Car collectors are generally looking for two things in a potential acquisition; rarity, and originality. While many collectors prefer factory-original production or race cars, others have developed a taste for the cars that influenced hot rodding and the kustom kulture. Getting your hands on an original hot rod or custom carby a big name, like say George Barris or Briggs Cunningham, can set you back hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
While the name Doane Spencer may not mean much to some people, others recognize the name was belonging to a master hot rodder and speed magician. Recently the “original” Doance Spencer ‘55 Thunderbird sold for just under $100,000 at auction. Hemmings Auto Blog reports that a unique recreation of Spencer’s original Thunderbird build, built by Spencer himself, is also heading to auction next month and could fetch even more money.
Legendary rod builder Doane Spencer made a name for himself on the streets of Southern California with a ‘32 Ford that came to epitomize the hot rod culture. Later on, Spencer bought a ‘55 T-Bird and modified the hell out of it, making it one of the fastest cars on the West Coast. In the 1980s, Spencer decided to re-work his masterpiece T-Bird, discarding many original, cutting-edge parts in the process.
At this point, Spencer’s friend, Jim O’Mahoney, approached his hot rod-building buddy about taking the cast-off parts and putting them onto another 50s Thunderbird. Spencer agreed, but only if he could do it without money or time being a factor. Mahoney agreed, and eventually the six-figure build of this badass T-bird was completed, and in many ways improved. The Y-block engine got a stroker camshaft that increased displacement to 322-inches, and received a new intake manifold with a pair of Holley carbs.
The “original” Spencer Thunderbird with the 80s 5.0 V8 and 5-speed manual just sold at auction for $96,250. Meanwhile the “new” original is heading to the highest bidder with no reserve at Auctions America event in Auburn, Indiana. Will it fetch more money than the other original?
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