Auburn diecast models represent one of the most distinctive chapters in American automotive history. Produced by the Auburn Automobile Company of Auburn, Indiana, Auburn automobiles became especially famous during the 1920s and 1930s for their dramatic styling, powerful engines, performance, and connection to the automotive empire created by E. L. Cord.
For collectors, Auburn model cars offer an opportunity to own scale representations of vehicles from the Classic Era of American automobiles, including the legendary Auburn Speedster, elegant touring cars, phaetons, sedans, and other Auburn models associated with the company's final years. The marque is particularly appealing to enthusiasts of classic American cars, Art Deco design, prewar automobiles, and the famous Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg era.
The History of Auburn Automobile
The Auburn Automobile Company traces its beginnings to 1900, when brothers Frank and Morris Eckhart began producing automobiles in Auburn, Indiana, from their family's carriage-manufacturing background. The company's earliest cars were relatively simple vehicles, but Auburn gradually expanded its range and adopted larger and more sophisticated engines.
Auburn faced significant financial difficulties during its early years and was eventually acquired by a group of Chicago investors in 1919. The company continued developing new automobiles, but competition and difficult economic conditions remained major challenges.
A major turning point came in the 1920s when Errett Lobban Cord, better known as E. L. Cord, became involved with Auburn. Cord brought an aggressive approach to styling, marketing, performance, and product development. His influence transformed Auburn from a struggling automobile manufacturer into one of the most recognizable American luxury and performance marques of the period.
In 1926, Cord partnered with the Duesenberg organization, helping establish the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg group that became synonymous with advanced engineering and dramatic automotive design. Auburn occupied an important position within that group, offering performance-oriented automobiles at prices generally below the ultra-luxury Duesenberg models.
Auburn and the Classic American Automobile Era
Auburn's most important period came during the late 1920s and 1930s, when designers such as Alan Leamy and Gordon Buehrig helped create some of the company's most memorable automobiles.
The Auburn lineup included six-cylinder, eight-cylinder, and V12-powered cars, with model designations reflecting the different engines and series offered during the company's development. The range included sedans, phaetons, cabriolets, touring cars, and the distinctive Speedster.
This variety makes Auburn particularly interesting for diecast collectors. Rather than being represented by one famous automobile alone, the marque offers a window into the evolution of American luxury and performance vehicles during a period when long hoods, sweeping fenders, running boards, large grilles, wire wheels, and dramatic bodywork defined automotive design.
The Auburn Speedster
The Auburn Speedster is the centerpiece of many Auburn collections and one of the most recognizable American classic cars ever produced.
Early Auburn Speedsters appeared during the late 1920s, and the design evolved through several generations. Alan Leamy was responsible for the styling of the earlier Speedster series, while Gordon Buehrig played a major role in the development of the spectacular 1935–1936 Speedsters.
The most famous version is the 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster and its closely related 1936 successor, the 852 Speedster. Their long, flowing hood, swept front fenders, low windshield, exposed exhaust pipes on supercharged examples, and dramatically tapered boat-tail rear body created an unmistakable silhouette.
The 851 was powered by a Lycoming straight-eight engine, with a supercharged version offering approximately 150 horsepower. Auburn promoted the car as capable of exceeding 100 mph, an impressive figure for an American production automobile of the period.
The Speedster's appearance is a major reason Auburn remains so popular among collectors today. A well-proportioned Auburn Speedster diecast model can capture the long body, sweeping fenders, boat-tail rear, and Art Deco character that make the original automobile immediately recognizable.
Auburn 851 and 852 Speedster
Collectors should pay attention to the exact model designation when shopping for a Speedster.
The Auburn 851 was associated with the 1935 model year, while the 852 followed for 1936. Although the two cars are closely related, the distinction is important for collectors interested in historical accuracy.
The supercharged Speedster is particularly recognizable by its external exhaust pipes and supercharger-related details. Depending on the model manufacturer, a diecast model may reproduce a specific specification, color, equipment package, or historical interpretation of the original car.
Auburn Performance and Racing Heritage
Auburn was not simply a luxury automobile manufacturer. Performance and speed were important parts of the company's image.
Auburn automobiles participated in speed trials and hill climbs, helping demonstrate the capabilities of their engines and chassis. In 1928, an Auburn achieved a measured-mile speed of more than 108 mph at Daytona and also established a record at Pikes Peak. Auburn Speedsters were subsequently associated with additional speed-record attempts, including the famous exploits of driver Ab Jenkins.
This performance background gives Auburn models an additional appeal for collectors interested in early American motorsport and performance cars.
The Speedster's image was also helped by its dramatic styling. It was the kind of automobile designed to attract attention, making it an ideal subject for a collectible model.
Gordon Buehrig and Auburn Design
Gordon Buehrig is an important name when studying Auburn model cars. He was one of the most influential American automotive designers of the period and later became closely associated with the Cord 810/812 and other landmark designs.
Buehrig worked within the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg organization and helped develop the 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster. His work contributed to the car's distinctive combination of streamlined proportions and traditional prewar details.
For collectors, Buehrig's involvement creates an interesting connection between Auburn and other significant American classics. An Auburn collection can therefore sit naturally alongside Cord and Duesenberg models, especially for collectors building a display around American automotive design of the 1930s.
Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg
Auburn is closely connected to the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg story, but the three marques should not be treated as interchangeable.
Auburn was the established automobile company acquired and controlled by E. L. Cord. Cord became a separate marque associated with innovative front-wheel-drive automobiles such as the L-29 and later the 810/812. Duesenberg occupied the ultra-luxury and high-performance end of the organization and became famous for cars such as the Model J.
Together, these companies represented some of the most ambitious American automotive engineering and styling of the prewar era.
This connection can be useful when building a diecast display. Auburn Speedsters, Cord 810/812s, and Duesenberg Model Js can be displayed together to tell the larger story of the Cord-era American luxury automobile industry.
The End of Auburn Automobile
The Great Depression created severe challenges for manufacturers of expensive automobiles. Despite Auburn's attractive styling and performance, the company struggled to maintain sales in a market where consumers were increasingly focused on affordability.
Auburn automobile production ended during the final years of the company, with the Auburn Automobile Company closing its doors in 1937. The Cord and Duesenberg marques also disappeared from production during the same period.
Although the original manufacturer disappeared, Auburn automobiles survived as highly collectible historic vehicles. Their distinctive styling and relatively limited production have helped preserve the marque's importance among classic-car enthusiasts.
The company's former administration building in Auburn, Indiana, later became home to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, further preserving the history of Auburn and its related marques.
Collecting Auburn Diecast Models
Auburn model cars are particularly attractive to collectors who appreciate vehicles that combine historical importance with unusual styling. Unlike many modern cars that share similar aerodynamic shapes, Auburn automobiles have strong visual characteristics that translate particularly well into scale models.
When choosing an Auburn diecast model, consider:
- Exact model: Auburn Speedster, sedan, phaeton, touring car, or another body style.
- Model year: Early Speedsters differ substantially from the later 851 and 852.
- Engine specification: Straight-eight and V12 Auburns represent different periods and configurations.
- Supercharged version: The supercharged Speedster is especially recognizable.
- Body style: Open phaetons and convertibles provide a different appearance from closed sedans and coupes.
- Color and trim: Auburn offered a variety of finishes, and color can have a major impact on the appearance of a scale model.
- Historical setting: Consider whether the model is intended to represent a road car, performance automobile, or a particular period in Auburn's history.
Popular Auburn Models for Collectors
The Auburn Speedster is the most obvious centerpiece for many collections, particularly the 851 and 852. However, collectors should not overlook the company's other automobiles.
Earlier Speedsters demonstrate the evolution of Auburn styling before the dramatic 1935 redesign. Auburn's eight-cylinder cars, phaetons, touring cars, and sedans can provide a broader picture of the company's product range.
A chronological collection can be especially rewarding because it shows how Auburn moved from relatively conventional early automobiles toward the highly stylized Art Deco forms of its final years.
Auburn Diecast Model Scales
Auburn model cars are produced in a range of scales depending on the particular vehicle and manufacturer. Common automotive scales collectors may encounter include:
- 1/18 scale: A popular larger scale for classic automobiles, providing strong display presence and room for detailed bodywork and interiors.
- 1/24 scale: A versatile choice for collectors who want a balance between size, detail, and display space.
- 1/43 scale: A compact scale well suited to chronological collections and displays containing many classic automobiles.
- 1/12 scale: A substantially larger format that can be particularly impressive for premium or highly detailed models when available.
- 1/64 scale: A compact option for collectors with limited display space or for combining Auburn with other small-scale American vehicles.
When collecting across different manufacturers, check the stated scale and exact vehicle dimensions. A 1930s Auburn is a large automobile, so even a relatively small-scale model can have a substantial physical footprint compared with a compact passenger car.
Building an American Classic Car Collection
Auburn diecast models can serve as the centerpiece of a collection devoted to American classic cars, prewar automobiles, Art Deco vehicles, or American luxury cars.
For a broader 1930s display, an Auburn Speedster can be paired with Cord and Duesenberg models to represent the major marques associated with E. L. Cord. Other classic American manufacturers can then expand the display into the wider history of American automotive design.
Collectors can also organize Auburn models chronologically, by body style, or simply around the dramatic Speedster design. Because Auburn production ended in the 1930s, the category naturally focuses on historic and classic automobiles rather than modern vehicles.
Whether you are a long-time classic-car collector or are discovering Auburn automobiles for the first time, an Auburn diecast model offers a compact way to appreciate the engineering, styling, and history of one of America's most memorable prewar automotive marques.
Browse the Auburn diecast models available at DiecastModelsWholesale.com to find classic Auburn model cars and add an iconic piece of American automotive history to your collection or display.
