1932 Auburn 8-100A Speedster

Founded in 1902, the Auburn Automobile Company got its start making single-cylinder runabouts. E.L. Cord gained control of the company in 1924, adding Duesenberg in 1926 and Cord in 1929 to the product line. A victim of the Great Depression, Auburn ceased production in 1936, followed by Cord and Duesenberg in 1937. Lycoming engines, an Auburn subsidiary, survives to this day.

Under the design direction of 28-year-old Alan Leamy, the Auburn Speedster body was designed as a flowing, integral unit. The 'Boattail' Speedster from Auburn hit the showrooms with the 1928 model. It was the first of three generations of Boattail that would be produced over the next nine years. Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, a Russian nobleman who was known for his flair with color and line, designed that first car.

In 1932, Auburn produced just 84 eight-cylinder Speedsters.

This is a second-generation car, designed by Alan H. Leamy, which began with the 1930 model. Leamy later moved on to a career at General Motors working under the legendary Harley Earl.

The 'A' in this car's nomenclature refers to its 2-speed differential manufactured by a Cord subsidiary. It was controlled by a high-low ratio level on the instrument panel and was actuated by manifold vacuum and the clutch.

As a Custom Deluxe model, this Speedster has chrome wheels, steel side-mount wheel covers, Pines Winterfront, and Pilot Ray lights. Options include the Pearl Gray paint, radiator stone guard, heater, Philco radio and a clock in the rearview mirror. The price new was around $1,500.

This Auburn Speedster was 1 of 6 built in February 1932. It was the only Custom Deluxe 8-100A model built that month. Business Week declared, 'It was more car for the money that the public has ever seen.' It was first sold to a newlywed couple in California and the car has had eight owners since. A similar 1932 Speedster won the American Stock Car Championship with a speed of over 117 miles per hour. The average fuel economy was about 18 mpg. The car has been certified by the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club as an original 1932 Speedster. It is the only Custom Deluxe model known to exist.

The current owner restored the car after acquiring it from famous automotive artist/sculptor Stanly Wanlass in 1994. It has been certified by the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club as an original 1932 Auburn Speedster (# A-428 Original).