1929 Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster
In the late 1920s, Auburn Automobiles captured the attention of the American car market with a bold fusion of style and performance. Among their standout models was the Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster, a car that exuded elegance while boasting impressive engineering for its time. The 8-90 Speedster not only represented the height of Auburn’s innovation but also served as a precursor to the brand’s future achievements in automotive design and technology.
In 1928, Auburn introduced a pair of eight-cylinder engines, both developed by Lycoming, an engine manufacturer under the Auburn umbrella. The two engines were rated at 88 and 115 horsepower, powering the 8-88 and 8-115 models respectively. These powerful engines, in combination with Auburn’s signature styling, turned heads and earned the company a strong position in the competitive luxury car market of the era.
The Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster, introduced in 1929, was the evolution of the earlier 8-88 and 8-115 models. It featured a new naming convention, with the smaller engine now rated at 96 horsepower and the larger at 125 horsepower. Though the names didn’t align exactly with the power output, the changes reflected Auburn’s ongoing commitment to improving performance. The Speedster’s striking appearance was the result of design work by either Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, a famed European designer, or Al Leamy, who would later gain acclaim for his work on the iconic Cord L-29.
The Auburn 8-90 Speedster stood out with its dramatic design elements. The boat tail rear, hood louvres, and raked windshield lent the car a sleek and aerodynamic profile. Twin side-mounted spares added a touch of elegance, while its long hood and low stance gave it a powerful presence. Auburn’s Speedster was undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching cars of the time, embodying the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
Underneath its stylish exterior, the Speedster was a technological marvel. Auburn equipped it with a wide-ratio, three-speed gearbox and hydraulic drum brakes to ensure it offered both speed and control. The wheelbase varied between 125 and 130 inches, depending on the model, which allowed the car to handle smoothly at high speeds while maintaining a comfortable ride.
The 8-90 Speedster was a performer. Its powerful Lycoming eight-cylinder engine provided the car with the power needed to achieve impressive speeds for the time. In an era where reaching 100 mph was considered extraordinary, the Auburn 8-90 delivered the kind of performance that thrilled drivers and set new standards in the luxury automobile sector.
The Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster had its moment of glory just before the Great Depression hit in 1929. Auburn experienced record sales in 1929 as demand surged for its innovative vehicles, but the economic downturn forced the company to adapt quickly. To survive, Auburn began lowering the prices of its cars without sacrificing the advanced features that made them so appealing.
In 1930, Auburn made minimal changes to the Speedster’s exterior, but performance continued to improve. The smaller engine’s power output increased to 100 horsepower, and though the “Speedster” name temporarily disappeared from the model lineup, the car’s legacy of performance persisted. The larger eight-cylinder engine was discontinued, but the 8-95 model was bored out to 268.6 cubic inches, evolving into the 8-98 model, which delivered 98 horsepower. This model came in both Standard and Custom versions, with the latter featuring an X-braced frame, dual-ratio rear axle, and other premium options.
Despite the financial hardships of the Great Depression, Auburn’s ability to innovate and offer competitive pricing made its cars appealing even in tough times. The Auburn 8-90 Speedster, and its subsequent iterations, stood as a testament to the brand’s resilience and dedication to quality. By 1932, Auburn introduced additional features like adjustable Delco ride regulations and the vacuum-controlled Dual Ratio axle, further enhancing the car’s appeal.
The Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster remains one of the most revered automobiles from the late 1920s and early 1930s. Its combination of groundbreaking design, powerful engineering, and Auburn’s knack for offering luxury at a relatively affordable price makes it a standout in automotive history. While Auburn eventually succumbed to the economic pressures of the Depression, the 8-90 Speedster lives on as a symbol of pre-Depression elegance and innovation. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, the Auburn Speedster remains an icon of the golden age of American motoring.
