Gordon Buehrig's boat-tail Speedster — the most theatrical American body of the 1930s, supercharged Lycoming inline-eight.
The Auburn 851 (1935) and mechanically identical 852 (1936) Speedster used Gordon Buehrig's dramatic boat-tail body — slim, raked, and finished with a polished engine-turned dash plaque signed by the test driver certifying that the car had been driven at 100 mph before delivery. Powered by a 4,587cc Lycoming straight-eight with Schwitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger producing approximately 150 bhp. Production was limited — approximately 500 Speedsters across both years — before Auburn ceased production in 1937.
One of the most charismatic American body designs ever produced; Speedsters are concours regulars.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 851 Speedster | 1935 | — | Supercharged Lycoming eight. |
| 852 Speedster | 1936 | — | Mechanically identical; subtle trim updates. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Auburn 851 / 852 Speedster, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Verified original Speedster chassis (per ACD Club), supercharger condition, continuous history.
Lycoming supercharged straight-eight; standard pre-war American service items. Supercharger condition is the key inspection point. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
Verified original 851 / 852 Speedsters with documented Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club provenance; many later replicas exist on Auburn sedan chassis. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.
Strong ACD Club support; specialist shops in the US. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
Originality drives value; replicas are visually similar but trade at a fraction of original-car prices.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-25 | RM Sotheby's Arizona | 1935 851 Supercharged Speedster | — | $478,000 Sold |
Verified original Speedsters firm; replicas remain a separate market.
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Register interestThe valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
