1935 Auburn 851 Speedster by Glenn Prey Original Auburn Chassis and Engine

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 1935–1936 Auburn Speedsters and the 810/812 Cords.

This rare Glenn Prey Speedster is one of about 17 cars built by Mr. Prey's Auburn Cord Duesenberg Co. in the 70s on an Original 1935 Auburn Chassis. The Chassis is completely correct in every manner down to its original honeycomb Radiator, something that is quite hard to find these days. The Engine is a correct non Supercharged Lycomiing Straight 8 that has its original tag, and has had an outside Exhaust added. The 2 Speed Columbia Rear End, Wheels and all suspension and brake components are all present and accounted for, the only variance being a 12 volt conversion to the electrical system, and turn signals have been discreetly added. Many Original Auburn parts such as the headlights, bumpers, hood, grill shell, gauges, and other hard to find trim parts.

The car runs and drives without fault and sounds quite powerful. If you are looking for an affordable Auburn Speedster you will be hard pressed to find anything close to this car. This car is being Auctioned on Bring a Trailer with an ending date of June 25.