Speedster

The 1937 Kurtis Tommy Lee Special was started in 1936, and completed in 1937. Handbuilt by Frank Kurtis for Tommy Lee, this boattail roadster was designed to be the fastest and most sophisticated custom speedster of its time. Built on a 1936 Ford chassis with a Cord 810-inspired front end, the car featured a hand-formed aluminum body, a Cord-derived grille, and a DuVall Windshield. Powered by a massive 318-cubic-inch Offenhauser twin-cam engine producing 300 horsepower, it was capable of speeds up to 130 mph at the dry lakes. Despite its stunning design and advanced engineering, the car’s racing engine proved ill-suited for highway use, leading Tommy to eventually retire it to storage. At a reported cost of $25,000, it was one of the most expensive custom cars of its era, surpassing even the price of many Duesenbergs.

Dale Fisher's 1932 Chevrolet Moonlite Speedster of Sydney, Australia. Fisher purchased this rare 1932 Chevrolet Moonlite Speedster while still an apprentice panel beater in the early 1950s. The red, coachbuilt roadster immediately captivated him with its sculpted lines, rear scoops, and distinctive central ridge, features that deeply influenced his later custom work. Although he only owned it briefly, the car left a lasting impact on Dale’s design philosophy. He sold it after just two months in 1953 due to a blown differential and limited funds, but encountered it again in 1956, now white and loaned to him for a weekend. To Dale, it was a defining car, an early spark that shaped his future as one of Australia’s most respected customizers.