We saw this iconic and very rare 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster at the 2025 Concours of Elegance held at Hampton Court Palace. This car was one of many that grabbed my attention. You can see much more Concours of Elegance content here, and videos on our YouTube Concours of Elegance playlist.
This car was not one of the concours cars, but the Auburn 851 Speedster was on display promoting the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, where the car is homed.
1935 Auburn 851 Speedster
Auburn built some of America’s best known and most stylish cars in the late 1920s and 1930s. The 851 Speedster, powered by a supercharged Lycoming engine, was introduced for 1935. The boat-tailed body was the work of Dusenburg designer Gordon Buerhig. All Auburn speeders were tested to over 100 mph by the record breaker Ab Jenkins, as recorded by the autographed plate on the car’s dashboard.
Entrepreneur Errett Lobban Cord rescued Auburn from obscurity in 1924. He acquired Dusenburg and the engine manufacturer Lycoming in 1926, before creating the new Cord marque in late 1929. Auburn was one of only two American car manufacturers to actually increase their sales figures during the Great Depression of 1931. After that, all Auburn’s sales dropped, and the 851 model, like the 1935 Auburn Speedster, was to be the company’s swansong, with production ending in late 1936. Cord and Dusenberg ceased production soon after.
Statistics
Engine: 4585cc, 8 cylinder, side valve, 150bhp at 4000rpm
Performance: 100mph
Price new: £795
Manufacturer: Auburn automobile company, Auburn, Indiana
Car owner, Montagu, Collection.
What do you think?
I love cars like this. So beautiful. When driving was a real occasion. I’d love to own and drive a rare 1935 Speedster like the Auburn 851.
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