1932 Auburn 8-100A Cabriolet

In the 1920s, E.L. Cord was very involved in the automobile industry. So much so that he really wanted to own or direct a manufacturing company. He got his chance in 1924 when the Auburn Automobile company offered him a top-level management position. Cord understood all aspects of design and manufacturing. The depression of the late 1920s had a major impact on Cord and some of his outside business ventures, though the Auburn Company did manage to turn a profit.

This production convertible was assembled at its Connersville Plant in the spring of 1932. It is equipped with most of the accessories available, including dual side-mounted spare tires, manually operated ride control, and a rear-mounted picnic-style trunk designed for touring. The Auburn 8-100A was produced during the early 1930s. The 'A' designation means that this is a custom or a deluxe model and, as described, has more options than standard. The '100' meant 100 horsepower. The base price for the 100A in 1932 was $975. In 1929 Auburn produced 22,000 vehicles. 1931 was Auburn's most successful year, but by 1933 sales of all vehicles had plummeted to around 6000. Though the company ended production in 1937, the Auburns of the early 1930s are considered to be some of the finest and most powerful cars produced during the era.