In the days when Bugattis crossed France and 4½ Litre Bentleys tore through the British countryside, the American equivalent was the Auburn Speedster.
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 V-shaped 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, which 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-8 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.
The Speedster offered here has a known ownership history back to the prolific “Greatest Name in Classic Cars,” Tom Barrett of Arizona, believed to have been its owner during the 1970s. It was subsequently owned in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Jerry J. Moore of Houston, TX, probably the most active American collector, with one of the most vast and comprehensive stables, famously with a focus on Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg. Mr. Moore exchanged the car with the Blackhawk Collection in 1995 and it was then sold to Tony Aragola of Port Washington, NY. In early 1999 it was acquired by longtime collector and enthusiast Chuck Spielman of California, then by 2003 had been purchased by Frank Giglioni of Alameda, CA.
Acquired by the present owner in 2021, in his ownership the car has been certified by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club as a Category 1 original example, recording it with the present engine, a correct replacement unit from later in the production run. It presents in very nice condition throughout, with its restoration still very attractive. Further, according to the consignor, it has been extremely well-sorted — both cosmetically and mechanically, including resealing the engine — to use and enjoy.
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)
