1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Dual Ratio Speedster

This 1936 Auburn Model 852 Straight Eight Supercharged 'Boattail' Speedster was offered for sale at the 2007 Christie's auction of 'Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center.' It has a turquoise exterior with a beige leather interior. It is powered by a Lycoming eight-cylinder engine with side-valves, and a Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger. The 279.9 cubic-inch engine is capable of producing 150 horsepower.

The Art Deco designed 852 was a flamboyantly designed vehicle that featured a raked windshield and tapered tail, accented with chrome trim throughout.

A.B. Jenkins drove a stock Auburn on the Bonneville Salt Flats to an American class speed record and proving the vehicle's potential. Sadly, the company officially closed its doors in October 1937.

This turquoise Speedster has been treated to restoration, though it was completed in the 1980s. The restoration still appears very fresh in modern times. At auction, the car was offered without reserve and estimated to fetch between $250,000 - $450,000. That estimate proved to be accurate, as a willing buyer was found. Including the buyer's premium, the car found a new owner for the price of $423,500.

This year marked the end of the Auburn automobiles. The Auburn line for 1936 consisted of three six-cylinder models and four eight-cylinder models. This 1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Dual Ratio speedster is an extraordinary example of the most significant pre-World War II automobiles built.

While little is known of its early history, the vehicle was part of the famous Blackhawk Collection in the late 1990s before being sold to a European collector. The vehicle remained in the European collection until August 2007, when it was sold to its current owner.

Chassis number 34631E has been expertly and correctly restored from an excellent and original example. It is fitted with engine number GH4742 which retains its original Columbia two-speed, dual ratio rear end.

The original wire wheels have been fitted with appropriate polished wheel disc and whitewall tires.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2008