This 1957 Devin 295 roadster is claimed to be an early production version of one of Bill Devin’s first sports cars. While the “D” model is the one we tend to see come up for sale most often, the 295 opened the door to all types of racing for enthusiasts with a price of just $295 – get it? The seller does an admirable job of researching this particular car and you can find the listing here on eBay where the bidding ends soon!

The D body was intended to emulate Ferrari’s iconic 750 Monza at a much lower price point, but with the option to drop in Porsche-sourced powerplants to provide (brave) drivers with very respectable performance. This is an empty shell of a car at the moment and rebuilding it will be a tall order; kit cars like this tended to be a mixture of whatever the manufacturer had access to for parts and the individual owner’s own tastes and backyard engineering.

Now, about the prototype claims. To the seller’s credit, there’s a ton of information to sort through, including first-person interviews with fellow enthusiasts who remember seeing the car at Bill Devin’s shop, or previous owners who provide entertaining accounts of driving the Devin in everyday situations. What I can’t sort out, however, is how any of this helps to establish the claims that this 295 body is a Devin prototype.

The body and chassis will include “…a running rebuilt high-performance twin carburetors believed to be 2180cc motor,” so at least you’re starting off with a (potentially) decent engine. The body will clearly need some fiberglass repair. If the bidding does get too much higher it might be worth taking on, especially if the prototype claim can be proven. Any ideas on how one could confirm if?