AUBURN (US) 1900-1937 Auburn Automobile Co, Auburn, Ind. One of the most famous of all American cars, the Auburn first appeared in 1900 when Frank and Moms Eckhart of the Eckhart CarriageCo, in Auburn, Ind., began experimenting with hand-built cars, selling them in and around Auburn. The first production car appeared in 1903 as a single-cylinder chain-driven runabout with the engine under the body and the fuel tank under the bonnet. A touring model was added in 1904 and in 1905, 2-cylinder cars were introduced and continued until 1910, in which year a 4-cylinder type with a Mercedes-shaped radiator and a Rutenber engine was introduced. Both open and closed bodies were available on this larger chassis. In 1911 Auburn bought the Zimmerman Manufacturing Co, which had been producing high wheelers under that name, and continued to manufacture them. Auburn introduced a 6-cylinder car with electric lights as standard equipment in 1912. Right- or left-hand steering was optional in 1914, and from 1914 to 1919, 4- and 6-cylinder cars were available with Teetor, Rutenber and Continental engines. In 1919, the company introduced its Beauty Six model featuring streamlined bodies with bevelled edges on the sides. In 1921 this became the 6/51 sports model with cycle-type mudguards, step-plates instead of running-boards, disc wheels and a small luggage compartment behind the front bumper. Nickel trim was also featured, as well as leather upholstery and an abundance of r bright colour schemes. The Auburns of 1923 were powered by a Continental engine for the 6/43 or a Weidely ohv six for the larger model 6/63, or Supreme. In 1924, balloon low-pressure tyres were available on Auburns at extra cost. Up to now production figures had seldom exceeded 4,000 units per year. In 1924 E.L. Cord bought the Auburn company and from that point on, the Auburn took a leading position in the American automobile business. Cord had the entire range redesigned by J.M. Crawford, and the 1925 line consisted of 4-, 6-and 8-cylinder models. The new cars had two-tone colour schemes and a novel belt moulding which extended at the cowl over the top of the bonnet with its apex at the radiator cap. The cars were handsome and well built, although some of the larger models had ugly 6-spoked iron wheels more suited to truck design. These were soon discontinued and normal spoke or wire wheels became standard. The basic lines of the 1925 model were so advanced that the design remained practically the same until 1930. The 4-cylinder car was dropped in 1927 and sales climbed steadily. The 1931 Auburn was perhaps the sleekest car in the company's history and sales reached a peak of 28,103 that year. The 1931 Straight-Eight was augmented in 1932 with a new 6.4-litre V12, both cars being equipped with a Columbia dual-ratio rear axle. This V-12 was the first 12-cylinder car to sell at under $1,000, and probably the only one, too. These lines were continued in 1933. In 1934 a new design replaced the basic 1931 type and a six was added to the range. In 1935 a new and handsome sports design was announced and a supercharged line of Auburns augmented the 653 six and 851 eight. The pointed-tail 150bhp speedster models were guaranteed to have been test driven at more than 100mph. The cars remained unchanged for 1936 and although a new range of Auburns had been planned for 1937, no cars were produced. In 1967 Glenn Pray of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who had made a replica of the Cord 810, announced a replica of the 851 speedster.