1936 Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster

Specifications

Configuration: Front-engine, rear wheel drive

Engine: 280 CID Lycoming L-Head Inline 8-Cylinder

Horsepower: 150bhp at 4,400RPM

Transmission: 3-speed manual with Columbia 2-speed rear end

A Little History

With the public locked in the throes of The Great Depression, car dealers across the country were desperate for something that could revitalize consumers, rekindle excitement in the automotive industry and once again drive traffic to showroom floors.In 1935, their prayers were answered with the arrival of the Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster – a car that eventually became an icon of the Art Deco aesthetic.The Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster was a symbolic representation of hope. It was a car that the American public could look to and – if only in that moment – escape their troubles.It was a car that they could identify with, dream about, and aspire to own.

The Design In the true spirit of American ingenuity and Depression-era scrappiness, Auburn Speedsters were largely created from leftover 1928 Speedster bodies.The longer, sleeker hood was fit to the already-designed sedan while the mid and rear sections of the car retained many of the qualities that made the Speedster line so popular, including the original “boat tail,” pontoon fenders, the v-shaped windshield, and four flashy, exposed, chrome-plated exhaust pipes.

Did You Know? In flamboyant Auburn style, Speedsters captivated American audiences when racecar driver Ab Jenkins completed a 12-hour drive that averaged over 100 miles per hour… in a completely stock Supercharged Speedster (though this journey was taken in an Auburn 851, as opposed to the 852).