Newest Autocult models announced - Citroen, Packard, and Porsche

Interesting mix this month! Which one(s) will make it into your collection?

1929 Packard 6th series Thompson Special

In an appreciation by the press at the time, the car was described with the words “…the sensational custom speedster…” This was the description of a sporty, racy one-of-a-kind car from 1929 that was built for only one purpose – to drive fast on public roads!

The man behind it who fulfilled his dream was John Raglan Glasscock. At the time he bought this racing car, he was 44 years old and came from a very wealthy family. He realized his dream of a sports car as a one-off production base on a Packard 626.

For the soldier, the purchase of the 626 was not the end of his dream because he wanted to have an independent car body. The Los Angeles-based Thompson Auto Body Company awarded the lieutenant his desired body, modeled it, and it and presumably also connected it to the Packard chassis.

Visually, the body impressed above all with its simplicity. Striking are the externally visible two elongated frame struts, on which the cigar-shaped sheet metal cladding was placed. The fenders, which are matched directly to the tires, and the completely unconventionally designed headlights testify to attention to detail.

The one-of-a-kind Speedster has survived to the present day and is now on display at the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California.

1938 Citroen 11 Berline Gazogene

If you are asked about the most successful French cars, The Citroën 11CV quickly comes to mind. Of course, when this era began in 1934, no one could have guessed this success. The construction of the later 11CV was the implementation of specifications of the company boss personally. André Citroën envisioned a vehicle that primarily meet three important criteria – it had to be fast, economical, and safe.

The most powerful four-cylinder version had a 1,911cc in-line engine installed above the front axle, the type designation is 11CV. This stood for the formula of the control horsepower, in which the displacement was classified. The engine produced 56 hp and consumed about 12 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. Production continued into World War II.

With the occupation of France by German soldiers, however, the rationing of gasoline for civilian use was ordered and the vehicle engines were converted to wood gas operation. The necessary adjustments were made by the company ‘Fab Elgazo Tarbes’, which fitted two powerful cylinders into the body below the front bumper, each of which pulled up to the bonnet on the side of the fenders. Coal was poured into these two metal containers and ignited. After about 30 minutes, enough methane gas was produced, which rose to the top and was fed into the carburetor. Of course, the engine did not develop the usual power, but even if only a third of the former horsepower was available, the car at least was running!

And in the Avenue43 series...

Porsche 928 Cabrio Prototyp (silver)

Porsche 928 Cabrio Carelli Design (red)