If elegance and pleasing lines are a priority, look to some of the designs out of the 1930s and particularly cars like the Auburn Speedster series.
As Which Car notes in a story on the series: “In 1931 came an all-new Auburn Speedster. On a new, stronger chassis (partly derived from the flagship Cord L-29u2019s) fitted with an 8-98 engine, the all-new, Leamy-penned body was low and elegant. However, confronting the reality of the Great Depression, the Speedster’s hydraulic braking had reverted to mechanical and trim levels were somewhat reined in.
“With its sleek lines and sharp pricing, the Auburn Speedster 8-98 was a sales sensation, helping to propel Auburn’s total production volume (including sedans, coupes, cabriolets and speedsters) to a record 36,148 cars in 1931, in a car market that had more than halved since 1929.”
This example is a locally-built replica of a 1935 852.
It rides on a 1966 Galaxie chassis with 351 V8 and FMX automatic transmission, with a 9-inch diff.
Located in Sydney, it’s on the market for $250,000.