The rebirth of the Pan-American “6 Fifty-Five Special”

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Some cars quietly fade into history. Others, against all odds, are granted a second life. The Pan-American “6 Fifty-Five Special” belongs to the latter category: a rare American from 1922 that, more than a century later, is returning to the road — reimagined as an authentic endurance race car, inspired by the long-distance competitions of the early 1920s.

The Pan-American Motor Corporation existed only briefly, from 1917 to 1922. In an era dominated by mass production giants such as Ford, the small marque struggled to survive. The result: only a handful of cars were built, and virtually none have stood the test of time. According to the owner, this may well be the only surviving example in the world — a former Model 6-55 Tourer that was already registered in Europe as early as 1926.

When the car resurfaced, little remained beyond a collection of parts and a story. What followed was a restoration of epic proportions. More than 2,900 hours of work were invested to completely rebuild the vehicle: from chassis and drivetrain to engine, steering and electrical systems.

But restoration alone was never the goal. The team behind CoastClassics, led by Andreas Ullstein, aimed to go further: to create a car that remains true to its origins while being capable of tackling modern endurance rallies. This vision was realised in close collaboration with Glenn Billqvist of Recreating History. You may recognise these names from the Streamliner C-16, which we previously featured.

One of the most striking elements is the bodywork. It was entirely hand-formed in aluminium, using traditional techniques such as hammer and dolly. The result is a streamlined, almost sculptural form that evokes early rally cars of the 1920s.

Under the bonnet lies a rebuilt 5.5-litre six-cylinder engine — the beating heart of the car. Technically, the package has been subtly modernised to ensure reliability, without compromising its period character.

That balance has proven crucial: the car has now been fully road-legal. The “6 Fifty-Five Special” was built to be driven and to cover long distances, exactly as its makers originally intended.

With official road approval and participation in events across Europe, the Pan-American “6 Fifty-Five Special” is at the beginning of a new chapter. And there is plenty on the calendar: Wales, Germany and Sweden to start with. Together with the team — because, as owner Andreas puts it: “Born in the USA. Reborn in Sweden. Reimagined in Spain. A legacy reborn… Some return by chance… Others through care… But the rarest return with purpose. And the purpose is what truly matters: a period-correct endurance race car, built to tackle European endurance rallies. And I’m the proud owner, with true friends and a magical team who helped bring this very unique marque back to life.”

Text: Laurens Klein, photos: Coast Classic

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