1933 Auburn 8-105 Salon Phaeton - SOLD
     
  • Overview & History
  • Specifications
  • Image Gallery
This is a car that demands attention but is never very noisy about it.

Named for its home town, the Auburn was a reliable, solid, albeit conservative car until E.L. Cord came along and made it the foundation of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg empire. Almost overnight, the staid Auburns were transformed into flashy, handsome, and fun to drive automobiles that instantly developed a reputation as being cars for the adventurous. By adopting new technologies as they emerged, Cord worked overtime to keep Auburn (indeed, all the marques under his supervision) at the forefront of technology. That tech included things like hydraulic brakes, two-speed rear ends, and forced induction, all of which made Auburn one of the most legendary automakers of the 1930s.

This 1933 Auburn 8-105 Salon Phaeton, represents the top-of-the-line 8-cylinder Auburn, yet at the time it was advertised as one of the most affordable ways to get eight cylinder power and performance. The 8-105 was significantly revised over the previous year's 8-100, with more horsepower, refined styling, and better performance. The Great Depression being what it was, however, production still slowed with most estimates suggesting that fewer than 4000 8-105s were built in 1933, of which fewer than 400 were Salon Phaetons. The Salon models were introduced as one of the first displays of "packaging" desirable options and upgrades together, with these models including things like the dual-ratio rear end, dual horns, revised front fenders, and unique "wing spread" bumpers. With their reasonable prices, there's no reason why the great-driving Auburn 8-105 should not have been a success—except for the Great Depression, which had other things to say about it.

Fresh from a recent body-off restoration, this is an absolutely spectacular car. Starting with an older 1970s restoration certainly made things easier, and the goal wasn't 100-point perfection on the show field, but rather a powerful, reliable, competent tour car for CCCA Caravans and similar events. So many of these cars were restored in the 1970s (doesn’t it seem like every one you see is tan with brown fenders and orange wheels?) making this one's more elegant and refined look very refreshing in a field of dated colors and aging interiors. The burgundy finish is quite correct, lacking any metallic or other modern tricks, so it could have come straight out of the 1930s. By 1933, many automakers had moved to single colors, or, if the cars were two-tone, the second color was only used as a highlight. The monochromatic look of this Auburn is simply beautiful, letting Alan Leamy's wonderfully clean lines show at their best. Finish quality is just what you'd expect on a car of this caliber, and there's not a ripple or a wave anywhere on its bodywork. Gaps are excellent and the doors hang well from the heavy center-mounted hinges with no sagging or rubbing. On many 8-105 Salon models, the belt molding was painted a contrasting color, but on this car the restorer decided to simply outline it with a subtle taupe pinstripe that matches the wheels and interior, a choice that gives this car a very sophisticated look without losing any of its rakish charm. This is a car that demands attention but is never very noisy about it.

Of course, all the chrome and bright trim was restored at the same time, including the dramatic "wing spread" bumpers that give the car a light, sleek look. There's a lovely strip of chrome running down the center of the hood, through the grille, and into the splash apron, as if the car was streaking forward like an arrow, and wonderful details like the chrome moldings on the leading edges of the rear fenders mirror the ribbed running board treads. Since Auburns were always rakish cars, the chrome windshield still folds flat when the top is down for the truest open-air experience, and there's an accessory trunk in back for touring. You will also note that beautiful little teardrop light housings have been added fore and aft for turn signals, another nod to safety on today's roads but they look quite authentic and blend easily with the car's original look. The only possible demerit is the gas cap, which is a modern replacement instead of the larger original unit, but Harwood Motors is seeking a correct replacement as you read this.

The interior was likewise fully restored, replacing the former shiny brown vinyl with supple taupe leather hides. The color is not quite tan, not quite gray, but somewhere in-between, and the effect is simply stunning against the burgundy paint. The patterns are correct, with pleated seats and simple door panels accentuated with bright chrome door hardware. Carpets are beautifully bound and fit without wrinkles, and they look durable and easy to maintain. Auburn's traditional engine-turned instrument panel adds a high-performance look to the driver's compartment, and the big, round instruments were surely race-inspired. They're all fully functional save for the fuel and oil level gauges, which are hydro-static units whose unreliability is legendary—it's unlikely that they worked for longer than a few months even when the car was new. The big steering wheel controls surprisingly light steering and the pedals are ideally arranged for comfortable driving, something unexpected in a low-slung car like the Auburn. Both windshield wiper motors have been rebuilt and I have to admit that I'm constantly frustrated by the driver's side wiper motor's proximity to the steering wheel, which is impossible to avoid when turning the wheel. The ignition has been converted to a more familiar solenoid setup, so you simply turn the key as in a modern car and the engine springs to life. The top is also brand new and the canvas almost exactly matches the leather, a rather remarkable feat, and the fit is superb with no sags or wrinkles in the fabric.

Mechanically, all eight cylinder Auburns used a 268.6 cubic inch straight-8 built by Lycoming, another one of E.L. Cord's companies. With the addition of a downdraft carburetor and a bit more compression, it makes a nice, round 100 horsepower and enough torque to make the Auburn feel light on its feet. The engine was rebuilt several years ago, and as a result during this most recent restoration it was merely cleaned up and tuned rather than re-restored. It wears a coat of bright green engine enamel that might be closer to Duesenberg Green than Auburn, but it does look quite authentic under the hood, particularly with its black accessories, which include an oil filter and Bijur chassis lubrication system (not connected, as it tends to be quite messy). Things like the original aluminum shield for the ignition system, a correct Burgess air silencer, and a fuel pump with sediment bowl add to the authentic look. As I said, it was not intended to be a 100-point show car, so there are surely details that experts will identify as incorrect, but once you turn the key and it springs to life with just a little choke, you will realize that the money was spent in the right places. Power delivery is smooth and the engine makes a wonderful straight-8 burble on the road.

Auburn had adopted Synchromesh in their transmissions two years earlier, so shifting is light and easy with the 3-speed manual gearbox and the ratios are well-matched to the engine's power curve. In back, you'll find a correct 2-speed rear end, whose dual ratios allowed effortless low-speed maneuvering on the typically awful roads of the 1930s as well as easy high-speed cruising when conditions permitted. Combined with free-wheeling, the Auburn offers all of the state-of-the-art performance and efficiency improvements that the 1930s had to offer. For driving, we simply leave the 2-speed in high range at all times and have not tried operating the system, as low range is typically reserved for speeds under 35 MPH and seems superfluous in today's world of smooth pavement and superhighways. The car pulls well at any speed in any gear with no hesitation or bogging. The suspension and braking systems were rebuilt and the steering is far lighter than most other cars of the period, even at a standstill. Braking, with a vacuum assist, is surprisingly powerful and confidence-inspiring, and for a car weighing more than 4000 pounds and sitting on a 127 inch wheelbase, this one feels quite agile indeed. The 17-inch wire wheels were painted to match the interior and are fitted with a brand new set of 6.00/6.50-17 Firestone wide whitewall tires.

Experts may nit-pick this car, but if you're not a trophy hunter and instead enjoy the pleasure that driving a competent, powerful, Full Classic brings, this Auburn is a fantastic machine. Reliable, fast, competent, and beautiful, it offers many virtues that go beyond authenticity. If it never sees a trailer again in its life, then it will truly live up to the restorer's ambitions, because this is a road car of the first order.

Vehicle: 1933 Auburn 8-105 Salon Phaeton
Price: SOLD
Stock Number: 112049
Odometer Reading: 21,259
VIN: GC143
Engine: 269 cubic inch straight-8
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Gear Ratio: 2-speed rear end
Wheelbase: 127 inches
Wheels: 17-inch wire wheels
Tires: 6.00/6.50-17 Firestone wide whitewall
Exterior Color: Burgundy
Interior Color: Taupe leather
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