Chassis Number: 2421
In the tradition of great artists who became truly famous only after their death, Alan Leamy of the Auburn Automobile Company left behind 33 brief years of startling innovation in body contours — a portfolio that was appreciated in its time, but which only became legendary decades after his passing in 1935.
Leamy’s finest design at Auburn was the company’s second-generation “Boattail” Speedster. The original model, introduced in 1928, had been a smash sensation with its angled door lines, two-tone color scheme and swept-back pointed tail that practically commanded the owner to test its 100-mph top speed. Leamy’s successor model featured more rounded, graceful lines with a blunted tail, creating a sensuous curve that wrapped around the rear of the car.
One of Leamy’s seminal creations is offered here. It was restored in the current Salon Speedster configuration in the early 1950s while owned by the very early Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club member Harold Smith of Eastlake, OH. He exhibited the Auburn at many club events well into the 1960s. Mr. Smith reportedly began with an original 8-cylinder Speedster retrofitted with Salon trim and a Lycoming fire-truck V12, nearly identical to the original Auburn Twelve engine design. Subsequently, the car was upgraded with what is believed to be an original but non-Speedster Auburn Twelve frame, and the engine restamped with the correct Auburn “BB” numbering. Later it was owned and further improved by the respected Michigan-based collector Bill Chorkey, from whom the present owners acquired it in 1991. Following additional restoration work, it received a Primary award at the ACD National Reunion in 2004.
Offered for the first time in over three decades, this marvelous Auburn is sure to make a showstopping addition to countless vintage tours and concours.
