1953 Bohman Special Roadster is one-off machine that featured in the 1954 Hollywood feature film “Johnny Dark” starring screen legend Tony Curtis. Auctions America will offer this specific machine at California auction from August 1-3, 2013. The movie reflects real racecars and top-flight drivers of the era that included Phil Hill, Don Freeland and Louis Tomei.
There were eight cars in the film. This particular car is one of the two with the hand-crafted alloy body. The Bohman Special was known as the “Tiger Special” in the film. It was a prime contender for the race win in the film with Phil Hill being announced as the driver and the car carrying the number 17.
This beautiful roadster was built by Lawrence Chris Bohman. He is the son of Christian Bohman, one of the principals of the renowned coachbuilding firm Bohman & Schwartz of Pasadena, California. The car was restored in 1986 and remains in excellent overall condition. It has a Ford chassis that was modified and strengthened for road racing. The engine is set back several inches. The rear axle is a Ford Banjo with a transverse spring with coil springs on each end. The Bohman Special is powered by a Buick V-8 engine that has an Offenhauser tri-power carburetor set-up and is connected to a four-speed manual transmission.
The car boasts a side-access louvered hood, “suicide” doors, full front and rear body clips, inner front fender wells, radiator shroud, door-opening kick panels and belly pan, custom grille, side pipe exhaust system, chrome hood latches, two-piece windshield, tonneau cover, wood steering wheel, snap-in armrest, chrome wire wheels and whitewall tires.
This exciting car has won many awards like the People’s Choice Award at the September 2012 Intermountain Concours d’Elegance in Lehi, Utah – First Place for Retired Active Racecars at the Concours d’Elegance Salt Lake City, Utah 1986 – First Place for Radical Hand-built Sports Class at Autorama over a several year period and the American Dream Calendar Winner.
