To a public weary of the Depression, the new Auburn speedster was automotive hope personified. Here was a car everyone could identify with, dream about, and wish for. It became, in many ways, the rolling icon of the Art Deco era. Auburn Speedsters didn't just look fast, they were fast. To prove this, famed speed-demon and race driver Ab Jenkins sat behind the wheel of an 851 speedster and was the first American to set a 100 mph average for a 12-hour period endurance record in a completely stock 851SC speedster. As a result, each speedster built carried a dash plaque attesting to its over 100 mph capability, bearing Ab Jenkins’ signature. Priced at $2,245 when new, estimates peg Auburn’s loss per speedster at about $300 for every car built. But the logic behind Cord's decision was that this sleek model attracted customers to come in and purchase less expensive but more profitable models. As a consequence, very few speedsters were built, making them highly prized today.
The Auburn we offer is one of the best known examples in ACD circles, having spent more than 30 years as part of the David H. Tunick Collection. Since the dispersal of the Tunick Collection in 2005, the car first resided with a collector who arranged for the car to be sent to noted restorer Jim Stranberg, of High Mountain Classics in Denver, Colorado. Stranberg carried out a comprehensive restoration to the highest standards, at a cost of $480,000. Completed in time for the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, the car was stunning. It was finished in a two-tone maroon and silver paint scheme, which, although attractive, was not correct, and consequently, the car failed to earn a class win. Wisely, the vendor immediately commissioned a high quality repaint in the car’s original black, but the correct dark red leather interior was retained, returning it to the way it would have looked when delivered new more than 70 years ago. The most recent owner has maintained the car to his exacting standards since acquiring it in 2008. After importing the car to the UK, it was registered and has since also been honoured with a Best of Class award at the prestigious concours at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. Today, the car is simply stunning, as befits the quality of the restoration. There is no evidence of even minor ageing since completion, a testament to both the quality of the restoration and the conditions under which the car has been kept. Paint, chrome, and upholstery are near superb, and the engine bay and chassis detailing is exemplary. Any Auburn 852 speedster is a joy to behold and a pleasure to drive.
Given this car’s outstanding restoration quality and award-winning provenance, we strongly encourage close attention to this exceptional motor car’s offering. Avaliable to view in our
The Auburn we offer is one of the best known examples in ACD circles, having spent more than 30 years as part of the David H. Tunick Collection. Since the dispersal of the Tunick Collection in 2005, the car first resided with a collector who arranged for the car to be sent to noted restorer Jim Stranberg, of High Mountain Classics in Denver, Colorado. Stranberg carried out a comprehensive restoration to the highest standards, at a cost of $480,000. Completed in time for the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, the car was stunning. It was finished in a two-tone maroon and silver paint scheme, which, although attractive, was not correct, and consequently, the car failed to earn a class win. Wisely, the vendor immediately commissioned a high quality repaint in the car’s original black, but the correct dark red leather interior was retained, returning it to the way it would have looked when delivered new more than 70 years ago. The most recent owner has maintained the car to his exacting standards since acquiring it in 2008. After importing the car to the UK, it was registered and has since also been honoured with a Best of Class award at the prestigious concours at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. Today, the car is simply stunning, as befits the quality of the restoration. There is no evidence of even minor ageing since completion, a testament to both the quality of the restoration and the conditions under which the car has been kept. Paint, chrome, and upholstery are near superb, and the engine bay and chassis detailing is exemplary. Any Auburn 852 speedster is a joy to behold and a pleasure to drive.
Given this car’s outstanding restoration quality and award-winning provenance, we strongly encourage close attention to this exceptional motor car’s offering. Avaliable to view in our