Established in 1900 and shut down in 1973, Auburn Automobile is one of those pre-WWII car companies we rarely hear about. And that’s not surprising, given the business struggled financially for most of its life. But Auburn left an iconic vehicle behind: the stunningly beautiful and incredibly rare Speedster.
The convertible arrived in 1925, right after E. L. Cord purchased the company from Ralph Austin Bard. A year later, Cord purchased Duesenberg and, in 1929, established a new car company bearing his name.
Although not as famous and desirable as the Duesenberg Model J and not as innovative as the Cord 810/812, the Auburn Speedster is regarded as one of the most beautiful pre-WWII automobiles. The car is particularly famous for its boattail rear end and supercharged engine offered toward the end of its life cycle.
Speedster production can be split into three different series. The First Series was built from 1925 to 1930 under various names usually linked to engine output. Originally introduced with a 4.6-liter inline-eight, the Speedster got a Lycoming 4.8-liter unit in 1926. It generated up to 125 horsepower.
Auburn launched the Second Series in 1931. One of the most significant changes was the addition of a 6.4-liter V12 engine. The 160-horsepower lump found its way in only 25 cars. The Third Series arrived in 1935 and remained in production through 1937. This series also included the most recognizable version of the Speedster, the 851, as well as a supercharged version of the inline-eight.
But while Auburn is mainly known for the Speedster, it also produced four-door sedan and phaeton versions of the 851 and 852. They’re pretty rare, too, although not as valuable and sought-after as the Speedsters. But I bet you’ve never seen an Auburn with a woodie station wagon body. No, the Indiana-based carmaker didn’t offer this body style, but an owner decided to turn his 852 sedan into a one-of-none gem.
And by “gem,” I mean a car that was built to the highest standards and with the best materials available. Even though this Auburn did not leave the factory in this layout, it looks just like a production model. And then some!
Built by Mark Norton of The Norton Woodies & Rods company, this Auburn retains the usual 852 design from the nose to the A-pillar. Things change from that point toward the rear, with all four doors and the rear quarter section “dressed” in wood. The roof is also padded like in the old days, while the inner door panels feature period-correct rivets and screws.
The car got completely restored in the process, so both benches are wrapped in new leather, while the aluminum dashboard looks spotless. And make sure you check out the awesome wood ceiling and the finely detailed trunk section.
But while it looks like a utilitarian wagon, this Auburn packs a supercharged 4.6-liter straight-eight under the split hood. The mill is factory-original, but it has been restored and runs and drives like new. On top of that, everything is squeaky clean in the engine bay. And what an amazing-looking mill this is, especially with both hood panels open to let all the light shine on the chrome block.
How was this woodie born? Well, the owner says he got the idea when a friend in the Auburn Club told him the company never made a woodie. And he fixed that with a project that took a whopping five years to come together. But it was definitely worth it, even though hardcore fans may not like the idea. It’s one of the coolest pre-WWII builds I’ve seen in years.