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A powerful Lycoming straight-8 engine, a Columbia two-speed rear axle, light body weight, and aerodynamic styling made the Auburn Speedster a snappy performer by any standard. E.L. Cord's automotive empire was built on niche marketing with a flair for the dramatic and an emphasis on innovation and high performance, all of which are certainly epitomized in this exquisite example.
The 1935 and 1936 Speedsters were designed by Gordon Buehrig and they featured curvaceous bodywork with a straight hood line traversing back from the radiator to a steeply vee'd windshield, down between pontoon fenders, over sloping doors, and descending to the rear bumper. The rear end outlined by chrome and striping was the source of its nickname, 'the Boattail.'
Beneath the bonnet was an Auburn straight-eight engine which initially developed 115 horsepower, but with the help of a Schwitzer-Cummins blower and chrome side exhaust pipes, output was boosted to 150 bhp. The power was handled by a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle which was standard equipment on the supercharged models. This setup allowed for two ratios for each gear, one lone and one high. The ratios could be changed as often as desired while at very low speeds or at a stop by moving the switch in the center of the steering wheel.
A plaque on the dashboard proudly declared, 'This certifies that this AUBURN AUTOMOBILE has been driven 100.8 miles per hour before shipment.' It was signed by David 'Ab' Jenkins, the speed-record driver who achieved some of his greatest successes at Bonneville behind the wheel of a late Auburn speedster.
The history of this Speedster dates back to the early 1950s when it was in the care of Dr. Fred Zaidan of Pennsylvania. It remained in the Zaidan family for 46 years, and from 1985 to 1988, it was exhibited, on loan, in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana. In 1998, it was purchased by Hal Bjorklund of Castle Rock, Colorado, who undertook a complete restoration in the hands of noted Auburn specialist Mark Clayton. The work was rewarded in 2004 by its Primary First Place at the ACD Club National Reunion in Auburn, Indiana, followed by a Senior First Place and Best of Show at the Club's West Coast Meet that same year. It was also Certified Category 1 by the ACD Club.
Mr. Bjorklund sold the car in 2005 to James Covert of Florida, later selling it in 2008 to Robert Thayer. In 2009 it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and a year later at the CCCA Grand National in Stone Mountain, Georgia, winning its Primary First Prize with a perfect 100-point score. In 2011, it was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance where it was honored with Best in Class.
The 1935 and 1936 Speedsters were designed by Gordon Buehrig and they featured curvaceous bodywork with a straight hood line traversing back from the radiator to a steeply vee'd windshield, down between pontoon fenders, over sloping doors, and descending to the rear bumper. The rear end outlined by chrome and striping was the source of its nickname, 'the Boattail.'
Beneath the bonnet was an Auburn straight-eight engine which initially developed 115 horsepower, but with the help of a Schwitzer-Cummins blower and chrome side exhaust pipes, output was boosted to 150 bhp. The power was handled by a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle which was standard equipment on the supercharged models. This setup allowed for two ratios for each gear, one lone and one high. The ratios could be changed as often as desired while at very low speeds or at a stop by moving the switch in the center of the steering wheel.
A plaque on the dashboard proudly declared, 'This certifies that this AUBURN AUTOMOBILE has been driven 100.8 miles per hour before shipment.' It was signed by David 'Ab' Jenkins, the speed-record driver who achieved some of his greatest successes at Bonneville behind the wheel of a late Auburn speedster.
The history of this Speedster dates back to the early 1950s when it was in the care of Dr. Fred Zaidan of Pennsylvania. It remained in the Zaidan family for 46 years, and from 1985 to 1988, it was exhibited, on loan, in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana. In 1998, it was purchased by Hal Bjorklund of Castle Rock, Colorado, who undertook a complete restoration in the hands of noted Auburn specialist Mark Clayton. The work was rewarded in 2004 by its Primary First Place at the ACD Club National Reunion in Auburn, Indiana, followed by a Senior First Place and Best of Show at the Club's West Coast Meet that same year. It was also Certified Category 1 by the ACD Club.
Mr. Bjorklund sold the car in 2005 to James Covert of Florida, later selling it in 2008 to Robert Thayer. In 2009 it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and a year later at the CCCA Grand National in Stone Mountain, Georgia, winning its Primary First Prize with a perfect 100-point score. In 2011, it was shown at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance where it was honored with Best in Class.
2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $700,000-USD $900,000
Sale Price :
USD $891,000
1935 Auburn Model 851 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Auburn Model 851
(Data based on Model Year 1935 sales)
1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton Sold for USD$128,800 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster Chassis#: 851 32724E Sold for USD$791,500 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1935 AUBURN 851 SC BOATTAIL SPEEDSTER Chassis#: 33151 E Sold for USD$747,500 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1935 AUBURN 851 CUSTOM CABRIOLET Chassis#: 33141M Sold for USD$71,500 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1935 Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster Chassis#: 2988 E Sold for USD$687,500 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1935 Auburn 851 Phaeton Chassis#: 1720 Sold for USD$82,500 2022 RM Sothebys : The Hershey Auction | |
1935 Auburn 851 Cabriolet Sold for USD$88,000 2022 Mecum : Fountain City | |
1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster Chassis#: 33807E Sold for USD$742,000 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Cabriolet Conversion Chassis#: 2539M Sold for USD$72,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | |
1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster Chassis#: 851 33734 E Sold for USD$891,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1935 AUBURN 851 CUSTOM CABRIOLET Chassis#: 33141M Sold for USD$82,500 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1935 AUBURN 851 SUPERCHARGED BOATTAIL SPEEDSTER Chassis#: 2094 Sold for USD$456,000 2021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster Chassis#: 851 33175 E Sold for USD$802,500 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection | |
1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster Chassis#: GH3669 Sold for USD$1,072,500 2020 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster Chassis#: 2219 Sold for USD$770,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction | |
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster Sold for USD$440,000 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | |
1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster Chassis#: GH4438 Sold for USD$742,500 2019 Mecum : Monterey | |
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Sport Coupe Chassis#: 32980M Sold for USD$101,200 2019 Mecum : Monterey | |
1935 Auburn Eight Custom Cabriolet Chassis#: 2311 Sold for USD$84,000 2019 RM Sothebys : The Guyton Collection | |
1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Cabriolet Chassis#: 33326 F Sold for USD$132,320 2019 RM Sothebys : Essen |
Auburn Model 851s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1935 Auburn Model 851's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1935 Auburn Eight Custom Speedster | 1988 | 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami | $700,000 | $900,000 | |
1935 AUBURN 851 SC BOATTAIL SPEEDSTER | 33177E | 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1935 Auburn Eight Custom Speedster | 1988 | 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $750,000 | $950,000 | |
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster | 33220e | 2023 Mecum : Monterey | $675,000 | $650,000 | $800,000 |
1935 Auburn 851 Salon Phaeton | GG3406 | 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |||
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | $800,000 | |||
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster | 33220E | 2022 Mecum : Monterey | $750,000 | ||
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster | 33220E | 2022 Mecum Indy | $900,000 | ||
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Boat-tail Speedster | 33515E | 2019 Bonhams : The Bond Street Sale | $650,000 | $750,000 | |
1935 AUBURN 851 CABRIOLET | 6G3568 | 2017 Premier Auction Group | $90,000 | ||
1935 Auburn CS 851 Supercharged Phaeton | 0R32585H | 2016 Dragone : The Boston Cup Auction | $150,000 | $180,000 | |
1935 Auburn 851 Cabriolet | 2016 Gulf Coast Classic Punta Gorda, Fl | $77,000 | |||
1935 Auburn 851 Cabriolet | 2016 Amelia Island Select : Hollywood Wheels | ||||
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Phaeton Seda | 2015 Auctions America Auburn Fall | $67,500 | |||
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Cabriolet | 2014 Auctions America Auburn Fall | $90,000 | |||
1935 Auburn 851 SC Cabriolet | 33891F | 2013 Worldwide Auctions Auburn | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
1935 Auburn Speedster | 846552 | 2013 Silver Auction Coeur d'Alene | $36,000 | ||
1935 Auburn 851 Convertible Sedan | 2012 Auctions America Auburn Fall | $80,000 | |||
1935 AUBURN 851 | 2010 Silver Auction Puyallup | $137,500 | |||
1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster | 2009 Mecum St. Charles Auction | $350,000 | |||
1935 Auburn Boattail | 2009 Mecum Monterey Auction | $390,000 | |||
1935 Auburn 851 | 33891M | 2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction | $130,000 | $160,000 | $180,000 |
1935 Auburn 851 | 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | $45,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 | |
1935 Auburn 851 Phaeton | 2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey by RM Auctions | $65,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 | |
1935 Auburn 851SC | 2008 Leake Auctions Tulsa 36th Annual QuikTrip Center | $185,000 | |||
1935 AUBURN MODEL 851 | 1950 | 2007 Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions November 18, 2007 | $57,500 | ||
1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster | 2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction | $350,000 | $425,000 | ||
1935 AUBURN BOATTAIL SPEEDSTER | 2001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $26,000 |
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1935 Auburn Model 851
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