For Sale
1948 California Sport Custom
From The Postwar Era of Building Your Own Sports Car
— Rare California Built Example —
— Styling influenced by Allard K2 sports car design —
— Sport Custom Cars have been featured at the Pebble Beach Concours and Amelia Island Concours —
Pricing / Availability
The car is located in Tampa, Florida and is available for purchase at $4,900
Contact Geoff Hacker at (813) 888-8882 or Geoffrey.Hacker@gmail.com
Description
Sport Custom cars grew out of the early postwar era where America – and the world – were in search of creating a small, powerful, nimble sports car with a new stylish design. Europe was first in bringing forth sports cars and many of these models were imported from their inception directly to the United States – but that didn’t keep Americans from designing and building their own sports cars.
The Sports Custom movement was first written about by Dan Post in his series of Custom Car books starting in the 1940s. By 1949, the term “Sports Custom” was in print and variations of these cars were also known as sports rods, customs and hand-built sports cars. These cars gained quite a bit of fame headlining shows and magazines throughout America. This movement lasted from the postwar 1940s thru the late 1950s. A 1977 article in Special Interest Autos about Sport Customs by Ray Scroggins is shared via images below as well as a 2012 article by Ken Gross which appeared in Motor Trend Classic Magazine.
This Car
I purchased this car from an estate in southern California with no history of its build. It was originally finished at a high level based on the styling used and the construction techniques. The styling is influenced by the Allard K2 sports/race car and the car was most likely originally powered by a Cadillac or Ford engine. All body panels are steel except for the hood and the 2 side panels adjacent to the hood which are fiberglass. The car is about the size of a Corvette and has an approximate 110 inch wheelbase.
Technical Specifications
Body Design:
- Both steel and fiberglass components were used
Drivetrain:
- This car does not come with a motor/transmission
Chassis, Suspension and Brakes:
- Unknown
Production:
- Each sport custom car is unique to the designer/builder. A few sport customs cars based on Allard K2 styling have been found and restored.
Additional Detail
Condition: Unrestored
Concours Embraced: American handcrafted specials have been welcomed across the country, and in recent years this has expanded to rallys, special exhibitions and more. What drives interest in these cars is the unique design and history of the build – in every case a story that is a “one of one.” Since 2007, major concours such as Amelia and Pebble Beach have held classes of these cars on several occasions, and both the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance have featured classes of these cars in 2023 and 2024.
Auction Results / Comparable Sales: Click Here To View Auction Results For American Specials
Hagerty Valuation Guide: Click Here To View Hagerty Valuation Guide
Modern Photos
Articles On Sport Custom Cars
Terms
Transportation costs and arrangements from Tampa, Florida to buyer’s location are the responsibility of the buyer. This car is being advertised locally and we reserve the right to end the auction at any time. Although every effort is made to present accurate and reliable information, use of this information is voluntary, and should only be deemed reliable after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to verify the existence of options, accessories and the vehicle condition before time of sale. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to time of sale. No expressed or implied warranties, including the availability or condition of the equipment listed is made. Full payment via electronic/bank transfer is due no later than 7 days from the end of the auction.