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A 53 Mayfair is much easier to find and any 51-54 hdtp would be glad of the nine main engine. The 52 Mayfair seems difficult to find. I would trim it out in different chrome anyway - I like the 54 headlight doors and the 53-54 trunk trim.

I agree with Randy. The '53 has the grille with the newer style parking lights also.

I know where there is a '53 Limo sitting around! Someone even started a Derham Formal conversion on it.

Even a '54 Pacific Hardtop would be a good choice. But those are pretty few and far between.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of this:

That would be cheaper and eaiser to do, and I've always wanted to build one, I just never got around to it. One thing's for sure, it'll be faster than a '50s bodied car.

Well, it's been over a month since I've updated this, and I've got some news to post. I've been scouring ebay lately and have ended up with a few items to get me started. For starters, a pair of 1925 Packard headlights, and a grille from the same period.

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Then, a steering wheel:

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And today, I went up to my mom's place where all my treasure is stored, and mocked up this, it's an unknown '20s cowl on the front, and a 1914 Maxwell cowl on the rear. The Maxwell cowl will be used to transition the body to the boat tail, and the windshield posts of the unknown cowl will be cut off and substituted with the ones in the second pic, from the Maxwell:

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This chassis isn't the one I plan on using, but I just might end up using it, as I think the proportions will be better with it. It's a 1928 Hudson chassis and is a heavy son of a gun. However, I do have some pics from about 10 or so years ago that I just scanned, and it shows my old 288 on the chassis I planned on using then, a 1926 Star:

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The rear fenders in that pic are '40 Ford pickup, and you'll notice a shifter handle sticking up through the floor, it's a T5 from a Chevy that I adapted to the 288. The "floor" is the roof skin from a '50 Hudson. The front axle is a Dodge truck, and the rear axle is a '49-'50 Hudson. They fit perfectly, but I plan on using a 1994+ Mustang 8.8" rear end with disc brakes, for ease of parts availability and better stopping. I'll probably have manual brakes, though.

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Eric,

Looks like you were well on the way with 288 in the Star chassis all those years ago. I'm glad to see the pieces are falling into place with eBay making it's contributions. But I'm amazed at the "treasures" you've amassed over the years especially the diversity you've so far displayed! What more awaits revelation? Can't wait to see the Speedster when completed. It's development from concept to this stage has been exciting and it's future looks even more so.