Sep 17

The Boattail Body Style

So I like these Hudson Boattails. Kruse just sold one for 100k plus at Auburn and I'll link it below. There are very few attractive ones and some ugly tries at it. I don't think its as easy body to pull off.

Sep 17, 2026

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Replies (23)

· Sep 17

Here is a link to the auction. All in the price was 112k which is a good discount on the equivalent Auburn.

https://listings.kruseauctions.com/listings/auction/AF26/1931-hudson-greater-eight-series-t-boattail-sport-roadster/654

· Sep 17

More pictures.

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· Sep 17

Auburn is general recognized the the best example of the Boattail body style. Kruse had a couple of them for sale.

YouTube ↗

· Sep 17

The 1930 Auburn 8-125 Speedster sold for 168k all in which seems cheap for a real speedster.

· Sep 19

A cheap price in this circumstance usually an indication of a potential fly in the ointment. In this case, from the auction description: "...submitted his Speedster to be certified by the Club, after great discussions, the Club determined this Auburn to meet standards, but the decision was made to not certify it as the frame ID plate had been removed..." Who knows what that means or why? If "meet standards" means certifiable, then why wouldn't they finish the certification? I'm not saying there is anything wrong, but it leaves questions that can discourage buyers.

· Sep 17

RM is selling a 35 851 Auburn which is best version of the Auburn in my mind.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/lots/r0064-1935-auburn-851-supercharged-speedster/

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· Sep 17

RM is also selling this Cadillac. The 1931 Cadillac 370-A V-12 'Buck Jones Speedster'.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/lots/r0099-1931-cadillac-370a-v12-buck-jones-speedster/

· Sep 17

Showing how hard it is to pull off this style elegently.

· Sep 18

I need to see it in person. The auction description has a period photo but there are differences.

· Sep 17

@alsancle A.J. did you do a new tire version?

· Sep 17

Of the Hudson? How did you guess?

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· Sep 18

That's better w/ blackwalls!  What is forgotten by history is that the '31 Hudson and Essex Sport Roadsters were the LOWEST PRICE model offerings for that year from Hudson Motor Car Co.
My mind reaches back to about 1978 and going into a small Hudson collection in South Pasadena, CA.  There sat an all original 1931 Essex "boattail".  It was BLACK with BLACK leather with BLACK wall tires and BLACK top.  There was ONLY chrome on the grille shell, bumpers and hub caps.  Even the windshield stanchions were BLACK.  And as the owner was proud to point out, it was untouched, original and he kept it that way through his passing.  We became friends and I purchased two other H products from him over several years.
Today, like every other surviving '31 H or E Sport Roadster, it is "restored" and very colorful and very plated with the near-requisite six whitewall equipment.  But does retain the black painted stanchions.  Kudos!

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