BusinessWeek.com has a very nice feature story on a one-of-a-kind roadster that was built for Edsel Ford back when he was Ford’s president in 1934. Edsel has returned from a trip to Europe and wanted a sport, Italian looking ride. He commissioned Bob Gregorie, a Lincoln designer, to take on the task. He created this beautiful boattailed aluminum body on a modified ‘34 Ford chassis. Originally painted gun-metal gray, the “Speedster” was sold for $1000 after Edsel’s death in 1943 (a hefty sum at the time). It then sold almost immediately for a whopping $2,500 in 1948 and spent some time with up and coming Hollywood stars. Ultimately it reappeared, ten years later, for sale in Georgia for $603.

Fast forward to March 2008 where it sold at auction for $1,760,000! It’s a fascinating story, go read it at BusinessWeek.