For those who have ever
Relished the Auburn
Speedster

Auburn Speedsters.com was created due to my seemingly life long love of the Auburn 851 and 852 Speedsters. The flowing lines of a Boattail Speedster, whether it be an original 1935/1936 or one of the Second Generation Cars, is the quintessential example of Classic Automobile Art and Design. Since I would never have the $300-$500 thousand needed  to purchase an original 1935/1936 Auburn Speedster, I went with Plan B... I purchased a wonderful "Second Generation" Speedster in the winter of 2000. It is a great car and is still a pleasure to own, drive and maintain today.

The Love Affair started for me in 1974, at that time I was a Junior in High School. I ran across a series of ads depicting Classic Cars for Walkers De Luxe Straight 8. One of the cars used in the ad campaign was a Cigarette Cream 1935 Auburn Speedster. I thought that car was the most beautiful automobile that I had ever seen in my short 17 years of existence. I had never heard of an Auburn automobile nor had I ever seen one. "Rip", the ad came out of the magazine and was immediately posted on my bedroom wall. Believe it or not I still have that ad. In the fall of that same year, while at the Hoosier Auto Show and Swap Meet, I actually saw an Auburn Speedster, or at least a very close facsimile. It was a Replica / Recreation. There were several Speedsters being displayed. They were produced by Elegant Motors of Indianapolis, Indiana. I could not get enough of them that day. I had nothing but a photo ad from Walkers De Luxe to compare them with, but I was very impressed with the Elegant Motors cars. I always was, and still am, a Sucker for Free Stuff. I put quite a dent in their box of sales catalogs that day.

It was not long before I decided that I needed another Boattail Speedster Fix. With my stash of sales catalogs I now had a company's name and an address of a place that was building Auburn Speedsters. I called my buddy, Dave, and talked him into taking a two hour drive with me to visit Elegant Motors. At that time Elegant Motors was operating out of an original Stutz Showroom in downtown Indianapolis on Meridian Street. I remember the showroom as being large and very impressive. The showroom had several cars on display. The salesman was great, knowing that two seventeen year old kids definitely would not be buying an Auburn that day. He took us through the showroom answering all of our questions. He then showed us their shop where Auburns were being assembled. My buddy and I had quite a day with plenty to discuss on the drive back.

Once home, I immediately sent a letter off to Elegant Motors requesting to be put on their mailing list. Their sales information started arriving on a regular basis... I was totally Hooked. By the mid seventies the Replicar industry was Big. More than just Auburns were being offered, but that is another story. Replicar company ads started popping up in all of the car collecting magazines. I stayed busy for the next several years pretending to be a potential buyer so that I could be placed on all of the Auburn Speedster manufacturers mailing list. Needless to say, my collection of sales catalogs took off. Company's such as California Custom Coach, Glenn Prays Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company, Southeastern Replicar and The Classic Factory to drop a few names filled my parents mailbox with wonderful material to Read and Dream about.

Fast Forward 26 years to September of 2000. After returning from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Clubs National Meet in Auburn, Indiana, I couldn't wait any longer. I started searching for a car. After a lot of research I decided that I wanted a Glenn Pray built car. I called Glenn and he told me of a few cars that he knew of that were for sale. I studied Hemming's Motor News and Surfed the Internet in search of the right car. I narrowed my search to two cars, both Red, one in Detroit Michigan and one in Turlock California. The Detroit car was a four speed car and the California car was an automatic. Being six foot two and knowing how little cabin space is available in a Speedster I opted for the California trip. Again I talked my buddy Dave into going with me... he is always easy when it comes to a Road Trip. Twenty six years later and boxes full of Auburn Speedster catalogs I was finally able to purchase my  Auburn Speedster.


See you Next Month in Auburn,

Mark Tyra
 

Auburn, Indiana
is Home of the Classics
September 1st thru the 5th

It is not too late! Pack a couple of bags, toss them in your Speedster and get on the Road to Auburn, for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club’s National Meet. You do not have to be an ACD Club member to attend this event. The event is held each year in Auburn, Indiana over the Labor Day weekend. Auburn is known as the Home of Classic Cars. The ACD Club recognizes and welcomes your Second Generation Auburns, Cords and Duesenberg Cars. Touring starts early in the week. The ACD Only Parts Swap Meet is on Friday followed by the Car Show on Saturday ending with the Parade of Classics through downtown historic Auburn that afternoon. The feature car for this years event is the Model J Duesenberg. There are Special Duesenberg exhibits and events planned. At last count more than 50 Duesenbergs have registered to  participate in the Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed. Expect three Collector Car Auctions to take place, World Wide Auctions with "The Auburn Auction", RM's Auction America and the Classical Events Auction. The Swap Meet will also continue on the old Kruse Auction Park property. Hotels and Motels fill up Fast in Auburn, but you can always find lodging in nearby Fort Wayne. Read the article  below, for some insight into this years event.

The Auburn Experience
What, Where and When...

More and more car enthusiasts and new ACD Club members are expressing interest in attending the ACD National Reunion and ACD Festival in Auburn. Hopefully this article will answer some of your questions. You will want to make it an annual pilgrimage as so many others do each year! It's that much fun!

Planning your first trip to a big car show can be a little overwhelming. When should we plan to arrive and leave? What should we bring? Where will we stay? Where do we eat? What will the kids like doing?

WHAT IS IT?

The ACD National Reunion and ACD Festival are now world-famous and attract several hundred thousand visitors each Labor Day Weekend. The multi-day event could not happen without the cooperation of three separate entities.

The ACD Club National Reunion is hosted by the ACD Club in Auburn, Indiana each Labor Day Weekend. It gives the Club Members a chance to get together and show off their cars. You can buy and sell parts, learn restoration tips and enter your car for certification and judging.

What Where and When Click here to continue...
 

Check out the  Custom Fender Skirts on Chris "Doc" Sabatino's Auburn Speedster! His car was built in Largo, Florida by Antique Automobiles of America. The Custom Fender Skirts are a new addition, they were owner designed and are hand made of metal. They look Great Doc and so does your Speedster.

View last years Speedsters of the Month

RM Auctions "Auction America" will continued the Traditional Swap Meet which has been held each year at the old Kruse Auction Park. The Swap Meet opens to the public on Wednesday, September 1st. Interested vendors are invited to contact Nancy Walters by telephone: 260-415-3573 or via her email at nwalters@auctionsamerica.com . Auction America has many upgrades and changes planned for their newly acquired venture. Their mission is to renew the Spirit that has surrounded the Auburn sale for so many years. Visit RM's Auction website for a full schedule of Auburn events. www.rmauctions.com

Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed
50 Duesenbergs Expected!

Remember this date, Friday, September 3, 2010. This is the opening day of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club’s 55^th Annual Reunion in Auburn, Indiana. The Duesenberg J is the honored car at this years Reunion. At one time, the Duesenberg was one of the Fastest Cars in the World. What better way to show tribute to the Duesenberg than creating the Ab Jenkins Memorial Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed. The event's name honors Ab Jenkins, who test-drove Duesenberg cars in the 1920s and 1930s, setting several world speed records. The Exhibition of Speed, will take place that Friday afternoon at the nearby Kendallville Airport. The Duesenberg speed events will be run on the airstrip. As part of the Speed exhibition, there will be a special Fly-In of Antique Stinson aircraft. There will also be a display of Rochester-Duesenberg powered cars. An event of this type is a first for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club. The exhibition is expected to receive world wide coverage. ACD Club member, Jim Schneck says “I am Ready to Run them, Are You?”

Use our link, What, Where and When to get a feel for this year’s event. Visit the ACD Clubs event website for all of the information regarding the Ab Jenkins Memorial Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed. I do not have anything to Run, but I will be there!

Kruse Auction Park Sold!

The Kruse Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana has been sold to, Auctions America, a subsidiary of RM  Auctions. Canadian based RM Auctions is a leading Collector Car auction company. There was speculation that the traditional Auburn Classic Car Auction, held in conjunction with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival each Labor Day weekend,  would not  be happening this year, thus ending a 40 year tradition. RM announced that there "WILL BE" a 2010 Auburn Collector Car Auction and they are now taking consignments.

Long time auctioneer, Dean Kruse started his annual Auburn Classic Car Auction in 1971. The original auction was held in an empty field, later they would move to a high school stadium. His Auburn Classic Car Auction continued to grow and would later be promoted as the largest Collector Car Auction in the World, advertising 5000 cars being offered for sale. Dean Kruse eventually would build and complete his dream auction park in 1989. Located right off of the I-69 exit to Auburn, the Kruse Auction Park consisted of 230 acres, and was the location of Kruse International's World Headquarters. With the great success of his company, ebay took notice. They purchased the Kruse Auction company is 1999, keeping Dean Kruse on to over see the transition. ebay never quite got it right, it was not the same as when Dean was at the wheel. Four years later, ebay would sell the company back to Dean Kruse. Kruse immediately made many needed changes to the Fall Auburn event. Things were better than ever with Kruse in charge again.

According to automotive and business press, the past 12-18 months have not been good for this once successful company. The failing economy was to blame according to Dean. Dean Kruse said in a new conference, held right after the sell to RM of his Auction Company and Park, that selling to his long time friends at RM Auctions was the right thing to do at this time.

This years Auburn Labor Day Event, will now have three Collector Car Auctions taking place. The above mentioned RM's Auctions America, the already established Worldwide Auctioneers with "The Auburn Auction"  and another new player,  Classical Events Auction. Consign your Collector Cars now and bring Plenty of Money to Auburn to help Stimulate the Economy.

Check with the The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival for a complete listing of festival activities, September 2nd -6th, 2010.

Be sure to Check Out the two latest Concours d'Elegance Photo Galleries that have been added on our Road Trips and Travel page. In June we traveled to the 33rd Annual Ault Park Concours in Cincinnati, Ohio and in July we visited Keeneland Race Park in Lexington, Kentucky for the Keeneland Concours d'Elegance. While you are viewing those pictures be sure and see our photo's from the AACA's 75th Anniversary celebration which took place in Louisville, Kentucky. Over 700 cars were displayed indoors with Air Conditioned Comfort! The Summer has been Hot no doubt, but so has the Car Show Action and there is plenty more to come. This month the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) will be Rolling into Louisville for their National Meet Believe it or not this event draws 12,000 to 13,000+ Street Rods. More are expected this year with cars 25 years and older now being excepted. I will be there snapping pictures, and combing the Swap Meet.  I will also be checking out new Hot Rod items that are being offered from the manufacturers that can be used on our Auburn Speedsters. Watch for coverage.

The Antique Automobile Club of America Celebrates 75 years. The celebration, known as the Diamond Jubilee, was held in Louisville, Kentucky at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. The Hosting hotel was the Crown Plaza. The event started Wednesday and ran through Saturday (July 10-13 2010).  The celebration included an Old Fashion Parade ending with Ice Cream, Touring, Dinners, a Paddle Wheel Boat ride on the historic Bell of Louisville and a Car Show on Saturday ending with an Awards Ceremony. Two days of touring included visits at two Collector Car Museums, The Louisville Slugger Bat Museum and Kentucky Distilleries. The Saturday car show drew 700+ cars displayed and shown within AACA guide lines. The newly formed Second Generation classification for Factory Built recreations of Classic Cars included Tom Tomlinson's 1974 Auburn 866 Speedster, built by Glenn Prays Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company. Tom emailed me telling me that his Speedster was "mobbed" with people interested in his car. He went on to suggest that we should all have our Factory Built Auburn Speedsters SGVC - AACA Certified. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club also recognizes Second Generation ACD cars. I have to agree with Tom. I could not photograph all 764 registered cars in Saturdays show, but I have seven pages of photo's for you to view! Visit our AACA 75th Anniversary Photo Gallery

Glenn Pray 50th Anniversary Merchandise

Glenn Pray's Auburn Cord Duesenberg Co. 50th Anniversary Merchandise is still available. Follow the link to view Souvenir Hats, Shirts, Ceramic Cups and more. Glenn Pray Anniversary Merchandise

Advertise your Auburn Speedster in the "Speedster Market Place". Cost per ad is $39.00 for three months or $59.00 for a Run until you Sell listing. Advertise your Auburn, Cord or Duesenberg Car and or your Parts today. If you are looking for an Auburn, Cord or Duesenberg Car or a particular Part, try a placing a "Wanted" ad.  
Visit our Speedster Market Place 

Motor Trend 1952... The beginning

A small ad, seeking like minded people interested in the preservation and in sharing knowledge of Auburn, Cords and Duesenbergs was placed in a 1952 edition of Motor Trend Magazine by Harry Denhard. That was all that was needed. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club  was founded that year. The inaugural meet of 1953 was held in McClain, Pa. with only three Cords attending. The following year’s event drew 19 cars in Wesport, CT. For 1955, the meet was moved to Avon, Pa.  Interest and participation continued to grow. For the 1956 meet, the idea of establishing a Reunion Meet in Auburn, Indiana was born. The line of thinking was that the show would be a reunion ACD cars celebrating the Past and Honoring the Auburn Automobile Company Employees and the Families of those who assembled these cars. That same year the Parade of Classics was introduced. It would become an annual tradition that continues today, 55 years later… Today the ACD Clubs National Meet is referred as “The Reunion”.

Breathless Mahoney's Auburn Speedster

From the 1990 Dick Tracy Movie, Ms. Mahoney’s Auburn Speedster is being offered for sale. This 2^nd Generation Auburn Speedster was custom built by Hollywood Car Customizer, George Barris, for Walt Disney Studio’s. The movie was directed by Warren Beatty who also starred in the film as detective hero, Dick Tracy. Detective Tracy’s girl friend, Breathless Mahoney, was played by Madonna. She drove this Auburn throughout the movie. The Auburn is finished in “Rasberry” with a light saddle interior. The car appears to have been manufactured by California Custom Coach. The Queen of Pop also has ties to another Auburn Speedster. A white Auburn was used on stage throughout her 2008 “Sticky & Sweet Tour”. I have never seen any other information regarding this car. The Breathless Speedster was last offered at auction in 2005 where the winning bid was recorded as $52,900. The car is currently being listed for sale by the Dezer Collection, Museum and Pavillion located in Florida. Use your two way Wrist Radio-Television and give them a call or visit the website, www.dezercollection.com for more photos’ and information.

Celebrating 23 years, the Mecum Spring Classic Collector Car Auction again lived up to it's reputation. Now being advertised as the largest Collector Car Auction in the World, with 1750 Vehicles rolling across the auction block over 5 days. The Annual Event is held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. This years event ran from May 19th - 23rd. Offered along with cars were Antique Tractors, two Beautiful Classic Wooden Boats,  Hundreds of Vintage Signs and Neon Advertising. Two cars of particular interest for us ACD Guys were the Coffin Nosed Cords produced by Speedster Motorcars. Both cars were No-Sales but they drew Big Bids, one closed at $155,000 and the other one commanded a more than respectable $145,000.  These two No-Sales were exceptions. Throughout the day the auctioneers could be heard screaming SOLD" SOLD" - SOLD Another One". This Auction has become an annual Road Trip for us. It is a Great Event. I would definitely recommend one of Dana Mecum's auctions. Visit their website for Mecums 2010 schedule and view photo's and the results from Indy'10. www.mecum.com

“Arrive in Style”, “Turn Driveways into Runways” No these quotes did not come from E.L. Cord’s office, or the design rooms of Alan Leamy, Alex Tremulis or Gordon Buehrig. These were taken from a 4 page Chrysler ad that asks “Whatever Happened to Style?” I have been asking myself this for many - many years now. I really do not think America’s Love Affair with the Automobile is over. It is just that there are not many, if any, automobiles being offered to fall in Love with. Today manufacturers pride themselves with cars that can Self Parallel Park, brag on Cap-Less Gas Fill Doors, Dash Cams, Eco-Green Power, Radio’s that can do everything that NASA could do 10 years ago and receive hundreds of satellite stations. I was pretty happy with my choice of 5 AM-FM radio pushbutton selections… Today’s Automobile does not possess the Passion, Art, Color and Imagination that once was there. Chrysler’s advertisement asks the right questions and makes some needed points…

At One Time We Arrived in Style, We didn’t Race from A to B – We Cruised, People Took Notice – Cars Turned Heads, Pride was a Wonderful Thing, Going for a Drive was a Big Deal, Lets Design Cars that People Want to Make Out in again, Lets Design Cars that People want their Photo taken with, It’s Time to Put Our Right Hand at 2 O’Clock and Our Left Elbow Out the Window, Where has the Glamour Gone? “It’s Time Once Again, For America to Arrive in Style”

Pay attention Ford and Government Motors. Thanks Chrysler! I feel much better getting all of this off my chest, Just one of the perks of having your own website...

A Small Town that has Escaped Time

It is a small town where Chrome and lots of it, is found along with "Stylish" Cars Rolling on BIG Whitewall tires. As a matter of fact only OLD Cars are allowed on the streets of Elgin Park. You will not find Elgin Park on any map. This small town  was created by Michael Paul Smith. This is the kind of place that  only seems to exist in memories and on the pages of photo albums. Elgin Park is a 1:24^th scale collection of Automobiles, Streets and Buildings. This wonderful town lives through Smith’s life-like photos.

Visit Elgin Park, seeing is believing. I have been there with family and friends several times this year. We didn’t spot any ACD Cars while there, but I bet there are some stored away in one of those back street warehouses or alley garages. Let me know if you see any nice Speedsters being offered for sale. www.visitelginpark.com

About E.L. Cord

I had a friend of mine turn me onto a new website, about Errett Lobban Cord, "Cord Heritage". The website is operated by Errett Lobban (E.L) Cords great grandson, William Cord.  I believe it is fairly new, and so far, quite impressive. "Cord Heritage" will tell the story and highlight the achievements of a young American Industrialist journeys and accomplishments within the  Golden Age of transportation. As we all know, E.L. Cord operated successful Automobile and Aviation companies. Along with his transportation ventures, Mr. Cord also achieved great success with Radio Broadcasting, Marine and Mining industries and Real Estate investments. "Cord Heritage" will update throughout the year with details of these accomplishments. William Cord and his team offer Art and Limited Edition items for sale in the Cord Collection. These items highlight the successful endeavors of  E.L. Cord. Look for New Releases at www.cordheritage.com

Auburn Speedster Rental Cars

The next time you need a Rental Car and are looking for something a little different... Why not  Rent an Auburn Boattail Speedster. You may also want to consider renting one if you have plans for a future purchase in the works. Cruising around in one of these Modern Day Classics just might seal the deal for you.

If you decide to check on an Auburn rental they are as close as a Google search. My quick search showed the Beverly Hills - Hollywood area  of California was offering  the best selection of Auburn Speedsters for lease followed by Las Vegas. Why was I not surprised by these two results... I also found available Speedsters in the Boston area for Weddings and Special Occasions. The majority of rental cars being offered seem to have been built by Speedster Motorcars. A Rental is a great way to  Gauge first hand just what the Auburn Speedster experience is all about.

Speedster Motorcars Auburn Sets Sail

Mike and Jeff Akins of Speedster Motorcars are in the News again. They just recently completed a Special Order Auburn Speedster for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's newest Cruise Ship, the "Oasis of the Seas", it is the worlds largest cruise ship. The Oasis and the Speedster Set Sail this past December. The Auburn was special ordered in Champagne and Black, one of  Speedster Motorcars most popular color combinations. The Auburn is displayed on the Royal Promenade deck. Like Auburn Speedsters always do...  it has been drawing admiration and good press from all who have seen it. Cruise line owners were very impressed with the attention to detail and workmanship that went into building the Speedster. Like the "Oasis of this Seas", Speedster Motorcars Auburn is a Modern Day Classic.

Your Auburn Speedster Projects and Garages

We have added some new pages to our website. They are part of our revised, Auburn Speedster Photo Galleries page. These new and revised pages will again feature photo's of your Auburn Speedsters along with photo's of your cars in various stages of build, rebuild  and or  restoration. Even if it is just a modification that you would like to share we are interested. email photo's of your current and or past Auburn Speedster projects. Please include a short description of your car and what work is being performed. We can all learn from your shared experiences. If you have a Neat Garage that you would like showcased email us at least three quality photo's. We will be glad to post them in the new Garage and Man Cave Gallery. What else is sharing parking space with your Speedster? Send us your Photo's. Visit our New Photo Galleries!

Jim Brockman Collection ACD Club website

Browsing through the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club website over the Holidays, I ran across a couple of items of interest. The first being the wonderful collection of vintage ACD photographs that were so generously donated by  Joyce Brockman. The photo collection belonged to her late husband and long time Canadian ACD Club member, Jim Brockman. Jim was known as the ACD Canadian Historian. The collection of photo's date back almost 50 years. ACD Club member, Mike Huffman was kind enough to scan the hundreds of vintage photo's so that they could be posted on the club website. Actually Jim has earned his own page, The Jim Brockman Collection. Use this link to view all of his photo's.

Another new addition to the ACD Club's website is the Reunion and Meets page. It takes on a totally new look with great graphics and photo's. I hope this is a preview for the future look of the entire website. From this page you can read about the ACD clubs history, view photo's from last years meet, keep track of up coming ACD events and more. Nice work Guys!

More Photo Gallery Pictures Needed

Be sure to send us photo's of your Auburn Speedster for the Photo Gallery. We need some new additions. Everyone enjoys viewing photo's of the Auburn Speedster. You do or you would not be on the website right now. Show Cars, Drivers, Projects Started,  Projects Abandoned, Wrecks... We love them all. If you have an Un-Usual Auburn related item that would work in the AUBURNmobilia Gallery send us photo's of it too! Your Auburn Speedster me be selected as the next Speedster of the Month!

For Archived News of Interest Relating to ACD Cars  "Click Here"

"Back in Stock! - Reproduction Speedster Parts"

Back in Stock! Reproduction Front and Rear Bumper Bracket Grommets for the 1935 and 1936 Auburn Speedsters. For Second Generation Speedster owners who want an Original Look these are a must. I converted my Glenn Pray Speedster to use the Bracket Grommets (pictured). We also have Gaskets for Door Handles, Headlight and Taillight Bases and the 3 piece Windshield Pads. Visit the Swap Meet's Auburn Building or The Speedster Market Place for pricing.

The Man Who Brought Legends to Life

Glenn Pray's book, "The Man Who Brought Legends to Life", has is now into it's third printing. This new edition has added a collage of photo's depicting Glenn, his family, his cars and his airplanes to the inside front and rear covers. The Book is a Great read for anyone with an interest the Glenn Pray Story; his purchase of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company and putting the Cord and Auburn Speedster back into production. These Books are now available on our website. They are $60, includes shipping and insurance within the Continental USA. email us for your copy.