For Sale at Auction: 1935 Auburn 851 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Chassis No. 33177E

Errett Lobban Cord transformed Auburn from a struggling automaker into a symbol of style and performance in the 1920s and early 1930s. Upon joining the company in 1924, he revolutionized its fortunes through an elegantly simple strategy: refreshing existing inventory with vibrant paint schemes and launching an aggressive marketing campaign. The company experienced significant growth under his direction, with sales doubling in both 1925 and 1926, leading to his appointment as President.

Under his leadership, Auburn vehicles became favorites among the "who's who" of Hollywood actors, athletes, and business executives, and the "Boattail" Speedster in particular quickly became a true pop-culture object. Its low, dramatic profile proved tailor-made for the camera lens, turning up in Hollywood films as the ultimate expression of beauty, speed, and modernity-most memorably appearing on screen in Desire (1936). Over time, the Speedster's shape proved just as irresistible in miniature, with period toy makers producing millions of Speedster diecast models and collectibles that helped cement the design in the public imagination.

In 1934, facing a challenging market, Gordon Buehrig was brought in for his experience at Dietrich, Packard, Judkins, and General Motors to refresh the Auburn lineup. His creation of the 851 Speedster encompassed a substantial backswept radiator shell, straight hood design, side-threaded external exhaust pipes, and sweeping pontoon fenders. Beneath the long hood sat the Lycoming eight-cylinder engine enhanced by a Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger, modified by August Duesenberg. This powerplant, combined with lightweight construction and a dual-speed rear end, enabled a top speed exceeding 100 mph.

Each 851 Speedster carried a dashboard plaque bearing Ab Jenkins' signature validating these performance capabilities. Road & Track captured the scale of Jenkins' achievement in March 1961, writing "Jenkins took an 851 to Bonneville early in the summer of 1935, and smashed the existing records for unlimited and American stock class speeds." The article goes on to explain that he proceeded to "sweep the boards clean," setting new class records across distances from 1 to 3,000 kilometers and from 1 to 2,000 miles, plus endurance marks for 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours, with averages including 104.393 mph (first five miles), 103.033 mph (500 miles), 103.695 mph (one hour), and 102.733 mph (1,000 miles). The image of the sleek Speedster skimming across the white expanse with the speedometer needle hovering above 100 mph, its supercharger whine echoing across the flats, became an indelible image of American automotive performance.

Today, the Auburn 851 Speedster remains one of the most significant early American performance cars, as well as one of the most beautiful designs of the Classic Era. Although many have attempted to replicate its distinctive Art Deco design, original 1935-36 Speedsters remain exceptionally rare and highly sought after.

This impeccably restored 851 Speedster, chassis number 33177E, was acquired in the early 1980s by the legendary Glenn Pray and sold to a Tulsa-based collector. Famous for purchasing the ACD Company and its massive inventory of parts in 1960, Pray and his successors have become the definitive resource for original Auburn and Cord components and restoration expertise.

Upon acquiring the Auburn in 2016, the current caretaker commissioned the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company to execute a comprehensive, concours-level restoration. Numerous components were sourced from new-old-stock (NOS) originals still preserved in the warehouse. Crucially, original items separated from chassis 33177E during long-term storage-including the original instrument panel and the rare hinged "disappearing" top panel-were discovered in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company warehouse rafters and reunited with the car.

Prior to commencing the restoration, a comprehensive verification was conducted by noted ACD historian John Ehresman, confirming that frame number 2177 corresponds to the 62nd Speedster produced. The late-production GH-Series engine fitted carries proper freeze plugs and has been finished to original Speedster specifications. The boattail bodywork's tail section was faithfully recreated, utilizing Gordon Buehrig's original engineering drawings, while original Speedster fenders were sourced and restored. Finished in a striking light ivory with a tan leather interior, the livery pays homage to the famous 1935 "White Caravan" cross-country promotional tour, which saw four white-finished Auburns make 150 stops around the country. The presentation is completed by a convertible top tailored from canvas custom-woven by the original manufacturer to match period specifications.

This magnificent Auburn Speedster now presents in show-ready condition and has been shown selectively since completion in September 2023. It earned an AACA First Junior at the Fall Hershey Meet later that year, followed by an AACA First Senior at the Saratoga Springs Spring National in 2024, before advancing to the Grand National stage with a Grand National First Prize at Tucson in May 2025 and a Grand National Senior Award at Dayton in July 2025. Fresh from this string of top-tier AACA honors, this rare and meticulously restored Speedster is deserving of continued exposure at AACA and CCCA concours competitions and Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club gatherings under new ownership.