Mon Sep 23 17:40:42 UTC 2024: ## Rare LeGene Roadster, Built by Father-Son Duo in the 1950s, Heads to Auction
**San Bernardino, CA** – A 1955 LeGene roadster, one of only six produced by Lee and Gene Dodson in the 1950s, is set to cross the auction block at Bring a Trailer. This unique piece of automotive history, originally built in San Bernardino, California, has been meticulously restored and is now offered with a clean Missouri title.
The LeGene roadster features fiberglass bodywork on a modified 1940s Ford frame and is powered by a 239ci Mercury flathead V8. The engine boasts Offenhauser aluminum cylinder heads, twin downdraft carburetors, and a three-speed manual transmission. Its distinctive design includes chrome bumpers, a custom stainless-steel grille, a hood scoop, and tailfins.
The car was discovered in 2008 as an unidentified rolling project and spent a year undergoing a refurbishment before making its debut at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. It later garnered two awards at the 2014 Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance, solidifying its significance in the automotive world.
The roadster’s origins were finally revealed in 2015 on an episode of AmeriCarna. Lee and Gene Dodson, the father-son team behind the LeGene, created six complete cars and six additional bodies in their autobody shop. This example, believed to be one of the six complete cars, has a dropped front axle and a 99″ wheelbase.
The interior features black and maroon leather bucket seats, black carpeting, a floor shifter, and a woodgrain instrument bezel. The odometer shows 9k miles, although the speedometer and odometer are currently inoperative.
This rare LeGene roadster is a testament to the ingenuity of the Dodson duo and a reminder of the captivating automotive artistry of the 1950s. Its upcoming auction is sure to attract attention from collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
First Piper 