1936 Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster | 62-Year Family Owned | Concours Winner
Reimel Motor Cars is proud to offer this 1936 Auburn 852 Super-Charged "Boattail" Speedster, chassis no. 35455E, body no. 144. Offered from 62 years of continuous single-family ownership, this CCCA Full Classic is presented in its original shade of red over a tan leather cockpit and stands among the most celebrated American designs of the pre-war era.
By the mid-1930s, Auburn turned to former Duesenberg stylist Gordon Buehrig to reinvent its lineup, and the result was the 851 and 852 Speedster, of which an estimated 500 were built across 1935 and 1936. Buehrig's flowing fenders, polished external exhaust pipes, and tapered boattail made the Speedster look like a one-off show car, yet it was built to be driven. Power comes from a 280-cubic-inch Lycoming straight-eight fitted with a Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger, rated at 150 horsepower and paired with a three-speed manual gearbox. The plaque on the dash records that this car was clocked at 100.6 mph before it left the factory in Auburn, Indiana, a remarkable figure for the 1930s.
This Speedster's history has been documented by noted Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg historian Randy Ema, and his ownership summary and cover letter accompany the car. Ema's record traces the Speedster from new in 1936, when it was sold through Bitdorf Motors of Baltimore, Maryland, through an unbroken chain of owners in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York before it joined the family that has kept it ever since. The family had it restored in its original red, and the restoration has matured gracefully while continuing to earn recognition, including the People's Choice and Class Awards at the 2011 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance and, most recently, the People's Choice Award at the 2026 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance. It has been recently serviced and is reported to be a strong performer.
As a CCCA Full Classic, this Auburn is eligible for a wide range of club events, CARavans, and concours, making it as rewarding on tour as it is on the show field. Speedsters of this caliber rarely come to market, and fewer still after six decades with one family.
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Highlights
Chassis no. 35455E, body no. 144
Offered from 62 years of continuous single-family ownership
Original shade of red over a tan leather cockpit
Supercharged 280 ci Lycoming straight-eight rated at 150 horsepower
Dash plaque records 100.6 mph before leaving the Auburn, Indiana factory
Gordon Buehrig design with polished external exhaust pipes and dramatic boattail
Nicely matured restoration, recently serviced and reported to be a strong performer
People's Choice and Class Awards, 2011 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance
People's Choice Award, 2026 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance
Ownership history from new documented by ACD historian Randy Ema, included with the car
CCCA Full Classic, eligible for CARavans and club events
Comes with
Randy Ema ownership history from new (1936), with his signed cover letter