1933 Auburn Model 12-165 Sedan Brougham

The Auburn V12 engine was a completely new one by Lycoming, one of the firms in Cord's group. Also new was a two-speed rear axle made by another Cord firm. An Auburn V12 set many speed records in 1932, some of which survived until after World War II. The V12 engine has a displacement of 6.43 liters, rated at 160 horsepower, coupled to a four-speed transmission, and produced a top speed of 93 mph.

The most distinctive characteristic of a new Auburn was its astounding price: a two-passenger coupe's cost was only $975, or one-third to one-fourth the cost of a V12 Packard, Franklin, or Cadillac. Five other versions were offered: a cabriolet, brougham, sedan, speedster, and phaeton with a maximum cost of $1,145 in 1932.

But as The Great Depression lengthened, sales fell each year and the last V12s were produced in 1932.

In an attempt to boost lagging sales, Auburn introduced a new top-of-the-line Salon series for 1933. The Salon was given chrome moldings on the fender edge, fancier bumpers, an upgraded interior radiator grille, headlight and cowl lights, lenses and a V-shaped windshield. The wheelbase measures 127 inches. This was mated to a new V-12 Lycoming engine, which Auburn had unveiled just a year earlier. This would become the least expensive twelve-cylinder engine ever marketed. The 391 cubic-inch unit had cost the company over $1 million to design and tool, yet sold for as little as $1,395. It was a very advanced powerplant and became well-known for its use in aircraft. The engine would remain in production until the mid-1960s for use in American La France fire trucks.

The 1933 Model 12-165 and the 1934 Model 1250 were both offered with the Salon design.