1933 Auburn 1250 Salon Cabriolet Fresh Restoration with few miles since

The Auburn Automobile Company grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1875 by Charles Eckhart (1841–1915). Eckhart's sons, Frank and Morris, began making automobiles on an experimental basis before entering the business in earnest, absorbing two other local carmakers and moving into a larger plant in 1909. The enterprise was modestly successful until materials shortages during World War I forced the plant to close. In 1919, the Eckhart brothers sold out to a group of Chicago investors headed by Ralph Austin Bard, who later served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and as Under Secretary of the Navy for President Roosevelt and for President Harry S. Truman. The new owners revived the business but failed to realize the profits that they hoped for.

In 1924, they approached Errett Lobban Cord (1894–1974), a highly successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company. Cord countered with an offer to take over completely in what amounted to a leveraged buyout. The Chicago group accepted. Cord aggressively marketed the company's unsold inventory and completed his buyout before the end of 1925. In 1926, he partnered with Duesenberg Corporation, famous for its racing cars, and used it as the launching platform for a line of high-priced luxury vehicles. He also put his own name on a front-wheel-drive car, the Cord, later referred to as "L-29".. Employing imaginative designers such as Alan Leamy and Gordon Buehrig, Cord built cars that became famous for their advanced engineering as well as their striking appearance, such as the 1928 Auburn Boattail Speedster, the Model J Duesenbergs, the Auburn 12, the 1935–1936 Auburn Speedsters and the 810/812 Cords.

In the early 30's, Most Major Auto Manufacturers began introducing Mutli-Cylinder Engines as the demand for higher performance cars took hold. Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln, Pierce Arrow, and Marmon Introduced V12 and 16 Engines, and Auburn followed suit. Over $1 Million was spent developing the Auburn 12, and despite its very affordable price compared to virtually all of its competitors, the lingering Depression thwarted sales. Introduced in 1932 with the stunning Leamy Designed styling these cars are more advanced that the Duesenberg J with a fully synchronized gearbox and newer chassis. In my mind these cars are the ultimate Auburns capable of very high speed and comfortable highway cruising. This is about as close as you are going to get to a Duesenberg performance wise. The Salon Series was introduced in 1933 with more of an updated grill and fender treatment and other unique features.

This car was professionally restored by LK Cars and has been shown sparingly and never toured, so still presents as a freshly restored car in every respect. The car is simply stunning with very few flaws noted, and is sure to be a star of the Concours Circuit. The car runs absolutely perfectly, it runs cool, accelerates well, shifts and stops as it should, and goes down the road straight and true.

With few made new and only and handful known to exist, the 12 Salon Cabriolet is a rare and exciting tour car that really has few peers. Featuring 160 HP, light steering, a fully synchronized and rather sweet gearbox, and a dual ratio rear end, these cars will travel comfortably at highway speeds all day long.

This is without a doubt one of the finest 12 Salon Cabriolets in existence. These cars rarely come to market. Don't miss this opportunity to add one of the finest cars from the Classic era to your collection.