1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster - $675k high bid

Supercharged 280 CI Lycoming Straight Eight engine. Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger. 3-speed synchromesh transmission. By 1931, Auburn offered a stylish boattail Speedster design—penned by designer Alan Leamy. In 1934, the Great Depression pushed Auburn to curtail production of its V-12 and return to 6-cylinder models. It introduced an impressive straight-8 powered 851 Boattail Speedster, which many consider one of the most beautiful automobiles of the Classic Era. 147 were built for the 1935-36 model years. The Model 851 was updated and aerodynamically restyled by Gordon Miller Buehrig, who later designed the iconic front-drive 810 and 812 Cords.

The engine is a 280 CI Lycoming straight 8-cylinder that developed 150 HP at 4,000 RPM using the Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger. A 3-speed, floor-shifted synchromesh transmission sends power to the 2-speed rear end. This powerful combination led test driver Ab Jenkins to 70 new American and international stock class speed records, among them the mile at 104.17 MPH and 1,000 miles at 102.77 MPH. A plaque was attached to the instrument panel of each Speedster verifying the Speedster had been driven in excess of 100 MPH by Ab Jenkins.

The classic appears at Mecum. Estimate is $600k to $700k