To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
- Formerly of the Ervin "Bud" Lyon Collection; known history
since new
- Original chassis, engine, and body; always a solid,
well-maintained example
- High-quality older restoration in elegant colors
- Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic
THE AUBURN SPEEDSTER
In the days when Bugattis crossed France and 4�-Litre 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 1935-36 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 33175 E
The Elkhart Collection's Auburn, one of only approximately 150
authentic original speedsters produced, has among the finest and
best-known histories of any survivor. It was sold new by Sherwood
Chevrolet-Auburn of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, to A. B. Cole, owner
of a local dairy. It was later acquired from Cole by another local
businessman, Nathan H. "Cubby" Baer, in whose ownership it was
regularly driven in his town of Meshoppen, becoming something of a
local fixture. In 1956 it was actually entered in the Giants
Despair Hillclimb at Wilkes-Barre, finishing 1st in the Antique
Classic Division with Mr. Baer behind the wheel.
Mr. Baer and his descendants continued to care for the Auburn until
1994, when it was sold to Richard George, an enthusiast from New
York, and finally left the area where it had been first sold nearly
60 years prior. Photographs in the file show a solid, original, and
intact automobile that, had it been found today, might well have
been left in unrestored condition. Nonetheless, it was fully
restored in the factory-correct Auburn color of Ivory with a red
interior. As many of the original components as possible were
carefully preserved, down to the original body wood, which is still
stamped with the original body number; in addition, the car retains
its original engine. Both are indicative of just how well
maintained this Auburn has been during its life.
Following completion of the restoration, the speedster was scored
at 99 points in Classic Car Club of America judging and received
First Senior and Preservation awards from the Antique Automobile
Club of America.
Ervin "Bud" Lyon, the revered and much-missed enthusiast from
Massachusetts, acquired the Auburn from Mr. George in 1998. It
remained part of Mr. Lyon's collection for the next five years,
during which time it was faithfully maintained by Paul Russell &
Company. In 2003 it traded hands to a private collection in
Southern California, and there it remained, alongside several other
highly significant Full Classics, until joining the Elkhart
Collection several years ago. It has been inarguably the
centerpiece of the small portion of the collection that honors
local Indiana-built automobiles.
The Auburn speedster has always been highly collectable but has
come into its own in the last few years, as a new generation of
enthusiasts have discovered just how pleasurable these cars are to
drive-and to admire. The best of the best seldom change hands.
Relatively few of the survivors have the clean, "no stories"
history of this car, which can safely be said to have been truly
enjoyed by enthusiasts and well preserved since the first day of
its existence. It is ideal for further enjoyment in CCCA or Auburn
Cord Duesenberg Club events, in which its rich heritage will
continue.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.
