Postwar Spohn

[K5ING]

I'll keep my eyes open and an ear to the ground for the Spohn custom potentially still here in Texas, I promise you!

Well, I doubt it 's still around, but it may be.  It had been stored there a long time, and was covered with dirt.  One of the headlight covers was broken as well.  That's how I noticed that they were plastic.  The first time I went there, it was out on Valley View Ln. in Farmers Branch, and the second time I saw it was about 5 years later when the shop move over onto Stemmons Freeway in Farmers Branch or Carrollton.  I don't remember the name of the shop but it was owned by a woman by the name of Shirley Applewhite.  That name may ring a bell with any fellow Texas classic car enthusiasts. 

[StillOutThere]

I'll keep my eyes open and an ear to the ground for the Spohn custom potentially still here in Texas, I promise you!

Well, I doubt it 's still around, but it may be.  It had been stored there a long time, and was covered with dirt.  One of the headlight covers was broken as well.  That's how I noticed that they were plastic.  The first time I went there, it was out on Valley View Ln. in Farmers Branch, and the second time I saw it was about 5 years later when the shop move over onto Stemmons Freeway in Farmers Branch or Carrollton.  I don't remember the name of the shop but it was owned by a woman by the name of Shirley Applewhite.  That name may ring a bell with any fellow Texas classic car enthusiasts. 

Thank you.  That greases a start-up.  Now I have something to go on.  The wheels are in motion.........

[Allemano]

Finally I can post it here:

The 1949 L.L. Lepoix designed Packard Eight for General Marie-Pierre Koenig built by C.R.A.S. and Spohn:

[woodinsight]

I found another couple of examples of Spohn coachwork - both built on earlier chassis.

The first is a Horch 853 Cabriolet from 1938 bodied by Spohn in 1950.

[woodinsight]

and the second is a Maybach Typ SW42 of 1940 - bodied by Spohn in 1949
Similar to the Maybach posted earlier but note the wrap-around windscreen and the additional embellishment under the door line.

[barrett]

I don't believe we've had this one yet, another Veritas

[Paul Jaray]

That is interesting...

[Allemano]

From the Spohn book:

[Paul Jaray]

Wow, thank you!

[barrett]

I have that VW too, but it seems like an edited photo of the open version on page 1? They seem identical other than the roof.

[grobmotorix]

With my first 640x480 pixel digicam, I´ve photographed this around 1997 from an old Hobby magazine:

[Carnut]

I have that VW too, but it seems like an edited photo of the open version on page 1? They seem identical other than the roof.

They even have the same registration plate...

[grobmotorix]

And yet there´s even more information I´ve found in an old book.

It shows the making of the plastic body of the Spohn VW:

[grobmotorix]

Yet another picture of the Valkyrie Cadillac V8 by Spohn, seen in 1954 at the Paris auto show:

[ImpishGrin]

I have that VW too, but it seems like an edited photo of the open version on page 1? They seem identical other than the roof.

I guess it may have had a hardtop - look how all the windows have full frames, usually that indicates some kind of a rolldach or hardtop to be fitted.

[Vincent Vell Vet]

Interesting thread for sure, but I think this Spohn's cars are like looking at a vintage JC Whitney catalog turned up to eleven.
Many styling elements added for the sake of seemingly random ornimentation with little regard to how these pieces flow with the rest of the car.
Worse eye for proportion than many back yard '50s customizers, allthough some of the Maybachs I can dig though.

[fyreline]

While I don't think the quality of Spohn's work has ever been disputed, a lot of the designs are certainly of questionable taste. "Ugly" may be too strong a word, and in each case it has to be remembered that it was probably just what the customer wanted. Taken in context of the time in which they were constructed, the LeSabre-esque tails and heavily-chromed fronts represent what was then considered "forward thinking".  Today, it just looks strange. While it would seem that the words "tasteful" and "restrained" did not appear in the Spohn lexicon, they did in fact build some very nice, simple designs if that's what the customer wanted.

In any case, they have always represented one of the more interesting footnotes to the custom body story.  Thanks to all who have shared the photos of cars that we all, at the very least, have to acknowledge as "interesting".

[Arunas]

#6

[grobmotorix]

I´ve had the luck to purchase an original 1967 Maybach FIF (= Fahrzeuginstandsetzung Friedrichshafen / former Zeppelin AG) press photo, which shows TT-AP 80, the former Brunner-Schwer car and the other TT-AP 81 Spohn car, then owned by the Mercedes Museum:

[Paul Jaray]

Wow!
Thank You.
@Otto: I'd like to know more about that batmobile too...

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm trying to discern more. I'll keep you posted. 

[Allemano]

This 1953 green Spohn (apparently) Ford roadster is curently for sale:

[StillOutThere]

Lee Roy Hartung, owner of the museum of automobilia north of Chicago, Illinois, has passed away.   Amongst the huge variety of inventory was the 1949 Veritas chassis with coach built body by Spohn which included the GM LeSabre-like tail which became almost a trademark of Spohn customs.   Mrs. Hartung is quoted as saying everything is for sale.   
Pics of the Hartung '49 Veritas by Spohn attached.

[StillOutThere]

The Hartung collection, including the Veritas by Spohn will be auctioned November 2011.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/09/06/hartung-collection-to-go-to-auction/

http://auctionsamerica.com/events/event.cfm?SaleCode=LH11

[Allemano]

A better pic of the Spohn Messerschmidt P-511 and its unusual engine: