Automobiles first appeared in Europe in the 19th century and quickly spread to the United States. By the first half of the 20th century, there were hundreds of small and medium-sized companies manufacturing automobiles. One of these companies was the Auburn Automobile Company in Auburn, Indiana.
Like other American car companies in the early 20th century, Auburn’s roots were in the wagon manufacturing business. Charles Eckert began working as a wheelwright at Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana. In 1874 he retired from Studebaker and founded Eckhart His Carriage Company in Auburn, Indiana. Charles Eckert retired in his 1893 year and his sons Morris and Frank took over the business. Sensing that automobiles might be in the future, the Eckhardt brothers founded the Auburn Automobile Company and produced the first Auburn automobile in 1900.
The first Auburns had single-cylinder engines, chain-driven vehicles with solid rubber tires. It featured tiller steering, which was common in cars of the time. The new car cost $800. This car had a higher price than other cars and was also more expensive to manufacture. It sold at most a few models, and some reports say it may not have sold at all.
Over the next two years, the Eckhart brothers experimented with different designs, and the car was ready for production at the 1903 Chicago Auto Show. The 1903 model was chain driven and had pneumatic tires. A tonneau top and touring options were also available. His 1904 Auburn touring car had a single-cylinder engine in the center of the car and a two-speed transmission. The engine produced 10 horsepower. The car sold for $1,000.
By 1905, they were offering a two-cylinder engine. By 1909 Auburn was equipped with a four-cylinder engine. By 1912, it was equipped with a six-cylinder engine.
Auburn was moderately successful until World War I forced the factory to close due to material shortages. When the company went into receivership, the Eckert brothers sold it in 1919 to a group of Chicago investors led by Ralph Austin Byrd. These investors, including William Wrigley, wanted to get into the fast-growing new automobile business.
The reorganized company introduced a new model, the Auburn Beauty Six, with a streamlined fenderless body and many other improvements. Although the new car was well received, competition was fierce and Auburn had to fight for position in the growing automobile market.
The new owners reinvigorated the business, but it was not as profitable as expected. One of the problems was the recession from 1921 to 1922. By 1924 production had decreased to just six cars per day. However, these too did not sell, and soon hundreds of unsold cars were sitting behind the factory.
In 1924, they approached successful car salesman Eret Lobban Cord with an offer to run the company. Cord began working as a salesman for Moon Automobile Company in Chicago. Within five years he became general manager. Mr. Cord suggested a leveraged buyout as a counter-proposal, and the Chicago investors agreed.
When Cord acquired Auburn, the company had 600 to 700 unsold cars. As a salesman, Cord felt the car was a bit plain and boring, so he had it repainted in a bright two-tone color combination. Additionally, the trim parts are nickel plated. Once the car was repainted, he moved it to the town square and invited dealers to tour the car. He offered dealers deep discounts and sold off the excess inventory within a few months.
In 1925, Cord arranged with Lycoming to use its inline eight-cylinder motor. Auburn’s chief engineer, James Crawford, oversaw the process of removing his six-cylinder engine from the Auburn and replacing it with an inline eight-cylinder engine.
Two new models were introduced: 8-63 and 8-88. Auburn car sales doubled every year for the next three years. In 1926, Cord brought several of his 8-88 Auburns to Atlantic City Speedway, rented an entire truck, and these fully equipped stock cars of his broke numerous speed records.
Under Cord’s management, Auburn was profitable by 1926, when it completed its acquisition of the company. Under his leadership, Auburn hired designers such as Allen Leamy and Gordon Buehrig. He also partnered with Duesenberg.
Around this time, the Duesenberg brothers were building winning racing cars. Cord used Duesenberg as the platform for a new line of performance-oriented luxury cars. Its first product was his L-29 Cord, the automobile industry’s first front-wheel drive vehicle. Soon, Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs (collectively known as his ACDs) became well known for their forward-thinking style, engineering, and performance. However, they were expensive and were associated with the rich and famous.
In 1928, the Auburn 8-115 replaced its mechanical brakes with hydraulic brakes. At Daytona, the Auburn 8-115 set a speed record of 178.46 mph.
1929 was a great year for the Auburn Car Company, but dealers couldn’t get cars fast enough. Auburn sold for $1,195 to $1,395.
In 1932, Cord introduced the V-12 engine to Auburn, costing less than $1,000. Fully equipped, Auburn’s Twelve Speedster set numerous speed records on Muroc Dry’s Lake.
Designed by Gorden Beuig, the Auburn 851 was a boattail speedster with a Lycoming inline-eight engine and a Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger. The car was guaranteed to travel at 160 miles per hour. Approximately 500 Auburn 851s were built and sold for $2,245. The company lost money on that car because it was trying to lure buyers into showrooms in hopes of selling a cheaper Auburn. Sales increased by 20%.
The car market shrank due to the Great Depression, and many car manufacturers went out of business. In response to the economic downturn and declining sales, Cord reintroduced the six-cylinder Auburn and lowered prices. V-12 and inline-eight production was curtailed.
By 1932, profits were declining. At this point, Cord owned airlines, aircraft companies, telecommunications companies, shipping companies, and other businesses, making him one of the richest men in the world. He also neglected his car business.
There were rumors of new models in 1937, including a diesel limousine, but Auburn production ceased after 1936, and the Cord was built in 1937. On August 7, 1937, the Auburn Motor Company went out of business.
1912 Auburn Touring Car
This car is on display at the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.
1929 Code L-29 4 door sedan
This car sold new for $3,095. This was the first mass-produced car to have an integrated engine, transmission, differential, and front brake. It was also the first car to feature an X-member to stabilize the frame. Equipped with an in-line 8-cylinder, 298 cubic inch, 125 horsepower engine. This car was on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Marymount, Tacoma, Washington.
1930 Duesenberg Model J Roadster
In 1913, the Duesenberg brothers, Fred and Augie, founded Duesenberg Automobiles and Motor Company in Des Moines, Iowa. The Duesenberg car was a luxury car that rivaled Europe’s Mercedes, Hispano-Suiza, and Rolls-Royce. Eret Lobban Kord bought his company in 1926 and gave his brother free rein to design and develop luxury cars. In 1928, Duesenberg introduced the Model J.
The car is on display at the LeMay American Automobile Museum in Tacoma, Washington. According to the museum,
“The use of aluminum alloy throughout this large vehicle keeps the weight down to approximately 5,200 pounds, and the 265-horsepower inline-eight engine allows the vehicle to accelerate to 115 miles per hour. The engine was designed by Fred Duesenberg. It was designed and manufactured by Lycoming. By 1930, Duesenberg and Lycoming were both part of the Cord Corporation, an automobile manufacturing empire founded by E.L. Cord.”
in his book American Automobiles: 100th Anniversary 1893-1993Nick Giorgano writes:
“The Model J was necessarily very expensive, but this was probably more of a bonus than a disappointment for Cord. It was shamelessly aimed at the “Let’s show it off” crowd.”
The Model J chassis sold for $8,500, and custom bodies ranged in price from $2,500 to $8,000.
The Duesenberg Model J body on display at the LeMay American Automobile Museum was manufactured by the Walter J. Murphy Company in Pasadena, California. Murphy was one of about 20 coachbuilders who created the Model J body. Nick Giorgano writes:
“Probably the most popular coach manufacturer that bodyworked 150 of the 470 Model Js was the Murphy Company of Pasadena, best known for its convertible and Beverly sedans.”
1932 Auburn Model 8-100A 4 Door Sedan
The car was on display at the LeMay American Automobile Museum in Tacoma, Washington. According to the museum,
“The 8-100A is powered by a Lycoming 8-cylinder engine and equipped with a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle, which allows you to adjust the car’s performance while driving depending on load, speed, and road conditions.”
The 269 cubic inch engine produces 98 horsepower.
1934 Auburn Cabriolet Model 850Y
The car was on display at the LeMay American Automobile Museum in Tacoma, Washington. According to the museum,
“The Auburn Motor Company’s 1934 one-year design was lower and more aerodynamic, with an elegantly curved radiator grille and swooping horizontal hood louvers.”
The car is powered by a Lycoming inline 8-cylinder, 280 cubic inch, 115 horsepower engine and 3-speed manual transmission.
1936 Auburn 852 Convertible Sedan
This car sold new for $1,775. This year was the last for Auburn. The car is powered by a 280 cubic inch, 150 horsepower supercharged flathead straight Lycoming engine. This car was on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Marymount, Tacoma, Washington.
1936 Code 812C Westchester Sedan
Designed by Gordon Miller Buehrig, the Cord 810 was first introduced in 1936 and caused a sensation. This included many new and advanced features, such as front-wheel drive and independent front suspension. However, because production started in a hurry, early cars had many defects. The 812 model includes Schwitzer Cummins centrifugal supercharger with flashy external exhaust pipe. Sales of the 810 and 812 were less than 3,000 units.
This car was on display at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon. According to the display:
“A streamlined sedan with an artistic blend of curved and rectangular elements, the Cord 810/812 was one of the most futuristic cars on the road in the mid-1930s, with examples worldwide. It was sold, but unfortunately not in sufficient numbers.”
1937 Code 812 Westchester 4 Door Sedan
The car was on display at the LeMay American Automobile Museum in Tacoma, Washington. According to the museum,
“Designed by legendary automotive stylist Gordon Buehrig, the 1936-1937 Cord, with its iconic “coffin nose” and concealed flip-top headlights, is one of the best vehicles ever built. One of the most distinctive vehicles. The innovative front-wheel drive design allows the vehicle to ride lower than previous models, eliminating the need for running boards to enter the vehicle. In 1937, of his 1,066 cords produced, only 37 Model 812s were made. ”
This car has a V8, 289 cubic inch, 125 horsepower engine.
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