information provided by Jeff Akins of Speedster Motorcars / July 2012
THE HISTORY OF OUR SPEEDSTER
No one knows the world of replica Auburn Boattail Speedsters like Michael Akins. To him, the replica Auburn Speedster is more than just another replica car, it has been a life-long passion. Since his early days at Antique Autos of America under the tutelage of David Samuels, Akins has lived and breathed this car. Antique Autos which later in 1977 became Southeastern Replicas was at one time the largest distributor for California Custom Coach replica Boattail Speedsters in the country. They built off of this and later made a few changes and designed their own version of the car which was widely regarded as the best designed replica Speedster ever built. Samuels along with Akins set off to build some of the most realistic replicas ever produced. Not only building their new Boattail Speedster, but also eight Cord and Phaeton replicas. Akins honed his knowledge of the replica business under Samuels in the late 1970’s and into the early 80’s.
Fast forward into the 90’s, the replica Auburn Boattail Speedster business had all but gone the way of the dodo. The only replicas that you could find anymore were either kits that people had purchased years prior and never finished, or used turnkey cars that had seen their fair share of road use. Akins decided to re-launch the Boattail Speedster once again. He set off to create the car again from the ground up, using more modern building techniques to assemble the car; this wouldn’t be your ‘Dads’ replica Speedster. The new Speedster that Akins would create would set the stage for what would come.
In the early part of the 2000’s, Akins finally got to see his dream come to life; a fully modern Auburn Boattail Speedster. The car was complete with a tube chassis, four wheel disc brakes, modern fuel injected engine, spacious all leather interior, and all of this with the look of a mid ‘30s classic. During that same time period, Akins had already been working on a new project of his own, a 1937 810 Cord street rod, named the Coffin Nose Speedster. The Coffin Nose Speedster along with the Classic Boattail Speedster, should prove to be a great lineup of cars being produced by Speedster Motorcars.
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Now today, after many trials and tribulations, Akins is still building the car that he loves. He has brought the car back to basics with the knowledge that he has garnered over these almost 40 years of replica Boattail experience. The car is still one of the finest examples of any replica you can find. These Auburn Speedster kits that Akins produce, are by far, the best that have ever been built to date.
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- An Official Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival Downtown Parade Route Banner, Black background with Red and Grey Graphics, Measures 59' x 30'. Sewn loop top and bottom to hang on rods. Great looking piece to hang in that Auburn Cord Duesenberg enthusiast' Garage. Shipped rolled in a tube. 'Sorry Sold Out'.
Official Speedsters Home Page
Speedster Motor Cars / contact: Mike Akins (ACD club member)
Currently manufactures: 1935 / 1936 Auburn Speedsters, also offers
replacement parts for original and reproduction Speedsters along
with restoration services
Speedster Motorcars inc.
1373 Coastal Hwy, Penacea, Florida 32346
Tel: 727-584-3606
email: speedstermotorcars@gmail.com
website:www.speedsterhardware.com
Official Speedsters Homepage
updated contact information provided by Mike Akins / May 2020