Sep 14

Prewar Speedster Builds

Someday I’d like to build a period-correct speedster of some type. A Model T or A gow job could be fun, and would certainly be the easiest route. Something a bit more different might be more my style though. This Studebaker Commander on BAT checks a lot of boxes. Looks like decent execution and I’d bet at 100hp in a 2500 pound car, it would be plenty quick. I’d go a bit more period-correct on a few things and black tires with an aggressive tread would look more fitting on a car like this. But still really cool. It’ll be interesting to see where the bidding goes.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1931-studebaker-commander-2/

Sep 14, 2026

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Replies (68)

· Sep 14

When we were at Pebble Beach in 2016, there was a speedster parked outside a restaurant. It looked like it was a cut-down commercial truck from the 30s. It had a huge, Hall-Scott engine in it and chain drive. "Zeus" was painted on the side. It looked like big, stupid fun.
I've been looking for an old, unloved, American LaFrance fire truck ever since. Because V12.

· Sep 14

A V12 would be an interesting option. Your point about finding an unloved vehicle to build is key. It has to be something interesting but at the same time not be something where you’re committing a crime by cutting it up.

· Sep 14

There seems to be someone from Argentina who advertises on BAT and Prewarcar who always seems to have one - usually a Buick, Chrysler or Studebaker based speedster. They have "patina" but I'm starting to wonder if they are essentially tribute cars. They do look fun although not V12s...

· Sep 14

Dan, this guy brings stuff to Hershey. I think I have some pictures somewhere that I will try to find. He does a great job!

· Sep 14

@Hupp31 thanks Travis for giving me the opportunity to post my speedster. Although, usually all this does is trigger my friends to yell at me about why its not finished yet.

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· Sep 14

I'll bite. What the heck is this?

· Sep 14

Well it looks like progress is being made so I’ll spare you the wise cracks about having to cut the vines off of it/dig it out of the earth before you took the photo.

A car like that with real provenance would obviously be the first choice but I’d still be fine with building some type of a tribute car.

· Sep 14

Travis, there are period T speedster bodies out there for not huge money. That would be my choice if I was building a car.

· Sep 14

@jsparks3 here you go.

· Sep 14

I like the looks of that body with the rounded nose. It seems like more often than not, you see the Mercury bodies with the standard T radiator and hood.

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· Sep 14

If you keep the radiator shell it needs to be body color.

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· Sep 17

@alsancle Wow. Thanks. Great history.

· Sep 14

Bonhams sold this one for 6k 12 years ago. Hyman had a great one at Hershey which I wish I could find photos of. 100% period built car. Rusty but complete, he wanted like 25 or 30k for it.

· Sep 14

I suppose I could stay in one lane and build something like this. Really long stroke in the Model R so not a revver. It would definitely need to be geared up.

· Sep 15

There is something to be said for doing what you know. Plus you won't have to change your handle.

· Sep 15

As cool as a Hupp eight speedster would be, cutting up one of the few survivors would be sacrilege. Too bad because a tribute to the Comet Indy car would be awesome.

· Sep 15

Travis, aren't there a few of those out there?

· Sep 15

Well that’s a good question. There is the actual Indy car built by Russ Snowberger’s son which supposedly has the original engine back in it. Then there’s the Bonneville speedster which was built in the 30’s and used the engine from the Indy car in it. Both cars exist but I’m not sure if one or neither truly have the engine that ran at Indy.

· Sep 15

I like everything about it but the seats.

· Sep 15

Agreed. The seats, modern steering wheel, and tube shocks would need to go. One thing I don’t see mentioned is if the gearing was changed to an open car ratio. If it still has sedan gears it could get annoying.

· Sep 15

My question would be do they all sit on top of the chassis like this or do any come down lower? On my Stutz you are practically sitting between the frame rails.

· Sep 15

I think the only way to make that happen is to keep the long wheelbase so you’re not sitting on top of the axle. Obviously much more work to make it happen.

· Sep 15

Travis, I thought it looked a little short too.

· Sep 15

They took 24” out of the wheelbase. Is your Stutz set up as a monoposto where you’re straddling the tunnel or is it a 2-seater? Seems like it would be tight between the rails and the tunnel.

· Sep 15

Interesting. So it seems that he must have dropped the engine and trans as low in the frame as possible without hitting the ground and pushed it way back. That’s pretty ingenious as far as maximizing space and handling.

· Sep 15

In fairness the model guys were guessing. Here is a period photo of the actual cockpit.

· Sep 15

I don’t think I have the patience and build talent abilities to pull it off, but I’m always drawn to people who took an American LaFrance example and did a speedster conversion with it. They are huge enormous beasts with an enormous power plant, but I think I’d be grinning ear to ear anytime I took it out on the road.

@TomLaferriere … I believe Tom had one years ago?

· Sep 15

John, there are some very cool ones out there. You need to rake the steering wheel and cut the cowl. Also, you need appropriate wheels made.

· Sep 15

Love these purely based on the scale .

· Sep 15

John, they need to be done right or they look like fire trucks with seats attached.

· Sep 15

This Ford racer has been for sale for a while now. I can’t believe there hasn’t been any takers because it looks like a whole lot of fun and has documented history. Sort of a combination of Model T, A, and B.

https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/harrisburg-new-hampshire-vintage-race/8UxQXP3F3nKe5keLsWF2UE

· Sep 16

Wow. That is cool. I agree, should find a home at the price. I think the two man cars do much better because you can put lights on them and drive them on the road.

· Sep 16

Could be a cheap entry into vintage racing for someone. If the words cheap and racing can actually be used in the same sentence.

· Sep 16

😂😂😂😂😂😂 (bad idea) x (bad idea) = Horrible idea.

Lets combine two things that individually can bankrupt you in to one hobby. Vintage cars and racing.

· Sep 16

😂 It seems like vintage racing might be the most addictive of them all. You see 85-year-old guys still out there racing. They just can’t give it up.

· Sep 16

My racing days were done with Soap Box Derby. But I get it. Once guys get a sniff of racing it is tough for them to give it up. Lots of friends that could barely feed themselves because all their money went in to their modified they would run on Saturday night. Also, the drag guys. Have a friend with 1/2 his network tied up in his drag car.

· Sep 16

I’ve had a couple close calls but always ended up resisting the urge to get involved in any form of racing. It’s for the best because I know I’d end up hooked.

· Sep 16

Quickest way to go broke. A big boat, trophy wife or taking up any form of racing. Pick one.

· Sep 16

There are a couple of cars I'd call Peerless Speedsters.

1)  the green 1917 recreation of a Mod. "56" V-8 racer put together by Hollansworth, No. 42, runs in the Great Race often, sponsored by  Hagerty, in MI
2) a 1922 V-8 speedster put together in New England 15 years ago, No. 20,  in Maine
3)  Tom LaFerriere's red "Fearless Peerless" Mod. "66" V-8, in RI
4) a fascinating relic from CA lake bed racing, 1930 "A" or "B" Coupe, top cut off, Chrysler straight-8 motor
5) Philippe's 1926 "8-69" speedster,  No. 5, in Belgium
6) just a lead, but collector Edward Swift in Sutter Creek, CA had a 1920 Mod. "56" Gentleman's Roadster 19 years ago(photo in next post)

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· Sep 16

Factory Speedster, a 1917/1918/possibly 1920 PEERLESS Model 56 Sporting Roadster, a factory photo.
V-Type Eight/80 HP/332 Cu. In.

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· Sep 16

@peerless28, Jeff, did we decide that one of these survived?

· Sep 17

A big maybe, but I'm at 51% on that. The owner died in 2021 in his 90s, unknown what happened to his collection. It made the Peerless owner registry in 2007, and the guy I talked to on the phone joined the Peerless Club in 2014 on the strength of being able to buy it someday. Someone local could find it if it still exists.

· Sep 18

Jeff, it was around 20 years ago it still has to be around somewhere.

· Sep 19

Here is another Peerless from @Peerless28 .

· Sep 20

The 1930 Peerless described in 4) above, probably starting out as a Standard or Master Eight Coupe, when it was for sale N. of San Francisco. Equipped with a Chrysler Spitfire straight-8 and a LaSalle transmission by 2010. This was a running, driving car when the owner posted on AACA Forums asking for tuneup information on the engine about 2008. Detective work allowed me to find where the car was stored - a shed in Tomales, CA.

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· Sep 20

I like the relative completeness of the car. Original wheels, top, motor, front seats, headlights gone...but body, fenders, frame, dash still there. The S.C.T.A. regulated dry lake racing and still do, and only allowed roadsters and streamliners til 1951, so this was cut down to comply. When someone posted about it about 2010, it still ran, so that's a plus.

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· Sep 17

Well, here we have an Elcar speedster, 1916, in Australia:
(very nearly the beginning of the Elcar line of cars)

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· Sep 17

Is it just me or do the wire wheels look better than the wood wheels on a speedster?

· Sep 18

They do look sportier with the wire wheels.

· Sep 18

100% me too on the wires.

· Sep 18

The Studebaker sold for $22,000. That seems like cheap money for the work that went into it.

· Sep 18

You could say that about almost every restored car too.

· Sep 18

The irony with that Studebaker is that even if you spent a whole lot more time and money to restore it as a sedan, it probably wouldn’t have brought a whole lot more.

· Sep 19

Always better off buying someone else's quality project. Usually at 40 to 50 cents on the dollar and a lot of saved effort. Important that it is quality though.

· Sep 19

This one is well done. Marmon underpinnings. For sale on Facebook for 70k.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1505005178073521

· Sep 20

Great photos!

· 2w

@Hupp31 I forgot about this one. My buddy was interested in it so they gave him a ride. I got a vide of them screaming down the road, he said it was terrifying.

· 2w

That’s cool!

· 2w

I love that speedster. I've seen it on the speedster sites.

· 2w

More photos of it.

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· 2w

Wow!