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The bold styling of
the Auburn Boattail Speedster epitomized the era
known as the roaring twenties. Women won the right
to vote, Prohibition began, the Charleston was the
newest dance craze, Lindbergh flew across the
Atlantic and the Academy Awards debuted.
The Auburn Automobile Company was founded in 1903
and ceased manufacturing automobiles in 1937. During
its 34 year history its financial performance would
best be described as tumultuous. Despite the
economic effects of the Great Depression the company
experienced periods of strong sales followed by
years of dismal operating results.
In 1924 the Board of Directors of the Auburn
Automotive Co. hired E.L. Cord to “turn the company
around.” Cord had considerable experience as an
executive for the Moon Automobile Co. Cord
restructured the sales and distribution functions of
the Auburn Automobile Co., resulting in increased
sales and profits. The Board of Directors in 1926
sold the company to Mr. Cord. At this time the
assets of the bankrupt Duesenburg Motor Co. were
merged in to Auburn Automobile Co. In addition a new
marque, “Cord” was introduced.
The Auburn Automobile Company experienced its best
year in 1929, just prior to the Stock Market Crash.
Its sleekest model was the 8-90 Boattail Speedster.
In the Model 8-90 Auburn offered a straight-eight at
prices putting it within reach of thousands of
people who had previously paid more for six-cylinder
cars not comparable in size or performance. More
then 2,000 of the two-seater speedsters with the
boat tail-shaped rear-end were sold. An
eight-cylinder, 248 cubic inch Lycoming engine that
produced 93 horsepower powered the Auburn 8-90
series.
Neither the Auburn Boattail Speedster nor the
revolutionary 1936-37 Cord models 810 and 812 were
able to generate the necessary level of sales to
keep the company afloat. At the end of 1937 the
Auburn Automobile Company ceased manufacturing
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