1933 Auburn 8-105

The Auburn Automobile Company was founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1874 by Charles Eckhart. Sons Frank and Morris experimented with automobiles, then acquired two local carmakers and moved into a larger plant in 1909. The company had some success until material shortages during World War I forced the plant to close. The Eckhart brothers sold the company in 1919 to a group of Chicago investors headed by Ralph Austin Bard. Under new ownership, the business was revived, but it failed to achieve the desired profits. A successful automobile salesman named Errett Lobban Cord was approached to run the company, but instead, he worked a deal to purchase the company. Cord swiftly turned the company around and his industrial empire soon followed.

Cord installed Lycoming straight-eight engines into the existing six-cylinder chassis in 1925 and began a re-styling program that saw the new-for-1925 Auburn's being finished in two-tone color schemes, along with a belt-line that swept up over the bonnet. This worked, and sales doubled for three consecutive years.

In 1928, Al Leamy drove an 8-115 Speedster to speeds of 108.46 mph over the measured mile at Daytona, challenging Stutz for the accolade of 'America's fastest' and going on to take the 24 hours record at Atlantic City Speedway.

By 1931, new Alan Leamy-designed eight-cylinder cars were selling for $945 to $1,395. Design inspiration was taken from the Cord L-29, and despite the deepening Great Depression, sales increased. Cord and his Auburn team developed a V-12 engine for 1932, as well as a Columbia two-speed rear axle, enabling a choice of drive ratios, effectively six speeds ahead. In 1933, a new Salon trim level was introduced for both the Twelve and eight-cylinder cars, the latter now designated 8-105. The Salon cars had horns set low in the catwalk, front splash apron, 'wing spread' bumper, and painted grille bars.

The 1933 Model 8-105 rested on a 127-inch wheelbase platform with body styles including a Speedster, Phaeton, Brougham, Cabriolet, and Sedan. The 268.6 cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine had downdraft carburetors helping to produce 100 horsepower. The front axle was solid with a live rear axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs. Hydraulic brakes were placed at all four corners.

Auburn produced approximately 22,000 vehicles in 1929, and 1931 had been Auburn's most successful year, but by 1933 sales of all vehicles had dwindled to around 6,000. The company ended production in 1937.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019