‘Sometimes, your car should be as photogenic as you are’
In 1934, the American Auburn Automobile Company produced the Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster, more commonly known as the Speedster 851 or Auburn Boattail.
It received worldwide acclaim as a masterpiece of motor car design with its sweeping design and Boattail.
The Boattail performed exceptionally well, capable of 100 mph; so confident was the factory that each car had a dashboard plaque confirming its ability.
The Boattail was designed by the legendary Gordon Buehrig, fitted with a 4.6-litre engine with a supercharger as an option, producing 150 hp.
Following the Great Depression of 1929, the 30s was a tough time for luxury car makers.
By 1937, the Auburn Automobile Company was no more.
During its time, Auburn sold 143 Speedsters; the meagre numbers, especially the rare, supercharged version, have great desirability among collectors.
The 851 Speedster has a distinctive boattail design with imposing, Art Deco-inspired bodywork.
Other manufacturers borrowed the 851’s famous ‘boattail’ design for their cars, two American examples being the 1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the 1971-1973 Buick Riviera.
More recently, Rolls-Royce built a boattail, of which there are only three.
The Auburn Boattail Speedster became a cultural symbol of hope and aspiration during the Great Depression, and its demise was even more profound.
It is beyond dispute that the Auburn 851 Supercharged Boattail Speedster is one of the most beautiful motor cars of its vintage.
The Auburn Boattail Speedster is where a convertible isn’t just a car feature; it’s a fashion statement on wheels.
