Auburn Speedster

Auburn Boattail Speedster 851

The Auburn Speedster was an American car, manufactured by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana. The Auburn 851 Speedster of 1935 was styled by designer Gordon Buehrig, who also was responsible for the Cord Model 810.

History

In 1924 Auburn output was down to six cars a day. Errett Lobban Cord — a car salesman — took over the lackluster company, and brought in James Crawford to design a new range.

The first Auburn eight was launched in 1925, and renamed the 8-88 in 1926 with a 4.8-litre side-valve 68 bhp Lycoming engine. That remained in use until 1930, when it developed 115 bhp, hence the 'Speedster 115' model name. The rest of the car was straightforward. Suspension was by semi-elliptic springs all round,[1] and after experiments with hydraulic brakes, Auburn opted for mechanical brakes. The three-speed gearbox was in unit with the engine. The impressive open two-seater body styled by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky featured a boat-tail and a vee windscreen. The '115' became the '125' in 1930, with a 'cabin speedster' among the models, advertised as a "racing car with comfort of a closed car" with a 125 bhp version of the Lycoming eight giving it a claimed top speed of over 100 mph. A V12 range, using a 6.4-litre engine designed by George Kublin and built by Lycoming, was a failure, and 1934 marked its demise.[1] Yet Auburn was to enjoy a memorable final fling with the '851 speedster'. This was introduced in 1931 with masterly bodywork by Gordon Buehrig that was ingeniously and cheaply built. The car was simple enough. The flat-head eight was strong, reliable and it was not overly stressed. Those sweeping lines concealed some interesting technical features such as the Columbia dual-ratio rear axle[1] 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 end however, was not far off, and Auburn ceased car production in 1937.

The Speedster's iconic "boattail" design would be replicated on cars from later decades, with the two most notable examples being the 1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the 1971-1973 Buick Riviera.

Evolution

  • 1925 First Auburn eight introduced as the Eight-In-Line.
  • 1926 Engine size increased from 4.5 litres to 4.8 litres and the model renamed the 8-88.
  • 1927 The 68 hp engine uprated to 115 hp and the car is renamed the 115.
  • 1929 120 development of 115 introduced.
  • 1930 125 introduced.
  • 1934 The best known Speedster - the 851 - was introduced for the 1935 model year. It uses a 4.5-litre straight-eight engine, supercharged or unblown.
  • 1937 Auburn car production ceased.

Model

  • Auburn Speedster 851

Engine

  • Location  : Front,longitudinal.
  • Type  : Water-cooled in-line flathead side-valve eight Cylinder with aluminium alloy cylinder head.
  • Cubic capacity : 4585cc/280cu in.
  • Bore x stroke  : 77.78mm x 120.6mm/3.06in x 4.75in.
  • Valve gear  : 2 in-line valves per cylinder operated by block mounted camshaft.
  • Fuel supply  : Single Strombreg downdraft carburettor with Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger.
  • Ignition  : Coil and distributor,mechanical.
  • Maximum power  : 150 bhp @ 4000 rpm[1]

Transmission

  • Layout  : Clutch and gearbox in unit with engine.
  • Clutch  : Single dry plate
  • Gearbox  : Three speed manual with synchromesh on second and third Ratios in 'high'
1st 2.86:1
2nd 1.68:1
3rd 1.0 :1
  • Final drive  : Spiral bevel with epicyclic gear dual ratio axle.[1]
  • Ratio  : 3:1 and 4.5:1

Suspension

  • Front  : Non independent with semi-elliptic leaf springs and hydaulic dampers.
  • Rear  : Non independent with live axle,semi-elliptic leaf springs and hydraulic dampers.[1]

Steering

  • Type  : Worm and peg.[1]

Brakes

  • Type  : Lockheed drums front and rear; hydraulically operated.[1]

Wheel and tires

  • Type  : Steel welded spoke wheels with 6.50 X 15" [1]

Body/chassis

  • Type  : Steel box section X-braced chassis with steel Speedster body, 2 doors, 2 seats.[1]

Dimensions and weight

  • Length  : 4930 mm
  • Width  : 1800 mm
  • Weight  : 1700 kg

Performance

  • Maximum speed  : 100 mph

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cheetham, Craig (2004). Vintage Cars - The Finest Prewar Automobiles. Rochester, United Kingdom: Grange Books. p. 31. ISBN 1840136359.

  • Holmes, Mark (2007). Ultimate Convertibles: Roofless Beauty. London: Kandour. pp. 16–19. ISBN 978-1-905741-62-5.
  • Inside 100 Great Cars. Chartwell Books,INC. 1992. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-1-85435-481-5.
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