Auburn Model 852 Speedster

The name 'Speedster' was first used by Auburn in 1928 for a sporty car with a so called 'boat tail' (a then fashionable, boat shaped rear end) and an inline eight cylinder engine.

In 1934 this model was followed by the imposing yet elegant 851 Speedster, designed by Gordon Buehrig and fitted with a Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger. This supercharger spun at a maximum of 24,000 rpm, whereby the blade tips achieved supersonic speeds. The standard Auburn 851 Speedster was the first American car to average 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) over a 12-hour period in an endurance test. After this feat, all Speedsters were fitted with a commemorative plaque on the dashboard. The slightly modified 852 model was launched in 1936. Although the car did not sell well and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg empire collapsed in 1937, the Auburn 851/852 Speedster is still considered the most beautiful car produced by the company.