2004 Auburn 1936 Speedster

This motor car is being sold as part of a private overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams’ temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty.

In the UK, cars over 30 years old are subject to the lower rate of 5% import tax on the final selling price if purchased by a private individual. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT. A company buying this car will always pay 10% duty + VAT as well as VAT on the ‘hammer’ price.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, The Market can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle has been on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

We haven’t tried to start or drive this LHD automatic Auburn Boat Tail Speedster Replica and can therefore only attest to its cosmetic condition.

We know that the VIN: 1S9SR31T040879014.

We believe that the engine is a 5.3 litre V8, offering 295bhp. The engine number stamped on the block states 23J02.

We know that, today, the odometer reads just 7,526 miles.

It was bought for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2012.

Based as it is on one of the most beautiful cars to emerge from the golden age of American automotive design in the 1930s, this car is unsurprisingly stunning.

The green over cream is broadly in very good condition.

The bodywork is free of any significant dinks, dents, creases or folds that we can see.

The car seems to us to be very well built indeed. The doors close with plenty of weighty precision and authority. The panels are smooth and even. The shut lines and panel gaps are consistent.

The car’s chrome, other brightwork, lights, lenses and exterior fixtures and fittings all seem to be in fine fettle, as do the wire wheels.

The beige hood is intact, functional and in decent order.

Both nearside wheel arches have a few scratches and scuffs. There are light scuffs on the o/s/r wheel arch and some scratches and stone chips on its o/s/r counterpart.

There are one or two stone chips elsewhere, plus a few light, swirly scratches on the bonnet.

The lift-up hard cover for the hood storage compartment has cracked paint and scuffs and scratches on both sides.

The interior is equally impressive, with everything looking well cared for and showing only the lightest signs of wear or use.

The cream leather on the upholstery and door cards is excellent and, aside from a couple of marks on the passenger side of the bench seat (which look as though they would surrender if threatened with a damp cloth), everything looks reassuringly untroubled by the passage of time.

The carpets, too, are in good nick, as is the rich and glossy wood on the dashboard.

The gear selector - which looks for all the world like a manual lever - is fine, as are the steering wheel and instruments.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start or drive the vehicle.

Everything in the engine bay looks clean and dry, and the undersides of the car appear to have plenty of structural integrity. You’ll want to come and see for yourself.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records, although it does have some brochures and a specification list from the manufacturer.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5. It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of licensing or registration documentation.

It seems to be in very good condition, feels solidly and properly built and, we’re fairly sure, you’ll be unlikely ever to find yourself parked next to another one in the car park at Waitrose.

Provided, of course, that the engine and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning, this could well be the perfect car for anyone looking to release and fully express their inner Jay Gatsby.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £8,000 - £14,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £350 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.