Inventory Listing

ACD Certified. Known history back to early 1960s. High-speed gears by Phil Bray. New top and interior, beautiful older repaint. Runs and drives superbly. A high-quality Full Classic ready to tour!

This lovely 1931 Auburn Deluxe Phaeton has been restored as needed, but never completely disassembled. Yes, it has been painted, but they kept what appears to be the original color combination of cream fenders with lovely soft champagne bodywork, a very elegant and understated look. It was refinished perhaps 20-30 years ago, but thanks to expert maintenance, it remains in excellent condition with no needs. The doors open and close beautifully, the hood flexes without a fight, and it has an all-of-a-piece feeling that only good original cars can offer. The finish has exactly the right gloss, offering a softer shine that far more accurately reproduces the original lacquer and the detailing is simply exquisite. Note the contrasting insert on the doors, the single simple pinstripe surrounding the body, and the beautiful gas tank cover, which is so beautifully done that it seems a shame to hide it under a trunk. The chrome trim appears to be largely original, and with that in mind, you can clearly see just how well-preserved this car really is, with great detail on the “Auburn Man” hood ornament and “cat’s eye” headlight lenses. There’s also an accessory center-mounted Pilot Ray that swivels with the front wheels and dual taillights out back, which is a desirable safety upgrade.

The brown leather interior is brand new and accurately reproduces the original patterns and materials. Fresh hides are smooth and shiny, as leather would have been in 1931, not soft like today’s materials, and as a result, it gives this car an authentic look and feel. Correct short-weave carpets were installed front and rear and the door panels with simple stitching and map pockets in the back doors. Seat belts were added for touring safety and they match rather well, which is a nice touch. A big hard rubber steering wheel links you to remarkably light and responsive steering—this is one of very few pre-war cars that I’ve driven that can be maneuvered with one’s fingertips. The instrument panel is full of big, beautiful Stewart-Warner gauges, although as is typical, the capillary-style fuel and oil level gauges are not functioning (a repair kit for the gas gauge is included with the car). On the floor, you’ll also note controls for both Free-Wheeling (don’t use it, please) and the exhaust cut-out, which remains fully functional on the all-new stainless steel exhaust system. Overhead, there’s a brand new tan canvas convertible top that fits beautifully and new weather-stripping allows this convertible sedan—excuse me, phaeton—to seal up better than most of its peers. There’s also a nicely finished Potter trunk out back, which is especially useful for touring.

Eight-cylinder Auburns used a 269 cubic inch straight-8 built by Lycoming, which was part of the A-C-D conglomerate. The engine has been recently tuned and detailed, including new plugs, wires, points, distributor cap, and rotor, plus a valve adjustment, fuel pump rebuild, and a carburetor adjustment. It also offers a brand new wiring harness and a hidden electric fuel pump that helps with cold starts and hot days, but is unnecessary most of the time. It starts easily with a bit of choke and idles well, even when it’s cold. There’s a great eight-cylinder burble from the fresh stainless exhaust system, which rises to a genuinely racy rumble with the cut-out opened. The transmission is a 3-speed manual and thanks to a new 4.07 ring and pinion setup from the late great Phil Bray, it’s a great high-speed tour car. The undercarriage is in excellent order, thanks to a recent clean and paint in satin black, which is actually how these cars were delivered. Handling is quite good, thanks to the aforementioned steering and E.L. Cord was an early adopter of hydraulic brakes, so this Auburn not only feels quite modern but offers surprising braking performance for the era. 17-inch wire wheels are smaller than most other cars in 1931, giving the Auburn a low profile and the appearance of a much larger car and it rolls on four fresh Firestone wide whitewall tires that look fantastic.

Documentation is excellent, including owner’s manuals, a sales brochure, service manuals, ACD Certification documents, and the aforementioned copy of “Automobile Quarterly.” In the trunk you’ll also find a collection of spares, including touch-up paint, gas gauge repair kit, and other maintenance parts, as well as the original knock-off wheel wrench.

A beautiful, prestigious Full Classic that offers a wonderful driving experience for any event and ACD certification that ensures its value now and in the future.