Curt Schulze on topic INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL
Looks like custom work to me. What does the back side look like?

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Be of Good Cheer
Curt

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  • pete kelly
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04 Feb 2023 01:04 #46753 by pete kelly
INFO WANTED ON ODDBALL SPEEDSTER RAD SHELL was created by pete kelly
Does anyone have information on this 851-2 speedster with the odd rad shell? See the pics

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