1933 Ford Louis Special

This vehicle was built in Santa Monica in 1947. It was raced at Bonneville in 1947 and 1948 and then raced at Pebble Beach in 1950 through 1956. It was also raced at Golden Gate Parks, Torrey Pines and Paramount Ranch.

This Ford-Auburn Special was built by David R. Addison in his one car garage in Santa Monica, CA. The design was inspired by the Jaguar SS100 and built using home-grown American parts.

The car began life as a 1933 Ford and still has its frame and front axle as well as the rear deck, part of the rear quarters and the internal firewall. The rear axle was sourced from a 1940 Ford. In the front are large brakes courtesy of a 1941-48 Lincoln. Under the bonnet is a 221 cubic-inch 1937 Ford 21-stud flathead V8 with aluminum Ford heads from Canada. There are two Stromberg 97 carburetors, a Frieman intake manifold and two brass balance tubes. There is a 1939 Ford gearbox with stock gears with a gear ratio of (approximately) 3.7:1.

In the front, there is a modified vee radiator shell from a cord Ford Drive L-29. Addison built his own custom radiator to fit within the L-29 shell, welding his initials on it to identify his work. There are sweeping fenders, running boards, dashboard and centerlock wire wheels (adapted to Ford hubs) there were once part of an Auburn. The instruments are correct period Auburn replacement items with curved glass.

Addison drove the car to the Monterey Peninsula in 1950 and completed in the road races of the Del Monte Forest near the Lodge at Pebble Beach. The Ford-Auburn raced throughout the West Coast for years and is believed to be the only surviving veteran of all seven of the Pebble Beach Road Races from 1950 through the meeting's demise after the 1956 race.

Addison entered the car as the Ford-Auburn. Addison raced the Ford-Auburn at Pebble Beach in 1950-52, and then sold it to Dr. Robert L. Louis. Dr. Louis described the car as the 'Louis Special'. The builder gave it the nickname, 'Beezy' Addison, the 'Beezymobile.' Dr. Louis continued its racing resume, entering it in many of the race meetings in California at places like Paramount Ranch, Torrey Pines and Golden Gate Park.

The car was discovered stored in a shipping container in Anaheim in 2004 in complete and largely intact condition. The prior owner had owned it only since 1999.

The car has been given a restoration. It was shown at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concorus d'Elegance where it earned a class award.

Since the restoration was completed, the car has traveled just 8 miles. The car is finished in ebony black with the original handmade bucket seats upholstered in aqua leather with taupe piping. The car rides on chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Marchal lights and a rear mounted spare on a tilting mount for access to the trunk. The riveted aluminum fuel tank is new for safety reasons but accurately re-creates the original's construction details.

Some of the original interior panels had to be replaced. The steering wheel with its four banjo-style wire spokes were rebuilt by specialists. There is a pair of period correct Brooklands aeroscreens and an electrical system with its original 6 volts. The ignition system is stock Ford. David Addison built the Ford-Auburn with only one door, on the passenger's side, and that is how it remains today.