1935 Auburn Model 653

The Auburn Motor Company was started in 1903 by Frank and Morris Eckhart of Auburn, Indiana. It was prosperous in the pre-War era, but after World War I, sales began to dwindle. Errett Lobban Cord was brought in to resurrect the company, which he was able to do and kept it from entering bankruptcy during the 1920s. E.L. Cord had the unsold inventory of 1924 re-painted in stylish paint schemes and extra nickel plating. The following year he focused on styling while much of the market had its attention on engineering. This bet paid off for Cord, as sales increased 15% over 1924.

The 1934 Auburn line-up was restyled by Al Leamy, and it was not well received, prompting the assembly lines to be halted by mid-1934 so the face-lifted 1935 model could be rushed into production. Designer Gordon Buehrig was allotted a $50,000 budget to improve the styling, and the changes he implemented were a new grille, an enlarged hood, and semi-pontoon front fenders. Period Auburn sales literature described the new designs as being 'Exclusive-Distinctive-Individual.'

The new feature for the top-of-the-line Auburns in 1935 was a supercharger. The 1935 Auburn models were renowned for their improved ride and handling, thanks to a reduction of unsprung weight, lower seat placement, and a lowered center of gravity.

The Model 653 was a stylish, durable, and reasonably affordable vehicle. It was offered in three trim levels including a Standard, Custom, and a Dual Ratio Salon. Power was from a six-cylinder engine that was capable of producing 85 horsepower and sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. The elegant and attractive bodies rested on a wheelbase that measured 120 inches. The suspension was comprised of a solid front axle and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. Braking was handled by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. These cars are excellent examples of a brilliant marque that was one of the prominent builders of cars during the pre-WWII era.

by Dan Vaughan

Salon Dual Ratio Brougham
Chassis number: 4730B

This 1935 Auburn Model 653 Salon Dual Ratio Brougham was offered for sale at the 2007 Worldwide Group Auction held at Hilton Head Island, SC, where it was estimated to sell for $30,000 - $40,000. It has been treated to a restoration, finished in cream with tan accents, given a dual ratio rear end, and is one of the rarest examples of the Model 653 in existence. It has a vinyl roof, is a rust-free example, and is eligible for entry in the highly respected Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club.

At the auction, the estimated value proved to be accurate as this car was sold for $30,800.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

This vehicle is a 1935 Auburn 653 Coupe powered by an inline six-cylinder engine offering 85 horsepower. The car has a wheelbase that measures 119 inches and sold new for $835.

This Coupe was purchased new at the Auburn Automobile Company's factory in Connersville, Indiana, in the fall of 1934. The original owners were Gladys and Vernon Waits of Milan, Indiana.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet

The Auburn Automobile Company sold far more sedans and coupes than Speedster, though the boattail speedsters were responsible for earning the company's reputation and popularity. The company also built sixes as well as eight-cylinder cars.

This Auburn 6-653 features the new Auburn look for 1935, which was a redesign by Gordon Buehrig, who had earlier designed Duesenberg bodies as well as the Cord 810. The first two series introduced to the public with the new design were the Auburn 653 Six and 851 Eight Standard models.

Five different body styles were available in the 6-653 series, including this sporty convertible coupe with a rumble seat. Selling for about $1,000 in 1935, this represented a lot of car for the money.

The Lycoming six-cylinder engine produced 85 horsepower with a three-speed transmission and a Columbia Dual-Ratio rear axle was available as optional equipment. The wheelbase measured 120 inches, and the suspension included a solid front axle, a live rear axle, and semi-elliptic leaf springs all around. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes were also located front and rear.

Phaeton Sedan
Chassis number: 3132H

The Auburn Model 653 was offered in five different body styles, with the Phaeton being the most expensive, priced at $995. Beneath its bonnet was a Lycoming six-cylinder engine offering 85 horsepower and paired with a three-speed transmission and an optional Columbia Dual-Ratio rear axle. The 653 rested on a 120-inch wheelbase with four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, a solid front axle, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.

This particular example was featured on two episodes of the popular American Pickers TV series. Mike Wolfe discovered this car in the back of a barn in Valley Springs, South Dakota, in 2014. The car had been slumbering in the barn in the care of Jan M. and Sandy Aichele Sr., resting untouched except for a light coat of white housepaint brushed over some of the original finishes long ago. After acquiring the vehicle, it was removed from its resting place by removing the back wall of the barn. It was then trailered back to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Co. in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where Doug Pray removed the white housepaint, cleaned the original finishes, and installed a new convertible top. A mechanical refreshening returned the car to its full operating condition.

by Dan Vaughan