1929 Auburn 8-120

The Eckhart Carriage Company was founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1874 by Charles Eckhart. Mr. Eckhart's sons, Morris and Frank, showed an interest in the automobile, and after a few experiments, they entered the automobile business. The Auburn Automobile Company was founded in 1900. The brothers quickly acquired local carmakers and moved into a larger plant by 1909. Two-cylinder models were followed by a four-cylinder model in 1909, and then a six by 1912. The company enjoyed some success but was forced to close during World War I due to material shortages. When peace team resumed, the company was sold in 1919 by the Eckhart brothers to a group of Chicago investors headed by Ralph Austin Bard, and included the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. Although the business was revived, it was never profitable. The struggling company turned to an automobile salesman named Errett Lobban Cord for assistance. They offered him a position to run the company, but Cord countered with an offer to take over completely, which the Chicago group accepted. The buyout was completed before the close of 1925.

Cord worked aggressively to revitalize the company and make it successful. The vehicles were given advanced engineering, aggressive styling, and painted in bright, attractive colors. The strategy worked, and the unsold inventory quickly found buyers. Several eight-cylinder engines were acquired from Lycoming, and for 1925 the Auburn 8-63 and 8-88 were introduced, with prices starting at $1,895. One of E.L. Cord's many successes was the development of the Auburn Speedster. Built in limited numbers, it was designed to attract new customers and draw them into the showroom. The bodywork, the work of Alan Leamy, featured a dramatic tapered rear end and angled doors. It was adapted from a Duesenberg show car bodied by McFarlan, and advertised as 'the biggest package in the world for the price.' Priced at a under $2,000, this remarkable automobile offered a top speed of 100 mph, making it one of the true American sports cars of its era.

For 1929, Auburn sales had risen dramatically to over 23,000 units. This sales success must be attributed to the vehicle's performance and attractive styling. Several new speed records were established from coast-to-coast by Wade Morton and Eddie Miller. Auburn Eights raced with much success in both Europe and North America. The price was also another feature, with a comparable Stutz costing nearly $5,000 compared to the Auburn Eight for just over $2,000.

Auburn offered several engine options in 1929, including the 120 - sometimes called the 'Big Eight', named for the horsepower rating of its 268 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine. Several different body styles were offered, all drawn by Alan Leamy with inspiration from the creations of California coachbuilder Murphy. The designs featured a subtle beltline with molding flowing into the hood line, often accented by two-tone color schemes. Mechanical features were similarly attractive, with four-wheel Lockheed hydraulic brakes, a Bijur centralized chassis lubrication system, and hydraulic shock absorbers.

Body styles on the 1929 Model 120 included a speedster, cabriolet, sedan, 7-passenger sedan, sport sedan, phaeton, and Victoria. Prices ranged from $1,800 to $2,150.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020