Note: The museum’s collection travels regularly for shows and loans across the country. Follow the museum’s social media channels and visit its website for current availability and locations.

1924 Moon 6-50 Roadster: Before joining the Auburn Automobile Co. in late 1924, E.L. Cord worked in sales at Quinlan Motors in Chicago, which specialized in Moon automobiles. At its peak, Quinlan Motors accounted for 40% of Moon sales nationwide. The roadster body style represents the type of vehicle Cord sold during his time in Chicago. The 1924 Moon 6-50 features a Continental inline six-cylinder engine rated at 50 horsepower and originally sold for $1,295. The museum is the third owner of this vehicle.

1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster: The Auburn Automobile Co. planned a streamlined model known as the Cabin Speedster. One example was produced and sent on the auto show circuit. At the 1929 Los Angeles Automobile Show, a fire ignited inside a large exhibition tent, destroying the Cabin Speedster and 320 other vehicles. The company subsequently abandoned the project. In 1983, Dr. Peter Kesling of LaPorte, Indiana, reproduced the Cabin Speedster using original company drawings, blueprints, and photographs. The vehicle was donated by the Peter C. & Charlene J. Kesling Foundation.

1930 Packard 745 Roadster: A competitor and contemporary of the Auburn and Cord automobiles, the 745 series of Packard was produced to compete in the top-of-the-line luxury market. Only 1,789 examples were produced in 1930. They were fitted with bodies from luxury coachbuilders such as the Dietrich-bodied roadster seen here. The 385 cubic-inch displacement in-line 8-cylinder engine produced an ample 105 horsepower. This 1930 Packard was purchased by collector Guy Beatty who funded a complete restoration of the entire car. Upon his death, ten of his automobiles were donated to the museum, and this Packard went to his son John Beatty of Nashville, Tennessee, who decided that this Packard was best suited to be owned and displayed amongst his father’s collection at the museum.

1932 Auburn V-12 Custom Sedan: The 1932 model marked Auburn’s introduction of a 12-cylinder engine, producing 160 horsepower from 391 cubic inches of displacement. Only 1,597 custom Auburn V-12 models were produced. The sedan body style was priced at $1,645 — lower than any other V-12-powered automobile at the time. This vehicle was restored using the museum’s original 1932 Auburn as a reference. It was donated by Ron and Betsy Thomas of Zanesville, Ohio.

1937 Cord 812 Phaeton: The 1936 Cord 810 and 1937 Cord 812 were the final automobiles produced by the Auburn Automobile Co. Six body styles were offered, including the five-passenger phaeton with rear seating accessed from folding front seats. Powered by a 125-horsepower Lycoming V-8 engine paired with a preselect four-speed transmission, the Cord could exceed 100 mph. The vehicle originally sold for $2,595. It was donated by Don and Barbara Tornberg of Novato, California.

“These five automobiles are very important additions to the museum’s world-class collection as they enable the museum to more thoroughly interpret key components of the stories we tell and history we preserve.“ Exclaimed Sam Grate, Curator. “We are immensely grateful to all those involved in the acquisition of these automobiles and their contributions in keeping the stories and history alive.”

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum: The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive-related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St., Auburn, IN, 46706 • (260) 925-1444 • automobilemuseum.org.

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We know you love old cars, but do you collect anything else? Ever wonder about the baseball cards in a box in the basement or Grandma’s old coins in a jar?  Do you love history or spin vinyl? Head on over to Collect.com and see what you are missing. Collect.com is the who, what, when and where of the collecting world! https://www.collect.com/

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The third annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival sponsored by Millennium Bank excelled in The Scenic City this weekend as it celebrated Oktoberfest with dynamic and exciting events for families and racing and car aficionados alike.

With a backdrop of pumpkins and hay bales on the drive-up podium in front of the Westin Hotel Chattanooga, the 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton, owned by Laura and Jack Boyd Smith Jr., won Best of Show in Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance. Approximately 125 judged (21 classes) and exhibition cars were on display in West Village, including a number of the world’s most significant cars.

Full Concours results may be found HERE.

At the second annual Pace Grand Prix at The Bend on Friday and Saturday, approximately 89 cars in seven groups of vintage, historic and some contemporary race cars competed on a purpose-built 2.75-mile race track that stretches along the Tennessee River. This year’s Grand Prix, named for Jim Pace, the former COO of the Festival who died in 2019, debuted the Alley of the Greats, a loop through a skeleton of an old manufacturing building draped with banners commemorating racing legends.

Race results for the two sprint feature races per class held on Saturday may be found at: RACE 1 and RACE 2

Other events over the three-day weekend which boasted near-perfect weather included V8s in the Village, Gathering of the Greats–Ferrari Edition, Mecum Auction Chattanooga, RADwood, Concours d’Lemons, light shows, evening street parties, panel discussions, the winged cars of NASCAR, plus an array of racing and car collector celebrities that may never be seen together again in one place.

Car Clubs were strongly represented, including some uniquely named ones such as Choo Choo Bimmers, Choo Choo Corvairs, Cruisin to End Alzheimer’s, Drive Electric Scenic City and the Soddy Daisy Mustang Club.

Familiar names from auto racing and car collecting, such as Donnie Allison, Justin Bell, Wayne Carini, Corky Coker, Tom Cotter, Ray Evernham, Chip Foose, Ken Gross, Jeff Hammond, Tommy Kendall, Keith Martin, Brian Redman, Bill Rothermel, Lyn St. James, Mike Tillson and Linda Vaughn participated in panel discussions, interviews and presentations.

Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year served as Grand Marshal, racing champion Brian Redman was the Grand Ambassador, and local hero Corky Coker was Grand Marshal Emeritus.

Former NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham curated a collection of NASCAR winged cars, and hosted a panel discussion with famed NASCAR racer Donnie Allison and another former crew chief and TV commentator, Jeff Hammond.

NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek competed at the Pace Grand Prix in a NASCAR 2006 Toyota Camry, winning each of his group’s two feature races on Saturday.

The Torque Show live-streamed more than 30 hours of coverage during the three-day weekend, which included the Canossa Rally Chattanooga, the racing action at the Grand Prix, the Concours d’Elegance awards presentation, and the Torque Show each day with Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall.

WATCH DAY ONE COVERAGE

WATCH DAY TWO COVERAGE

WATCH DAY THREE COVERAGE

About Chattanooga Motorcar Festival: Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Approaching 12 years of supporting Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research, Fifty Plus Foundation created the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival to bring both local and global support to back research that is already making a difference in saving lives. Learn more at chattanoogamotorcar.com. 

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AUBURN, Indiana –  Auctions America has lined up a tremendous Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg trio for its flagship Auburn Fall sale—a perfect fit for the ACD Festival celebration. Early highlights for the August 31 – September 3 event, the trio includes a well-known Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton, a superb Cord 812 Phaeton, and the only Duesenberg Model J originally fitted with Fleetwood coachwork.

“We’re thrilled to offer this important trio of ACD cars in the Classic Car Capital of America. All three are highly usable, drivable examples, a quality more and more sought after by today’s collectors,” says Barney Ruprecht, Car Specialist, Auctions America. “While the ACD cars will be perfectly at home in their automotive heartland, our recent Auburn Spring event and the successful sale of the former Level 5 Motorsports collection has proven that the Auburn Auction Park is a great place to offer everything from American Classics to modern Ferrari race cars. We look forward to presenting another diverse selection of collector cars on Labor Day weekend.”

The star of the trio is most certainly the 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe, J-417. Originally ordered by Judge Alfred North of Philadelphia, who would retain the car for three decades, the Model J was fitted with a roadster body by Fleetwood—the only Model J to wear the coachbuilder’s work from new. Within just a few years, North replaced the roadster with the current Fleetwood Convertible Coupe body. The Model J’s first owner thoroughly enjoyed the car, accumulating nearly 200,000 miles by 1940 and going through three engines—the last of which is still installed today. Despite the miles, Judge North’s Duesenberg was fastidiously maintained; in fact, he claimed it could outperform any modern car in the late 1940s.

Following North’s passing in the late 1950s, the car saw a handful of enthusiast owners before landing with Dr. Barbara Atwood in 1985. A fashion model turned successful psychologist, Dr. Atwood invested her wealth in a fabulous collection of great American Full Classics, many of which, including the Model J, were restored to the highest standards by future CCCA chief judge Steve Babinsky. Stunning in its rich two-tone green and black with a velvet green leather interior, the Duesenberg’s exacting restoration earned it a class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as well as an AACA National First Prize. Some thirty years later, the car remains in immaculate condition. Seldom shown over this time, the Model J is ready for its next run of concours appearances, and equally prepared for various ACD and CCCA driving events.

Also set for the Fall podium is another of the finest American performance cars of the Classic Era, a powerful 1932 Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton. Produced in Auburn, Indiana to compete head-on with its luxury contemporaries from Lincoln, Pierce-Arrow, and Cadillac, the Auburn Twelve boasted incredible engineering wrapped in timeless Alan Leamy styling. This particular example, serial no. 12160 1181 A, has enjoyed long-term enthusiast ownership throughout its life, and sports a well-maintained older restoration in crimson over a butterscotch leather interior. Known for their capabilities on the highway, the Auburn is an excellent candidate for countless events, including CCCA CARavans, ACD Club events, and the ACD Festival’s Hoosier Tour (Est. $120,000 – $150,000). Rounding out the group is a 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton; beautifully restored, presented in striking dark blue, and ready to take to the road on any number of club events.

A Labor Day weekend tradition for enthusiasts across the country for over 45 years, Auctions America’s Auburn Fall collector car weekend will present more than 750 quality collector cars as well an assortment of automobilia across four days of auction action. Beyond the dual-ring auction block, there’s fun for the entire family, with an onsite swap meet, car corral, Cars & Coffee and more.

For further information on Auburn Fall, an updated list of entries, or to discuss consignment opportunities, please call +1 260 927 9797 or visit www.auctionsamerica.com. A full program of automotive events set for the weekend will be announced in early summer.

About Auctions America

Formed in July 2010, Auctions America specializes in the sale of American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, and customs. Headquartered at the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana, Auctions America boasts an expert team of full-time vehicle specialists, who offer over 240 years of combined experience buying, selling, racing, and restoring collector vehicles, making them uniquely qualified to advise on all aspects of the hobby. The company’s established roster of annual events are held in some of the country’s leading automotive destinations, including Auburn, Indiana; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Santa Monica, California; and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. To learn more about Auctions America or to view the company’s 2017 auction calendar, please visit www.auctionsamerica.com.

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The Finest has curated 75 unique automobiles. The Aspen Snowmass auction will also feature a series of cars for the microcar enthusiast, including a 1948 Fiat Topolino Cab 500B, a revision to the smallest mass-produced car of its time, and a 1959 Fiat 600.

Additional highlights for the Aspen Snowmass auction include:

• 1924 Amilcar CGS3: The quintessential French sports car, this 1924 Amilcar CGS3 Boat Tail is extremely lightweight with a four-cylinder motor.
• 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL: Featuring a low waistline, big curved greenhouse windows and a Coupe Roadster with detachable hardtop, the Mercedes-Benz 280SL earned itself the nickname “pagoda top.” The 280SL was the final W113 model to receive an increased engine displacement.
• 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton: The first American-designed and built front wheel-drive car with independent front suspension, the Cord 812 followed the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant and the Cord L-29, which were also the first to offer hidden headlights.
• 1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal: Production for the Alfa Romeo Montreal was split between Alfa Romeo’s plant in Arese, Italy and Carrozzeria Bertone’s plants in Caselle and Grugliasco outside Turin. With the car’s continued movement during production, there is not necessarily correspondence between chassis number, engine number and production date, making each model unique.
• 1956 Austin-Healey 100M: Following the full-competition 100S, Austin Healey built this upgraded road car, which consisted of engine modifications that increased power and performance. When production ended in 1956, only 640 examples of the 100M were built.

For more information about the Aspen Snowmass auction or to sign up to receive more information visit The Finest Automobile Auctions.

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With six automobile donations, three new exhibits, new programs, increased fundraising and a nearly completed plaza, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum offers a new experience to visitors in 2016!

The museum received six automobile donations in 2015 which include a 1931 Auburn 8-98 Sedan, 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster, 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton, 1931 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton, 1934 Duesenberg Model J Beverly Sedan and a 1932 Studebaker President.

“By helping to fill some gaps in our collection, these automobiles greatly benefit the history presented at the museum”, said Sam Grate, registrar of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, “We are now able to educate visitors about additional body styles and coachbuilders that were previously absent from our collection.”

In addition to the donations, the museum opened three new exhibits.

The museum’s Raisbeck Engineering Hall of Technology was renovated and includes new interactive elements and a more in-depth look at the innovators with their innovations and mechanical aspects of automobiles and engines.

In celebrating Indiana’s automotive heritage, the exhibit titled Hoosier Made: World Driven opened in November. As an Indiana Bicentennial officially endorsed legacy project, the exhibit focuses on Indiana cars of the Classic Era of the 1930s. The exhibit is in collaboration with the Studebaker National Museum, which focuses on the pre-1915 brass era and the Kokomo Automotive Heritage Museum, which focuses on the Jazz Era of the 1920s.

The third exhibit is entitled Women Workers of the Auburn Automobile Company. This exhibit, created by Ethan Bowers, the museum’s Digitization and Access Manager, is a traveling exhibit exploring the roles of women in the Auburn Automobile Company and their influence on societal change in a small rural town. As the officially endorsed Indiana Bicentennial legacy project in the Northeast Indiana region, this traveling exhibit is making several stops in the Northeast Indiana region through 2016.

The museum began work this year on a massive archival digitization project. The aim of the project over the coming years is to catalogue the museum’s archival collection, about 70,000 pieces and counting. About two-thirds of the archival collection will be scanned and digitized and used as a public platform for greater accessibility to the collection. Over 8,000 pieces have been digitized since starting this summer.

With all of the exciting additions to the collection and new exhibits, improvements to the Museum’s campus are noticeable to anyone driving by on a daily basis. The Education and Exhibit plaza is near completion and is a space for car clubs to gather, a resting spot for travelers along the Indiana Upstate trail system, and a 24-hour art exhibit featuring life-size bronze sculptures depicting the likenesses and stories of the executives of the Auburn Automobile Company. 

“Stop by the Museum today to see the new automobiles in the collection and view the new exhibits,” said Kendra Klink, chief operating officer of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. “New and wonderful things are happening at the Museum in 2016. It is a great time for community members to visit and support this great National Historic Landmark as it grows and achieves even more successes in the future.”

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s international headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Last admission one hour before closing. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums
1600 South Wayne Street
P.O. Box 271
Auburn, Indiana 46706
Office: (260) 925-1444 x 32
Fax: (260) 925-6266
www.automobilemuseum.org

2016 Collector Car Price Guide

• The 2016 edition of the Collector Car Price Guide is here! Pricing information is available for collectors, restorers, buyers, sellers, insurance agents and anyone who could benefit from reliable and authoritative data. The 2016 edition lists all models made by 109 carmakers and 37 truck makers between 1901 and 2008! This brand-new version includes over 275,000 prices for sports cars, domestic cars, imported cars, classic cars, special-interest automobiles, muscle cars, and trucks in 6 conditions.

  Check it out

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