Car of the Week

Owner: Bill Cochrane - Aberdeenshire

The Auburn Speedster is an American car, manufactured by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana and manufactured in Union City, Indiana. A total of 887 cars were manufactured between 1928 and 1936, across 3 series:

- 1928 to 1930 with "eight" and "big eight" engines,
- 1931 to 1934, the V12 series, both of the above series were designed by stylist Alan Leamy.
- 1935 to 1936 the dramatic, iconic Supercharged 8. The Auburn 851 Speedster of 1935 was styled by designer Gordon Buehrig, who was also responsible for the Cord Model 810. Al Jenkins broke 70 America speed records in the 1935 car.

The "Speedster 851", which would be the third and final production model of the manufacturer, was introduced in 1934 with bodywork by Gordon Buehrig that was ingeniously constructed and cost-effectively built. With sandwiched front and rear fenders, backswept radiator, and external side-threaded exhaust pipes, the 851 Speedster is the iconic Auburn "Hollywood car." Its bespoke flat-head eight was powerful, reliable and of a strong and solid design.

The sweeping body lines concealed some innovative and advanced technical features such as the Columbia dual-ratio rear axle that was achieved by interposing an epicyclic gear train between the axle and the crown wheel. When it was engaged, the final drive ratio became a "fast" 4.5:1. It was disengaged by moving a steering-wheel mounted lever and dipping the clutch, whereupon the ratio became a more leisurely 3:1. The three-speed synchromesh gearbox along with that dual ratio axle gave a six-speed transmission.

In 1936 came the 852, identical to the earlier models with the exception of the "852" on its radiator grille. The final year of production was 1937 as Auburn ceased car production altogether in 1937. Only 143 of the 851SC boat tail speedsters were made.

Bill purchased his custom built Auburn in 2013 while living in the USA. It is a custom build by Speedster Motorcars of Florida. Powered by a 5.7L Supercharged Chevy V8 with automatic transmission this is the very definition of a “muscle car”! When Bill returned to Scotland nine years ago he imported his beloved Auburn and it has toured extensively since, completing the NC 500 and a recent tour of the Outer Hebrides.