Worldwide Auctioneers are holding their 8th annual 'Auburn Auction' on saturday 5 September in the National Automotive and Truck Museum in Auburn, Indiana. The auction is named after the town although there are two Auburns offered in the sale. The one that we like is the 1924 6-63 Sport Touring a rare car for its 'faux convertible top' which is in fact a fixed top which even has a headliner. One of only three known and owned by one family for 50 years, the car is all original with a patina that only the hands of time could create. Auburn always outsourced its engines, and under the bonnet is a high-compression 248 cubic-inch overhead valve Weidely Straight Six that was actually a high-performance motor which was also used in the Stutz Speedway Six. The name Stutz always makes us sit up and take notice and the 1923 Speedway Roadster is a truly fabulous car with a whopping 361 cu-in inline four and high compression heads good for 80 mph. We can't help shedding a little tear when we learn of its dicovery in a California aircraft hangar in original rust-free condition only to have it restored to as-new condition. Never mind - it's for sale and going to be used on the road with the hood down, pedal-to-the-metal, wind in your hair and tears of joy!
We are undecided between the 1929 Model A Ford Speedster and the 1936 Cord 810 Cabriolet. They both spell FUN and although the Speedster has a standard engine, it would respond well to some tuning to go with that enormous Klaxon mounted on top. However, when we gaze at this picture of the Gordon Buehrig-designed Cord we cannot resist. The big V8, the beautiful stylish coachwork, the classic styling of the interior all add up to a very desirable car which had the crowds at the 1935 New York Motor Show standing on car roofs just to catch a glimpse.
(Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers)