AUBURN Speedsters.com

2011 Annual Reunion
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club
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Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the 810 Cord
 
"Home of the Classics" Auburn, Indiana

The ACD Club has for some time now recognized Replica Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs. As a matter of fact these cars are now officially referred to as "Second Generation Cars". The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) was the first to recognize this classification, Second Generation. The atmosphere at this annual event hasn't always been so friendly. Replica's of ACD Cars peaked in the late 1970's early 1980's. These Cars started finding there way to Auburn over the Labor Day weekend. They were not readily Welcomed. Rather than the Club recognizing Replication as being the Most Sincere form of Flattery, they seemed to have viewed them as an insult. I can remember attending Auburn in the the late 70's seeing signs placed in the ACD Museum's parking lot with "NO REPLICA'S ALLOWED". Attitudes have changed for the better. Second Generation Cars now participate in the Saturday Eckhart Park Car Show, they are allowed in the Parade of Classics and they have their own space in the ACD Club's website forum. I know several ACD members who own and enjoy both the Original and the Second Generation Cars

I have been following the Replicar industry since it's inception. I have file cabinets full of sales catalogs and book shelves stacked with magazines reviewing these cars along with boxes of 35mm photo's that I have taken over the years (now photo CD's). I have opinions, good and bad, on most all of the players in the industry. I have to say that the Cord shown here, is the Nicest Cord Recreation that I have seen. It was produced in 1980 by Southeastern Replicars (SER), located in Largo, Florida. I read somewhere that only 12 cars were ever built, if someone knows the production numbers for sure please let me know. These Cords were expensive, very expensive, selling at $49,950 in 1980. That is a Good Wad of Cash even in today's Money. They were marketed as the "815 SE". They are Front Wheel Drive and powered by a GM (Oldsmobile) 350 V8. This particular Cord has been at past Auburn Reunions, I was glad to see it again this year. Absolutely Gorgeous Car

With Glenn Prays passing this past March the ACD Club wanted to pay tribute to Glenn. Chris Summers, the ACD Club's Duesenberg Historian, penned a very nice  memoriam to Glenn that was placed on two signs and displayed with the Glenn Pray Second Generation Cars. Black Memorial Ribbons were passed out to owners of all Second Generation Cars and were asked to have them placed on the windshields during the Parade of Classics. Glenn Never referred to his New Auburns and Cords as Replica's because they were Not Replica's. His intensions were not to replicate the Auburn or the Cord, but to build new modern cars. He befittingly referred to his cars as "Modernized Versions of the Originals", thus "Second Generation Cars". The ACD Club adapted the term "Second Generation" after a push by owners of Glenn Pray Cars

The last cars that Glenn Pray built were the Dual Cowl Auburn 874 Phaetons. Only Seventeen 874 Phaetons were produced (1 prototype and 16 production cars). The Maroon 874 is Serial Number 1 and is currently owned by Felix DeGeyter. The Yellow car is owned by Doug Pray and was the 17th Phaeton produced. Doug is now the President of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company, Felix DeGeyter is the General Manager. The 874 Phaeton's first showing was at the 1974 Auburn Reunion. The car was priced at $60,000. Glenn took deposits on 6 cars that weekend. Quite impressive, speaks well for the car