1916 Auburn Series 6-38 "Chummy" Roadster

The Tupelo Automobile Museum Auction|27 April 2019, 10:00 CDT|The Tupelo Automobile Museum

1916 Auburn Series 6-38 "Chummy" Roadster
Chassis no. 16024

212ci Rutenberg L-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Rayfield Updraft Carburetor
40bhp
3-Speed Selective Sliding Gear Manual Transmission
Semi-Elliptical Front and Cantilevered Rear Leaf Springs
2-Wheel Internal Expanding Rear Drum Brakes

*Rarely seen model
*Sporting coachwork with bucket seats
*Complete with top and side curtains
*A lively and enjoyable tour car

THE AUBURN

Today the Auburn name is most associated with its flamboyant speedsters of the late 20s and 30s and its association with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Corporation. To ignore its early years would be to dismiss some of the more interesting and clever products the Indiana manufacturer produced.

Auburn began production in 1900 and built singles and twins exclusively until 1909. The big twin was particularly impressive making 24hp. In 1909 the first of the fours were introduced and they would become the foundation for the new models going forward. An upmarket inline six was introduced in 1913 with the lineup eventually consolidating under the six-pot banner by 1917. A change of ownership in 1919 witnessed little change in engineering but the acquisition of the company by E.L. Cord in 1924 heralded real changes. Lycoming straight eights came in 1925 and the company would then go on to produce its famous Boattail Speedster until Cord's empire imploded in 1936.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Much as Duesenberg's Model J largely eclipsed the memory of the Model A that had proceed it—and E.L. Cord's ownership of Duesenberg—the early Auburns such as this 6-38 "Chummy" Roadster are rare survivors. This little Auburn wears period Ohio plates, likely alluding to some time spent in the Buckeye State that neighbors its state of birth. Wearing a close-coupled Chummy Roadster body, the car appears to have been offered for sale in Auburn in 1986 (along side 30 Rolls-Royce formerly from the garage of Baghwan Shree Raajneesh) and appeared again at the 1991 Auburn Auction at which time it was purchased by Mr. Spain and joined the collection here.

Precious few of these cars are seen today and this is a fine example. A sporting machine with front bucket seats, it is the recipient of an older restoration. Complete with its handsome top and side curtains, it would make a stellar AACA tour car and fine addition to most any collection.

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