1932 Auburn 8-100A

At the tender age of fifteen, Errett Lobban Cord, commonly known as E.L. Cord, left school in pursuit of a job as a car salesman. After a successful stint in that profession, he began working as a mechanic in a service station located in Los Angeles. This led to modifying his Model T's to include bodywork and engine modifications. He later moved to Chicago where he went back to selling vehicles. He moved to Milwaukee where he opened his own car distributor company and by 1924 was looking to purchase his own manufacturing company.

When the Auburn Automobile Company prompted him with an offer Cord a top-level management position, he accepted but under conditions. He demanded that he be given 20% of the profits and complete control of the company. He also stated that he wanted the option to buy the company once it recovered. The partners, at this point, were on the verge of bankruptcy, so they accepted the offer.

E.L. Cord had a profound knowledge of marketing and was very business savvy. During his career, he purchased Duesenberg, cab companies, Aircraft Company, and a New York shipyard. By 1932 he purchased controlling interests in the Aviation Corp, which later became American Airways and is currently known as American Airlines.

His fortunes turned during the mid-1930s as the stock market crashed and the Great Depression brought many of his business to a bitter end.

The Auburn Company had turned a considerable profit during the 1920s, but keeping up with the changing market was difficult. The cylinder wars of the early 1930s sent many companies struggling to keep up with the changing technology and mechanical advancements. Auburn answered this challenge in 1932 with the creation of its twelve-cylinder engine in 'Vee' configuration. To stimulate even more interest, the 12-160A was offered at an incredibly low price, at just under a thousand dollars. At that price, it has remained in history as the lowest 12-cylinder vehicle ever produced. Many people feared that the quality of the engine, or the vehicle, was reflective of the price. This mindset backfired and as a result, did not sell as well as intended. By year's end, the company had lost more than a million dollars.

Auburns of the 1930s encompassed a sporty and elegant persona at a very affordable price point. Along with Duesenberg and Cord automobiles, few companies could match the height of performance and elegance of the E.L. Cord motoring empire. In 1932, E.L. Cord was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, an acknowledgment of his success and achievements. Over 1,000 new dealers joined the company between 1929 and 1931, enabling the company to rise to 13th in national sales. Despite this success, fortune would quickly turn. E.L. Cord had encountered problems with the Securities and Exchange Commission and fled to England in 1933. Harold Ames was left in control, though times were difficult since production had fallen nearly 85%. The entire Cord empire came to an abrupt end in 1936.

The Auburn 8-100
The Auburn 8-100 was named for its Lycoming eight-cylinder engine and its 100 horsepower. When equipped with the dual-range overdrive rear axle, an 'A' was added to the end of the name (becoming the 8-100A). The 268.6-cubic-inch L-head inline eight-cylinder engine used a single two-barrel Schebler carburetor and was paired with a three-speed transmission with a Columbia two-speed dual-ratio rear axle. When equipped with this 'dual-ratio' feature, it offered the driver a choice of high or low ratio in any of the three forward gears, which were selectable by adjusting a lever while driving below 40 mph. It operated a vacuum-actuated clutch that locked or released a planetary gear set that was housed in the rear differential, creating the two possible output ratios.

The 127-inch wheelbase platform of the Auburn 8-100 was suspended by a solid front and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Stopping power was via four-wheel steeldraulic drum brakes.

The exceptional performance of the Auburn 8-100 was complemented by affordable elegance, with the top-of-the-range 1931 Speedster selling for $1,395, less than half the price of the equivalent Stutz. The eight-cylinder Auburns challenged Stutz for the accolade of 'America's fastest' with Al Leamy driving an 8-115 Speedster at 108.46 mph over the measured mile at Daytona in 1928 and going on to take the 24 hours record at Atlantic City Speedway.

Styling elements included a grille with chrome center-driver, matching center-trimmed headlamps, cowl and driving lamps, and the Auburn name spelled out below the winged 'flying lady' hood mascot. The interior is comfortable and luxurious with plush leather seating, wood accents, deep-pile carpeting, and chrome trim work.

Body styles included a Brougham priced at $725, a sedan at $775, a coupe at $675, a cabriolet at $795, and a Phaeton and Speedster at $845. The Speedster was the work of designer Alan Leamy, and around 75 to 84 Speedsters were built in 1932.

The addition of the 'Custom Deluxe Dual Ratio' feature boosted the base price by approximately $130. The Custom Deluxe option added chrome wheels, steel side-mount wheel covers, and Pilot Ray lights. Among the items on the options list included a radiator stone guard, heater, Philco radio, and a clock in the rearview mirror. A seven-passenger sedan resting on a generous 136-inch wheelbase platform was priced at $875, or $1,005 with the Dual Ratio option.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006