READER AD: 1934 Edsel Speedster
It might be a replica, but this thing is absolutely incredible! Ford built just one of these Speedsters after Edsel Ford returned from a trip to Europe. He wanted to build something as low, sleek and elegant as the cars he had seen on his trip, so he set his chief designer to work. They based the car off of the 1934 Ford chassis, but with an aluminum body over a welded aluminum framework. The original car is currently resting at the Ford House, making Fred K’s car the only option if you want to experience Edsel’s dream for a continental roadster! You can take a closer look at this replica via the link below.
Asking Price: $120,000
Location: Miami, Florida
Title Status: Clean
Seller’s Description: We could say that this is 1 of 2… Although there is only one Original car made by Edsel in 1934. The guy who found and owned the original Edsel for many years saw this car and said, “if I parked both cars together, I wouldn’t be able to tell which one is the original”. This is a replica, not a kit car. The body is all aluminum, the chassis had been modified as it was the original one. It has a Mercury 8BA engine (originally was a Merc 1940), Ford 3 speed gearbox and rear end as well as Ford brakes. The engine had been completely overhauled, brakes, gearbox, etc. The electric harness and gauges are new, 12-volt system. Feel free to contact me with further questions.
Body Condition: The body is new and in beautiful condition.
Mechanical Condition: The entire mechanical system has been fully overhauled. In case someone wants to put a 1940 Mercury engine in it, we could overhaul and install that engine at no extra cost (we just need time and a downpayment).
At first glance, it would be easy to mistake this for a big European touring car, but this thing is all American! The story of how the original came to be is really interesting, but I’m sure the story of how this one came together is almost as interesting. It appears to have been built to the exact same specifications as the real thing, well at least as to how it currently is. The original car saw a number of changes early in its life, including a front end refresh and an engine replacement. This one has been built to its post-1949 condition, but that’s probably a good thing as the 1940 Mercury V8 offers quite a bit more power than the original 1934 flathead.
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Comments
Pretty darn faithful to Edsel’s original roadster! Right down to the flathead V8. I can’t knock this; looks VERY much like the original, and would wow people at any roaster show!
I absolutely appreciate the craftsmanship needed to recreate this wonderful automobile. But I’m afraid the generation that can appreciate it the most is dying off and… not interested in paying 6 figures for the memorable driving experience this car undoubtedly would incite. Hell, where else but in Dearborn can you even potentially sit behind the wheel, much less drive one? Lovely.
I’m not sure we should write off that generation just yet… or the one just behind it (and ahead of me). Most of the money may be in the nostalgia of 60s muscle, but a lot of those bidders still have a great affinity for the stuff their parents loved. This is about as far from a dime-a-dozen high boy as one can get while still being a hot rod, so I imagine it’ll find a loving home. At 45 years old, I sure adore it, anyhow.
There isn’t anyone really who could identify with this car in a from-their-youth standpoint. Someone ten years old in 1940 would be 90 today. Most nonagenarians are beyond car-buying.
But it doesn’t take much imagination to imagine driving this even without putting a small-block Chevy in it. Heck, one of my fantasy drives is a Model T speedster with a 16-valve head and Ruxtell two-speed rear axle, and a period-correct body cut by my local tinsmith and hammered onto a wood frame from patterns from a Model T hotrod magazine from the 20’s.
There’s only one for sale, so they only need one buyer. I think they’ll get it.
If a replica Family Truckster can sell for $100,000, this should bring at least twice that! This is a replica of a historical vehicle that has style and significance, not like the Family Jokester. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this in a world renowned collection like the Peterson Museum or Leno’s.
Mont…..I agree with you, this Speedster replica belongs in Jay Leno’s collection. Only one problem…Jay would likely only be interested in the owning the original :-) :-)
I have never refered to Jay Leno in a posting, as in our hobby he is just in another league entirely.
But this beautiful creation has his name written all over it…
Actually Mr. Leno is very open and down to earth and when you meet him – just like most of us. So I guess he’s just like us, ‘cept he has more cars!
I can’t get over that dashboard and the cheesy ignition switch. Those gauges and switches surely aren’t period correct, but it is what it is, and I like it for the most part.
Gotta disagree with you there …my 1937 Seagrave was original and had gauges and switches just about exactly like that ……….
Here’s a 1942 Seagrave dash… pretty much the same ….and mine being a 1937, was made out of 1929 to 1937 parts as it was the height of the depression…and it had a beautiful cast aluminum dash with these style of gauges and switches.
I wasn’t overly crazy about it until I watched the video and heard that flathead V8 sound. Now I want it.
Mechanical brakes? Would have to be to make it period correct.
Replica, tribute, clone, continuation, counterfeit blah blah blah, when you get down to it, they’re all fakes. And no fake should ever be worth more than it takes to snap out another one.
I like fakes, makes the highways and parking lots more fun and better looking.
But ultimately a fake just can’t be worth more than it costs to make another.
My favourite sports car is my fake Cobra and I’ve kept it so long simply because it’s so much fun to drive and look at, but is it worth anything beyond the cost of the parts and labor?? Not likely.
Chinga, The “worth” of a collectable car is what someone is willing to pay for it (the “greater fool theory” operates here.) As far as the “real” 1934 Edsel Speedster goes, one source I found indicated that 3 Speedsters were originally built. One sold for $1.76 million in 2008, one is being auctioned off, and the estimated winning bid is $1.2 million to $1.4 million, and the third Speedster “has yet to be found.” This would seem to make a well-built replica a fair deal at $120K, no?? And I agree with you, a replica can never be an original…but one can be (relatively) affordable, and lots of fun.
Not a fake but a copy of the original idea. And if anyone on hear thinks this was easy to build and keep it accurate to the original I say go ahead and try making your own. It’s easy to be critical of this car but I can tell the amount of hours and skilled effort that’s right skilled effort would justify this price. This car may have taken as much as 5 thousand hours to design and build maybe even more, but the builder has probably got 100 thousand hour of experience to get to the level needed to build this. That kind if knowledge has to be worth something. We are all good at something and we expect to be payed for not just the doing but also the knowing how. None of you guys on hear would work for free or even for below your skill level so why should this builder. Awesome car.
Well ,,, how about a 3rd one ????? ,being built at a shop in Arizona ,,,,saw it several months ago , had been brought to the shop as a “bodied” roller , shop has built fenders , finished a number of areas , just “jewellery” quality
Here’s another view
I remember reading that the original was sitting on a used car lot in Florida in the fifties, and a guy bought it for $400. He kept it for yrs and yrs. I”ll bet he got a little more when he sold it. Talk about a find!
Hello. do you still have the edsel? Greetings from switzerland. albert
I am, as usual, very late to the game. Most likely replying to nobody. But I have to say my piece regarding the work of art. Unlike most artwork that just sits, hangs or does whatever this work of art gets to be actually physically enjoyed! The Artist that created this is extremely talented IMHO!!!!! If I had the $$’s, this would be mine and it would be being enjoyed not garaged only to look at! If you don’t like it, that is your choice, but slamming the Artist and the Art, well that is juvenile. IMHO
Have a great week!