Priced at $2,245, the elegant Auburn Speedster was a loss leader intended to stimulate showroom traffic. It was introduced in 1928. After Auburn discontinued its V12 models, Gordon Buehrig was called in to design a car from leftover Speedster bodies. The long-hooded front was made to conform to the new 851 sedans he had already designed. The rear retained the Speedster's pointed boat tail, which, along with pontoon fenders, V-type windshield, cutout doors and four showy chrome plated exhaust pipes on the left side, contributed to a rakish appearance. With racing driver Ab Jenkins at the wheel, the Auburn 851 Speedster set more than 70 speed records, and at one time, held all U.S. stock-car speed records up to 24 hours and 15,000 miles. A dashboard plaque on each car contained a signed guarantee that it had been driven to more than 100 mph before shipment. This example was presented to Clark Gable as a birthday present, and has been owned by its current owner since 1973. | |
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