ALSO A 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster Replica

Supercharged 280 CI Lycoming Inline-8, 3-Speed

1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster - Supercharged 280 CI Lycoming Inline-8, 3-Speed

VIN / Serial 33220E

SPECIFICATIONS
1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster

ENGINE 280 CI Inline 8-Cylinder

TRANSMISSION 3-Speed Manual

EXTERIOR COLOR Black

INTERIOR COLOR Red

MODEL 851SC

BODY STYLE Boattail Speedster

HIGHLIGHTS
Chassis no. 33220E, Engine no. GH5863
During the restoration, it was determined this car's chassis was originally painted red, suggesting it may have served duty as a show car
It is a well-known fact that Auburn painted the chassis of its show cars in Red
Known ownership history back to 1978
Masterpiece of automotive design by Gordon Buehrig
Owned by Eugene Cowles of Lewisville, Texas from 1978 to 1996
Acquired in 1996 by Joao Magalhaes, who imported the car into London and then took it to his home in Marbella, Spain
Magalhaes sold the car to a Portuguese collector in 2001, who kept the car for the next 20 years
Book of restoration photographs included
Supercharged 280 CI Lycoming inline 8-cylinder engine
Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger
3-speed synchromesh transmission

THE STORY
From its inauspicious beginnings in 1903 in Auburn, Indiana, the Auburn Automobile Company struggled to stay ahead of the competition. By the mid-1920s, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy when a young Errett Lobban Cord entered the scene and became general manager. Cord drastically changed the marketing and styling image of Auburn. By 1931, Auburn offered a decidedly sporting and stylish boattail Speedster design—penned by designer Alan Leamy—that advanced the youthful image of the company.

In 1934, the Great Depression pushed Auburn to curtail production of its V-12 and return to 6-cylinder models. However, the following year, it introduced an impressive straight-8 powered 851 Boattail Speedster, which many enthusiasts consider one of the most beautiful automobiles of the Classic Era. Based on the original speedster design by Leamy, the Model 851 was updated and aerodynamically restyled by Gordon Miller Buehrig, who later designed the iconic front-drive 810 and 812 Cords.

EQUIPMENT
2-speed rear end
Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes
Driver spotlight
Golf club door
Chrome wire wheels and wide Whitewall tires

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August 13-15, 2026