Cabriolet
Originally designed by Gordon Buehring and Alan Leamy. This beautiful Auburn displays its talents well. 98 HP/268 CID inline eight with the three-speed synchromesh transmission, freewheeling, and two-speed rear end.
by Dan Vaughan
Cabriolet
Originally designed by Gordon Buehring and Alan Leamy. This beautiful Auburn displays its talents well. 98 HP/268 CID inline eight with the three-speed synchromesh transmission, freewheeling, and two-speed rear end.
by Dan Vaughan
The Auburn Automobile Company was established in 1900 offering a single-cylinder model priced at $800, a rather steep price at the time, but the company persisted, and new models quickly followed. During the 1910s, the company prospered, but by the close of the decade, it was in financial trouble.
Errett Lobban Cord was a unique and resourceful individual who reportedly made and lost $50,000 three times in the course of his business dealings, all before the age of 21. He joined Auburn as general manager in 1924 when the company was in the doldrums, producing more cars than it could sell, and quickly headed to bankruptcy. In 1925, Cord arranged for Lycoming straight-eight engines to be installed in the existing six-cylinder chassis, and Cord-inspired restyling included two-tone color schemes and a novel beltline that swept up over the bonnet. For three consecutive years, sales doubled, and in 1926 Cord became president of the Auburn Automobile Company.
Stutz's accolade of 'America's fastest' was soon challenged by the eight-cylinder Auburn, 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. Along with performance, the eight-cylinder Auburn's offered exceptional value, with the top-of-the-line Speedster listing at just $1,395, less than half the cost of the equivalent Stutz.
E.L. Cord seized the Great Depression as an opportunity to produce and sell better automobiles at a lower price than his competitors, and over 1,000 new dealers joined the company between 1929 and 1931, enabling the company to become 13th in national sales.
Alan Leamy's design of the new 'Dual Ratio' rear axle offered the driver a choice of high or low ratio in any of the three forward gears, selectable by adjusting a lever while driving below forty mph. A vacuum-actuated clutch locked or released a planetary gear set that was housed in the rear differential, creating the two possible output ratios and, essentially, a rudimentary six-speed transmission.
The first year of the Auburns with the sweeping fenders and the long hood was 1931, a design that would continue through 1933. The double-drop X-braced frame allowed the overall height to be reduced by three inches compared to previous models, with open cars having a more rakish appearance. The Coupe, Brougham, and Sedan were equally sinister as they shared the same chassis, hood, and front fenders as the Speedster.
The Model 8-100 and Model 8-100A rested on a 127-inch wheelbase platform, and body styles included the speedster, cabriolet, convertible phaeton sedan, coupe, brougham, and sedan. Prices ranged from $845 to $775. With the Custom Dual Ratio feature installed, prices rose by an additional $130. A seven-passenger sedan with a base price of $875 was offered on a 136-inch wheelbase platform.
Power was from a Lycoming 269 cubic-inch straight-8 engine producing 100 horsepower and backed by a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drum brakes. The suspension included semi-elliptic leaf springs with a solid front and live rear axle.
Time Magazine featured E.L. Cord on the cover of their magazine in 1932, a tribute to the success achieved during the difficult Depression. Despite the success, the company became a victim of the Depression and ceased production in 1936.
by Dan Vaughan
Speedster
Speedsters were produced in Auburn, Indiana, from 1928 thru 1936, except in 1934. In 1932 the car carried a sticker price of $845. The 1932 Auburn Speedster Model 8-100 was powered by a straight-8-cylinder Lycoming engine displacing 268 cubic inches and producing 100 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed transmission and utilized four-wheel mechanical brakes.
This red boattail Speedster shown at the 2006 Hilton Head Concours was found in a trolley barn in Kearney, New Jersey, in 1948 and stored until 1995. It took seven years for the restoration.
Speedster
The Auburn Boattail Speedster is arguably the most popular of all Boattails. Introduced in 1928, there were eventually three different body styles before production ended in 1936.
This 1932 speedster is an early car in basically original condition. ACD Club records indicate only four dozen or so (32) speedsters are known.
Special features include art deco mirrors, a two-speed rear-end, a golf club compartment, and artistic styling.
Speedster
The 1932 Auburn Speedster is a legendary automobile. Automobile Quarterly called it '...the flashiest, the most flamboyant and the most outlandishly impractical motorcar imaginable.' Under the design of 28-year-old Alan Leamy, the Auburn Speedster body was designed as a flowing, integral unit. Its unusual body style was not adapted from a horse-drawn carriage, making it one of the first designs unique to an automobile. The Auburn Model 8-100A had a 268-cubic-inch engine that produced 100 horsepower. Numerous speed records were set by Auburns. The car was equipped with a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle, free-wheeling, Bijur chassis lubrication system, ride control shocks, and a Startix automatic starter. Auburns were manufactured in Auburn, IN, by the same company that produced Cords and Duesenbergs. At a price of $1,295, the dream was affordable.
Speedster
Chassis number: 1655
Engine number: BB1521
When Auburn introduced its 8-115 Speedster, they gave it a price tag of $2,000. In comparison to the Stutz of similar proportions, the Auburn cost about $3,000 less. Even at a lower cost, it still had plenty of performance; Wade Morton drove on at 108.46 mph through the measured mile at Daytona. He averaged 84.7 mph for 24 hours and covered a total of 2,033 miles at Atlantic City, and set a new record at Pikes Peak.
The Auburn Speedster had it all - style, performance, durability, and reliability. In 1932, in the heart of the Great Depression, the cars were offered with a V12 engine and priced at less than $1,000. The Lycoming V12 45-degree V12 engine had dual downdraft carburetors, dual exhausts, and rectangular combustion chambers with valves entering through the inborad side of the cylinder heads.
This 1932 Auburn V12 Boattail Speedster is currently fitted with a twelve-cylinder 392 cubic-inch engine, a three-speed gearbox with freewheeling, and a 2-speed Columbia rear axle. The engine may have been fitted to the car later in its life.
In 2006 it was treated to a professional restoration by Stone Barn, Inc and has not yet been shown on the concours circuit. In 2007 it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California, where it was estimated to sell for $500,000 - $600,000. Those estimates proved too high as the lot was sold for $440,000, including the buyer's premium.
by Dan Vaughan
In 1932 a total of 11,347 Auburns were shipped from their factory.
Sometimes referred to as a 'Baby Duesenberg', the Model 8-100A Auburn is a masterpiece of automotive design excellence.
Auburn strove to provide a stylish and innovative automobile to the public at an affordable price. Despite the depression, the talent of designers Gordon Buehrig and Alan Leamy inspired the designs of E.L. Cord's Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company to produce some of the most stunning examples of classic automobile design.
The model 8-100A was an 8-cylinder with 100 horsepower. A custom model, the 8-100 A signified that it was custom, with added features like a Columbia dual ratio rear axel, chrome headlights and taillights, and ride control.
A real eye-catcher, the 8-100A, the custom model 4-door sedan cost an average of $1,145 in 1932.
Most Auburn models came with the Lycoming 8-cylinder engine along with Midland steel-draulic brakes. The engine output was rated at 100 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and had a 268.6 cubic inch displacement.
The choice of making a Columbia two-speed rear axle standard equipment on all models was one of the few changes made to the 1932 models.
Several Auburn models came with a 12-cylinder engine, and others were fitted with hydraulic brakes.
Besides the 7-passenger sedan, all 8-100 A models came with a 127' wheelbase, freewheeling, and the Bijur chassis lubricating system. 1932 was the first year for the Startix, an automatic feature that would start the engine whenever the ignition was turned on.
Fortune applauded the 1932 Auburn as 'The biggest package in the world for the price.'
by Jessican Donaldson
In 1928 Auburn introduced two Lycoming-powered eight-cylinder engines, one rated at 88 horsepower and the other at 115 horsepower. These became the bases for the 8-88 Model and the 8-115 Model; their designation obviously in reference to the engine. These new models were given hydraulic drum brakes to aid in stopping power and to help keep the Speedsters in the driver's control.
The styling was performed by either Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky or possibly Al Leamy. Al Leamy was a recent addition to the Auburn staff and would become famous in the years to come, with the design of the L-29 Cord automobile.
The Speedster models were very elegant and eye-catching. They featured hood louvers, a raked windshield, twin side-mounted spares, and a boattail rear-end.
The Model 8's were given a wide-ratio three-speed gearbox and rested on either a 125- or 130-inch wheelbase, depending on the model. The 8-115 had the larger size.
1929 brought few changes to the Speedsters; they were now known as the 8-90 and the 8-120. The naming scheme varied slightly from prior years, as horsepower was not rated at 96 and 125, respectively, but the names did not necessarily match. This increase in power was due to a change in the fuel system.
1929 was a great year for the Auburn 8 Models and enjoyed record sales numbers. The company chose to make minimal changes for the following year, as the cars were selling well and most of their attention was diverted to the upcoming front-wheel-drive Cord models.
In 1930 horsepower again improved, now rated at 100 for the smaller eight. The name 'Speedster' no longer appeared as part of the Model 8 name. It would re-appear the following year (In 1931), as the company wanted to put emphasis on performance.
The larger eight-cylinder engine was dropped, as were both of the six-cylinder engines. The 8-95 Model was bored-out to 268.6 cubic inches and brought about the 8-98 model (and featured 98 horsepower). It was available in either Standard or Custom guise. The Custom line had an 'A' in the name to help distinguish it from the Standard line (appearing as 8-98A) and featured a free-wheeling, heavy, X-braced frame. Other options included dual-ratio rear axle, wire wheels, upgraded interior in hardware and fabric, and extra moldings.
Thanks in part to the onset of the Great Depression, the 8-98 sold for $350 less than the prior 8-95 Sedan of the 1930s. The Sedan sold for $995 while the Speedster for $945. Some experts say that the construction was not as solid as prior years, plus the Lockheed Hydraulics were replaced by Midland 'Steel-draulic' mechanical brakes. Still, Fortune reported the Auburn Model 8's as 'the biggest package in the world for the price.'
In 1932, the Styling remained mostly unchanged; mechanically, things were different. A new Startix automatic starter was added; Custom models were fitted with Delco ride regulations which were shock absorbers that were adjustable from the driver's compartment. This allowed a softer or firmer ride depending on the driver's needs at the time. Custom models also were given a vacuum-controlled two-speed axle known as Dual Ratio. This also gave drivers the freedom of selecting a 4.54:1 or 3.00:1 gear ratio. The 4.54 offered better performance while the 3.00:1 had a better fuel economy.
The Free-wheeling option, which had previously cost $85, was now standard on both the Custom and Standard models.
With all these mechanical improvements to the vehicle, it was amazing that prices continued to decrease. The Speedster sold for $845, a full $100 from the previous year.
In 1933, a Salon version was added to both the 8- and 12-cylinder series.
by Dan Vaughan