Vehicle Description
Much of Auburn's history is dominated by the brief but glamorous
period that followed in the wake of E.L. Cord's takeover. The era
that brought us the Auburn Twelve and the Supercharged 852
Speedster was undoubtedly a high point for the company, but it
would be an injustice to the storied marque to allow the brief Cord
era to overshadow all the cars that preceded it. Near the turn of
the twentieth century, a former wheelwright named Charles Eckhart
left his position at the Studebaker Corporation to branch out on
his own in the carriage business. In 1874 he founded the eponymous
Eckhart Carriage Company. In 1894, Charles retired and left the
business to his two sons, who in turn built the company's first
experimental automobile in 1900. The name of the company changed to
the Auburn Automobile Company after the firm's home base in
Indiana, and production began in earnest in 1903, with a
single-cylinder, chain drive runabout. The product line grew
steadily in terms of size, cylinder count, and output, leading to
the arrival of their first six-cylinder model by 1912. Like other
manufacturers, Auburn turned to outside suppliers for its engine
range, using as many as three different companies at once. In 1916,
Auburn found themselves in a transitional period as the Eckharts
were in poor health and shopping for a new owner. Despite the
struggles, the company soldiered on with a range that included
three distinct models. Leading the way as the value-model was 4-38
with a T-head four-cylinder Teetor engine. That car was followed by
the Model 6-38 "Light Six." As its name suggests, this car had a 38
horsepower, 212 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. According to the
book "Auburn & Cord" (Beck and Malks, 1996), the light six engines
came from Model Gas Engine Works in Auburn. At the top of the range
sat the Model 6-40, which found the most buyers out of the three
models, despite being the most expensive. Customers had the choice
of either a 5-passenger touring or a distinct and sporting
4-passenger roadster body for each of the chassis options. Such was
the Model 6-40's dominance that today, light six and four-cylinder
models exceedingly rare. These formative motorcars established
Auburn's reputation for quality and value, which held on despite
the subsequent management woes that led to Auburn's eventual demise
after 1936. Equipped with the sporting close-coupled roadster
coachwork, this Auburn 6-38 Light Six is an excellent example of
this rarely seen model. The distinctly sporty Chummy Roadster body
features a sloping rear deck, rear-mounted spare, and individual
front bucket seats. It is an unusual sight since most Auburn buyers
opted for the traditional touring model. The earliest history of
this car is not known, although the period Ohio registration points
to a likely home state. It is believed the car appeared for sale at
the 1986 Auburn, Indiana fall show. Documents in the history file
show that the next owner purchased the roadster at the Auburn Fall
auction in 1991. This Auburn remained a cherished part of his
collection from 1991 through early 2019. Today, this rare and
sporting Auburn presents in good condition, with a well-preserved
older restoration displaying abundant character and an attractive,
moderate patina. The two-tone black and blue paint suits the body
lines well, accented with wooden artillery wheels, whitewall tires,
and a tan canvas top. The paintwork is glossy and in sound order,
and while close inspection reveals some imperfections, it remains
quite attractive and well-suited to an enjoyable tour car such as
this. Accessories include a brass electric horn on the running
board, suitcase holder on the passenger side, and a nickel
Moto-Meter topping the painted radiator shell. The most interesting
feature of the close-coupled four-passenger cockpit is the pair of
front bucket seats which are a surprisingly sporty touch for the
period. Black upholstery on the front seats, rear bench, and
interior paneling have a consistent character, feeling well
broken-in yet in excellent overall condition for the age. A tan
canvas top and a full complement of side curtains accompany the
car, making it well suited to long-distance touring. The
six-cylinder engine presents in good, tidy condition, with
period-correct gray paint and a single updraft Rayfield carburetor.
It mates to a three-speed sliding gear transmission, with shaft
drive to the rear axle. Following a period of disuse in the
previous owner's collection, the Auburn would benefit from some
mechanical sorting before embarking on any long journeys. With its
attractive and sporting coachwork, this fascinating early Auburn is
sure to appeal virtually any aficionado of the marque and is
ideally equipped for touring and road events. Few examples from
this early era survive, yet they are formative elements in the
history of the great Auburn Automobile Company.
