i think i have an auburn but some say an elcar.....what is it?

[what is it? 20]

hi there i just saved what i think/thought is a 28/29 auburn hearse from becoming scrap. most parts would confirm that its an auburn but some things such as the body lines and 7 lug wheels suggest otherwise..... please help! p.s. its for sale NOTE the 2 extra rims up front seam to be a different size the the ones on the car

Edited November 27, 2012 by what is it? (see edit history)

[what is it? 20]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]164998[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]164999[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165002[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165005[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165006[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165007[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165008[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165009[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165010[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165011[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165012[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165013[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165014[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165015[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165016[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]165017[/ATTACH]

[Ivan Saxton 78]

The bolt-on type of wire wheels do not indicate Auburn. Auburn wire wheels were Dayton in that period. The engine looks to be Lycoming, but the smaller bore size. The larger engine had a separate block fastened to the cast iron crankcase by studs.

[West Peterson 475]

I have contact information for a gentleman in Indiana who owns both an Elcar and a 1931 Mercer (built by Elcar). If you PM me, I'll give it to you in hopes that he may be able to help you out.

I don't think the wheels are correct for an Elcar, either.

Edited November 27, 2012 by West Peterson (see edit history)

[West Peterson 475]

Both the Elcar and the Auburn used Lycoming engines. Here's a photo of the Auburn 8-90.

[West Peterson 475]

I suspect it's an Auburn. It's certainly an Auburn instrument fascia.

[what is it? 20]

the guy i got it from said it was a henney hearse. i googled it and i'd have to say it is!

[West Peterson 475]

And Henney was a good friend of E.L. Cord, so it would make sense that a number of items would lead you to believe it was an Auburn.

[what is it? 20]

essentially it is an auburn! basically a rebadged auburn

[Dave Mellor NJ 283]

This is a 28 Auburn.Whatever you have is intriguing but not at all like it.

[Restorer32 1,511]

I vote Auburn chassis with Henney coachwork.

[Ivan Saxton 78]

Automobiles specifically built for horizontal uncomplaining passengers had rather longer wheelbase, by my understanding. And though Auburn did build a few 8-88 sedans on very long wheelbase about 1926-7, only the 5 litre engine was used for these very long and heavy sedans. Smewhere I should still have a photo of one, ugly as sin and with cast iron truck-type spider wheels, taken when a friend from Coonabarabran was trailering it home and I met him by chance on the road. I think you will find that Henney were as capable as anyone of constructing a vehicle from proprietry components including a frame to specification from P&B, or AOSmith, or whoever. Auburn just never used those wheels at that time.

West, it is most unlikely that William Smith dreamed how much distress he was going to cause later generations of Mercer owners by fastening the name on a couple of big Elcars in an attempt to promote sales. He had been a manager at Mercer at the end, and was married to one of the Roebling daughters, and was employed at Elcar after the end of production . There was no connection through engineering origin, ; and I doubt you would find many Mercer owners would accept it as other than a re-styled Elcar, no matter how well they may have performed in their day.

[K8096 144]

Can we see a picture of the front of the radiator shell? I think that would help a lot. That rear bumperette sure looks like Auburn.

[West Peterson 475]

West, it is most unlikely that William Smith dreamed how much distress he was going to cause later generations of Mercer owners by fastening the name on a couple of big Elcars in an attempt to promote sales. He had been a manager at Mercer at the end, and was married to one of the Roebling daughters, and was employed at Elcar after the end of production . There was no connection through engineering origin, ; and I doubt you would find many Mercer owners would accept it as other than a re-styled Elcar, no matter how well they may have performed in their day.

If the real Mercer company had continued on into the Classic era, in my opinion the one 1931 "Mercer" is one heck of a nice car, and certainly would be no slouch in any collection. In 1930-31, the Elcar with its 140hp engine was one of the most powerful cars on the market. Only Duesenberg, Cadillac and Packard surpassed that horsepower. While Mercer fans, or automotive historians, can see that it's not a real Mercer, it is certainly no disgrace to the name.

[keiser31 4,107]

Can we see a picture of the front of the radiator shell? I think that would help a lot. That rear bumperette sure looks like Auburn.

That "rear bumperette" looks to be the fuel filler tube with an Essex radiator cap as a gas cap on it.

Edited November 27, 2012 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[CarlLaFong 391]

Sure looks like a Henney to me

[what is it? 20]

i wanna bump this to hopefully find out what happened to this henney... it sold to a guy down in florida. he didnt tell me much after he was the winning bidder except that he didn't want any of the hearse specific body panels except the cowl/front clip and the rear fenders. told me to keep/toss the hearse body parts. so i'm assuming he was intending to make some type custom bodied but period correct car of some type..... well its been almost 7 years so i'd think by now that provided money was not an issue it would have been turn't into something by now.

[Paul Dobbin 654]

" i just saved what i think/thought is a 28/29 auburn hearse from becoming scrap."

 

Interesting load of steel parts & rust,   Not saved yet, but good luck.  Keep us posted.

[juan ramon 0]

Hola, puedo confirmar que se trata de un Auburn sedan 1928-29 six, porque tengo muchas cosas de ese auto  y otro boattail 1932, las llantas no corresponden ni los faros delanteros, hay muy pocos en Argentina. Suerte

[KRK Sr. 26]

Bings translation of Jaun's post:

Hello, I can confirm that this is an Auburn sedan 1928-29 six, because I have many things of that car and another boattail 1932, the tires do not correspond nor the headlights, there are very few in Argentina. Luck