January 2008

The Man Who Brought Legends to Life

Glenn Pray's book, "The Man Who Brought Legends to Life", has gone 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.

February 2008

2008 Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe delayed

The New Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe release date has been pushed back until Spring 2008. Announced in 2006, this car has received a lot of preproduction publicity. Like everyone I am anxious to see the production version and read the reviews of which I am sure will be plentiful. You can read about this Modern Duesenberg Coupe and see the designers drawing at the companies website, Duesenberg Custom Coach, www.duesenbergcustomcoach.com

Another New Duesenberg planned for a 2008 release by Duesenberg Custom Coach is the Duesenberg II® Murphy Roadster. This is a recreation of a 1930's SJ styled Duesenberg with V-10 Ford running gear and all of today's modern amenities . It is being built by Advanced Automotive Technologies in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The Murphy Roadster will be available exclusively from Chuck Spielman's Only Yesterday Classic Autos, you can view their website at www.oldautos.com.

June 2008

Another Success
Ault Park 2008 Concours d' Elegance

Read the review and see the pictures of this years show on our Road Trips page. American Classics were this years Marque cars along with a Great display of Historical Indianapolis 500 Racing cars. Janet Guthrie was this years Grand Marshal.

June 2008

Open House
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Co.

Glenn Pray's 2008 Auburn Cord Show and Open House was held the weekend of June 6th and 7th. There were tours of the Factory, meetings with Glenn and displays of Auburns and Cords at the Leak Collector Car Auction and displays at the hosting hotel. I hope to get some pictures from this years event. If so, I will be posting them on the website. www.glenn-pray-cord-group.com

Summer 2008

AACA recognizes Second Generation Auburns

The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) starting in 2008 will now recognize Second Generation Collector Vehicles. Second Generation Vehicles, per the AACA rules, are cars that are over Twenty Five years old and were factory built to recreate the original looks of Antique and or Classic Cars. These vehicles can have recreated bodies in fiberglass and have modern drive line and interior amenities. This new classification of vehicles will be accepted for display at AACA shows. Factory Assembled is the criteria for acceptance. Entry's must provide documentation such as manufacturing orders, build sheets or certificates of origins. Contact the Antique Automobile Club of America for full requirements. www.aaca.org

September 2008

Land Speed Record Holder Dies

Marvin Jenkins, son famed Ab  Jenkins died Sept. 14th at the age of 88 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Marvin Jenkins was a pilot and a respectable Speed Record Driver himself. He worked with his father and the Duesenberg Brothers on the 12 cylinder powered Mormon Meteor III. At the time of his death he still owned the Mormon Meteor III, which has held Land Speed Records for the last 50 years.

October 2008

Hershey The Sweetest Car Event on Earth

The Antique Automobile Club of America's  Fall National Meet, held in Hershey, Pennsylvania, offered Fantastic weather along with Magnificent cars and Acres of parts. This was the 1st year for the New AACA classification for the 2nd Generation Collector Cars. Unfortunately there were not any Auburns displayed in the new class this year.  Visit the Road Trips page to read about the show and check out our photo's.
 

November 2008

ACD Museum can benefit from your Web Surfing

I ran across an interesting article in a past issue of Old Cars Weekly. "The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum can now earn a penny each time hobbyist search the Internet.

GoodSearch.com is a search engine company that donates half of it's revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities it's users designate. The search engine is powered by Yahoo and will pull up the same quality search results that you are use to, only the museum is earning money every time you search the web."

Go to www.goodsearch.com and enter the ACD Museum as the charity that you would like to support. Just 500 people searching through GoodSearch.com four times a day will raise about $7300 in a years time for the Museum.

January 2009

ACD Club's Car of the Year for 2009

The Cord L-29 will be the Featured Car for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club's 2009 Annual Meet, held each year in Auburn, Indiana. The Cord L-29 was introduced by Erret Lobban Cord as America's 1st front Wheel Drive automobile. The Cord L-29  became available in the summer of 1929 and production continued through 1931. An estimated 5000 cars were produced.  Cord historians feel that only 4-5 percent of these Beautiful Classic Cars have survived.  Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend this years event. View the L-29 Cords along with hundreds of other Auburn, Cords and Duesenbergs. Event information is available on the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club website, www.acdclub.org

February 2009

1937 Cord Back Home Again!

After seventy years, Errett Lobban Cord's 1937 Cord 812 Beverly Sedan has returned to the former Auburn Automobile Company in Auburn, Indiana, now the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. This Cord is believed to be the last Cord delivered by the Auburn Automobile Company.

It was delivered to E.L. Cord's Beverly Hills, California Estate, "Cordhaven" in November of 1937. Mr. Cord used the car throughout the 1950's before giving it to his son, Charlie Cord. Charlie Sr. later passed the car to his son, Charlie Cord Jr. The car remained in the Cord family until the decision was made to donate it to the ACD Museum this past November.

This 10,131 original mile Black Supercharged Cord will now be permanently and proudly displayed in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.

March 2009

Barn Find Speedsters

Everyone dreams of finding that Rare and Valuable Old Car that has been locked away and long forgotten about in someone’s barn or warehouse. You would think by now that all of these treasures would have been discovered… well that is not the case with two recently discovered Auburn Speedsters.

Mark Hyman of Hyman Lt. Classic Cars made one such Speedster discovery while on a trip to California. He discovered and purchased an early 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster. The Auburn has had two previous owners and is said to be in very original condition. Now he only has to decide what the future holds for this find. You can view his Rare and Exceptional Classic Cars that he offers for sale in his 35,000 sq. ft. St. Louis Showroom and Restoration Facility at www.hymanltd.com

Another Auburn Speedster Barn find was recently purchased by Johnny Pascucci, of Johnny P Classic Cars located in Meriden, Connecticut. This particular Auburn is a 1936 852 Speedster. This car has not seen the light of day since the mid 1950’s. Johnny Pascucci has owned many Speedsters over the years so he is more than familiar with his recent find. You can view over 30 photo’s of this Auburn  on his website. www.johnnypsclassiccars.com. The last time we spoke, Johnny had plans to refurbish the Auburn as a Survivor and enjoy it for a while as is... a Barn Find.

March 2009

Auburn Speedsters in the Movies

If you are like me, you just can't get enough of a Good Thing. I like Driving Auburn Speedsters, I like seeing other Speedsters displayed at shows, reading about them and drooling over photo's of them. Thanks to all of the research that has gone into a really neat website,  www.imcdb.org. I am now able to track down the movies that Auburns have appeared in, dating back to when they were New Cars.  The website, "Internet Movie Cars Database", allows you search by vehicle to see what movies they have been used in. Needless to say ACD cars have appeared in many movies, past and current. Just be warned, once you find the movie listings you will then start searching for these old movies to add to your collection... It is a sickness I know. I just hope that they never find a cure for it.

May 2009

ACD Club Classification, now 2nd Generation Cars

At the March Board of Directors meeting of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club. A motion was made and voted on to rename the "Replica" classification for shows. Replica ACD cars displayed at the 2009 Auburn Indiana National Meet will now be referred to as "2nd Generation" Cars. The Antique Automobile Club, last year, also created guide lines for a 2nd Generation Car classification. AACA guide lines are more defined than the ACD clubs at this time.

This years ACD Club's National Meet and the ACD Festival will again be held over the Labor Day Weekend in Auburn, Indiana. It is not too early to start planning your trip. Hotels fill up fast in Auburn but there should still be plenty of vacancies in nearby Fort Wayne. There is no other show quite like Auburn. The event takes place over 5 days, the ACD Clubs Classic Car Show is Saturday. Bring your car... better yet drive it to Auburn, display it in the show, drive it in the Parade of Classics. Visit our Road Trips & Travel page to view photo's from last years show. Use the following links to start planning your trip now.

ACD Meet Information  -  ACD Club  -  ACD Festival  -  Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum
 

June 2009

Speedster Motorcars Builds the Green Machine

The Green Machine is the Worlds First Electric Cord. The Green Machine utilizes Speedster Motorcars New Coffin Nose Cord replica body, inspired by the 1937 Cord. This is the company's first electric vehicle. The Cord is powered by a TransWarP 11 Electric Motor and uses Speedster Motorcars Generation III chassis. There is no doubt that this Cord will draw a lot of attention and questions where ever it goes. Speedster Motorcars, Jeff Akins, has provided plenty of photo's chronicling the Electric Cord project. Follow the build of this very unique Cord by visiting their website: www.speedstermotorcars.com

July 2009

"2009 Ault Park Concours d' Elegance"

Celebrating it's 32nd year, Cincinnati, Ohio's  Ault Park Concours d' Elegance was another success. This years event honored "Excellence in German Design and Engineering" with 5 classes for these Cars. There were 13 other judged classes for Automobiles dating back to Brass era Antiques, Cars with Full Classic status, Muscle Cars, Sports and Racing Cars and today's Supercars. There was a Special emphasis on the 100th Anniversary of Morgan Automobiles. This year's Show fielded 200 World Class Automobiles. The Concours was held Sunday, June 14th. The scheduled events  began on Friday with Seminars, Driving Tours, Garage Party's, plenty of Cocktails and hors d' oeuvres and the Awards Banquet. View our photo's from this years event on our Road Trips page.
 

July 2009

"Love Among the Steele"

In the NBC Television Series, Remington Steele, an Auburn Speedster starred in several episodes. The Auburn appears to have been built by California Custom Coach . The Remington Steele series was a Crime and Mystery / Romantic Comedy. It aired from 1982 -1987. Private Investigator, Remington Steele was played by Pierce Brosnan in his pre-"Bond... James Bond" days. He co-starred with Stephanie Zimbalist who played the role of Laura Holt, the owner of the Detective Agency. The Auburn was introduced in Season 2, Episode 7: "Love Among the Steele". The Auburn is a mysterious car that tries to run them down. The car is later found to be tied to  murder and mystery. The car is stolen, chased, shot at and disassembled in this episode. Remington Steele being a Nostalgic Hollywood Movie Buff  falls for the Deco Styled Auburn and it is purchased for the detective agency. The Auburn would later appear in many future episodes.  The Remington Steele series is available on DVD or can be viewed for free on internet Television and Movie sights such as www.hulu.com

August 2009

"Nice Antique Store Find!"

An ACD Club members 1956 Avon, Pennsylvania National Meet Photo Album has surfaced and is being offered for sale. View a few of the 100+ photo's. 53 years later, how many of these ACD Classic Cars will return to Auburn for the 2009 National Meet...

September 2009

Auburn Indiana Home of the Classics

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club held their National meet September 3rd through the 6th in Auburn, Indiana. The ACD Club has held their meet annually in Auburn since 1955. The event, including the Kruse Collector Car Auction, can draw an estimated 150 - 200,000 enthusiasts from around the world. If you own an ACD Car or have ever dreamed of owning one, you must make the trip to "Auburn". My first time was in 1978. I was 21 years old. I met Gordon Buehrig and Glenn Pray that year. Needless to say, I was hooked. I have returned almost every year since. The Featured Car for 2009, was the Cord L-29. The L-29 turned 80 this year. Along with the L-29's were hundreds of other Cord's, Auburn's and Duesenberg's. This was the first year that the ACD Clubs Saturday morning Car Show was open to the public. You do not have to be a Member of the ACD Club to attend Auburn, but it does offer many more opportunities to enjoy the event and meet the people who own the cars. It is the membership that makes this show the Classic that it is.  If you decide to attend next years show, use this link, ACD National Meet Information,  to help plan your trip.  View the photo's of this years Show and read about past Auburn Shows on the Road Trips page. I hope I see you there next year.
 

October 2009

AACA Hershey Meet Celebrated 54 Years

Considered by many, myself included, to be the Daddy of the Collector Car Events. This years Hershey dates were October 7th - 10th. The event is hosted by the Hershey Region of the National Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). The Show is held in Hershey, Pennsylvania on the property of Hershey Park. The 1st meet was in 1955 and there has been an annual gathering since. The Event draws enthusiasts from around the world. The Saturday morning Car Show had 1500 plus Quality Cars displayed and awaiting AACA judging. If you need parts, you can start shopping on Wednesday at one the 9000 vender spaces. While attending the show do not miss the AACA Museum. It was years in the planning and is a Must See. The Hershey - Lancaster area is Beautiful, especially during the Fall Season. Make this one of your annual Road Trips if it isn't already. Like they say... All Roads Lead to Hershey!  View our Hershey pictures

November 2009

Road Trip Worthy Museums

Not exactly ACD related, but definitely of Interest... We recently visited two Car Museums honoring two American Icons. One being The Citizens Motorcar Company - America's Packard Museum located in Dayton, Ohio. The Birth Place of Aviation is Dayton’s Claim to Fame, but to the Classic Car enthusiast, Dayton is home to America’s Packard Museum. At the corner of Ludlow and Franklin Streets the Packard Motor Car Company lives again.  The Museum building was a former Packard dealership in 1917.

We also visited The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The National Corvette Museum celebrated it's 15th Anniversary this past September. The Museum tells the story of the Corvette and the Love Affair with America's Sports Car through the use of Beautifully detailed exhibits and displays. Earlier this year the Museum completed a 46,000 square foot expansion, which included the long awaited Corvette Research Center, Library and the Corvette Cafe.

Both Museums are quite impressive and worthy of your next Road Trip. To view photo's and read more about these Great Museums  visit our Road Trips and Travel pages. 

January 2010

Auburn Speedster - Hot eBay item

While surfing eBay the other day I found a Second Generation Auburn Speedster being offered for auction with an opening bid of a Hundred Bucks. "Click" I wanted to see more. There were plenty of pictures to view. Unfortunately the Speedster had been on fire at one time.  The eBay seller was kind enough to let me use some of his photo's of the car. There are a few parts of interest that could be salvaged... but what a shame.  Click Here!  More photo's are available

February 2010

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!

February 2010

New Website Honoring Glenn Pray

A New Glenn Pray website, www.glennpray.com, has just been launched. Greg Bennett is the webmaster. It is still being developed but it is worth the visit. The site will include an Events page, About Glenn Pray, Cars for Sale and the The Glenn Pray Auburn Cord Group’s Registry.  The Registry is still looking for owners of Glenn Pray Built Cars. Many cars have already been located. The Registry includes 79 of the 113 Auburn 866 Speedsters, 71 of the 97 Cord 810’s and 11 of the 17 Auburn 874 Dual Cowl Phaetons, including the Prototype. If you own a Glenn Pray Built Auburn or Cord and are not included in the Registry please contact  Felix DeGeyter, he is the registry’s Auburn Cord Historian. Email him at felixdegeyter@yahoo.com

February 2010

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!

March 2010

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.

March 2010

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.

April 2010

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

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!

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.