THE AUBURN SPEEDSTER

In the days when Bugattis crossed France and 4½-liter Bentleys tore through the British countryside, the American equivalent was the Auburn speedster. Indiana’s Auburn Automobile Company revealed its first version of this dashing body style, inspired by a Duesenberg show car, for the 1928 model year and would offer variations on the theme through to the end of production in 1936.

The 1935–1936 speedsters were designed by the legendary Gordon Buehrig. Audacious by the standards of their time, they featured curvaceous bodywork with a straight hood line shooting back from the radiator to a sharply vee’d windshield, down between pontoon fenders, over gently sloping doors, and descending in a graceful taper to the rear bumper. It was this distinctive rear design, elegantly outlined by chrome and striping, that gave the speedster its everlasting nickname, “the Boattail.”

Underneath, the speedster shared the same exciting mechanicals as other supercharged Auburn models. The glistening chrome side exhaust heralded the presence of a Schwitzer-Cummins blower, which boosted the horsepower of the Auburn straight-eight to 150 from a normally aspirated reading of 115. The 150 horsepower was sent to a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle, standard equipment on the supercharged models, which provided two ratios for each gear, one low and one high. The ratios could be changed as often as desired while at very low speeds or at a stop by moving the switch in the center of the steering wheel. This provided the supercharged Auburn with much greater flexibility, making it a true “driver’s car,” ideal for both purring through crowded cities and roaring down country lanes.

Each speedster bore on its dashboard a plaque inscribed, “This certifies that this AUBURN AUTOMOBILE has been driven 100.8 miles per hour before shipment.” It was signed by David “Ab” Jenkins, the speed-record driver who achieved some of his greatest successes at Bonneville behind the wheel of a late Auburn speedster. Of course, the plaques were merely factory decoration installed on the production line. Then again, no one who has driven these cars since has ever complained about a lack of speed!

SERIAL NUMBER 851 32869 E

The 851 speedster offered here, serial number 851 32869 E, is recorded with two early caretakers, Joe Miller of Kentucky and Joe E. Rose of New Jersey. It was eventually owned by the well-known enthusiast Gerry Greenfield of Washington State, then by the noted collector Charles Cawley of Maine, at the time focusing his attentions on fine Full Classics.

In 2008 the Auburn was acquired in New England by Tom Gaughen of Pennsylvania, a devoted connoisseur of “ACD” automobiles, known for much enjoying his small but well-chosen collection on the road. Mr. Gaughen retained the speedster until early 2019, at which time it was acquired by the present owner. With its original restoration now well-aged, it was submitted to the respected restorer Mark Clayton of Castle Rock, Colorado, known for his well-researched and highly detailed restorations. Mr. Clayton completed a meticulous restoration of the car in its present striking livery, a deep, rich royal blue.

Preserved since completion in the owner’s private museum, the Auburn remains in essentially fresh condition, with beautiful finishes throughout, and is ready to continue a proud concours career in the hands of its next caretaker. It stands among the most beautifully finished examples of the iconic 851 Supercharged Speedster to have been offered in recent memory.