Newbie Looking at Auburn Speedster

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Guys,

This is my first post on the forum.  I live in Houston.  I am a pretty sophisticated collector when it comes to American muscle cars, Italian Exotics and British Sports Cars but I am now branching into a prewar car.  The Speedster always caught my eye for the obvious reasons and they have the right look for me.  There was a beautiful Speedster from Chicago at Keels & Wheels last May that really set the wheels in motion but that owner is not yet ready to sell so I went looking. 

I have my eyes on a Speedster that is a 1931 8-98 because I really like that body style best.  I got connected to this car through ACD in Broken Arrow.  It is an original car that was born as a Speedster and it was previously certified ACD #1.  When I went to see the car the first time about six weeks ago the updraft carburetor was unhappy and fuel was pouring out.  The seller got that fixed so I am going back to give it a second look next week.  If anyone has any tips on what I should look for (I have restored cars and built airplanes so I am pretty mechanical) let me know.  Other than a few paint warts the car looks pretty good.  

I am curious if anyone knows the total length of a 1931 Speedster?  I have seen 194 inches but that is a number repeated on some websites that may be of questionable accuracy.  The owners manual that I bought from the ACD Museum Book Store says the wheelbase is 127 inches -- its hard for me to believe that there is another 57" of car beyond the wheelbase but maybe there is.  The only reason I ask the question is I need to know if it will really fit in my Aerovault Trailer.  If it does not that might be a deal killer.

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