1936 Auburn 852 Coupe Project

[alsancle]

Although I have never drive the non-supercharged version of the 852,  I can tell you that the SC one is a fantastic car to drive.   The two speed rear end makes 55/60 mph comfortable.   These are not huge cars so they are fairly easy to drive.  The ACD club is very active.    Coupes like this are non-existent as they were all turned in to convertibles.   Only editorial comment is I despise the wheels.

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1936-auburn-852-coupe/

 

This 1936 Auburn 852 is a two-passenger coupe that was purchased by its current owner as a non-running project three years ago, after which it underwent a mechanical refurbishment that was completed in 2021. Work during the project included an overhaul of the naturally aspirated Lycoming inline-eight with a displacement increase to 295ci as well as refreshes of the four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and the electrical system. Finished in worn black paint, the car is equipped with a three-speed manual transmission, a dual-ratio rear axle, red-painted 16” wire wheels, dual side-mount spares, and a bench seat upholstered in tan cloth. This Auburn 852 coupe is now offered as a running project by the seller on behalf of the current owner with a Motorola radio and a clean Arizona title in the seller’s name.

 

 

[TerryB]

Nice car with some $$$ already invested.  I wonder what the bidding will go to.

[George Smolinski]

It’s at $18,000 with 7 days left.

[jdome]

I like it better without the sidemounts

[Xander Wildeisen]

Great project, that would be a fun car to play with.

[kar3516]

Beautiful styling.  I’m a bit confused by the “hardtop” coupe roof; is it just missing sheet metal around the back window and originally had a canvas cover in the center of the roof or was it all metal?  In a quick search of internet images pictures of the coupe are hard to find.  Here is one from the ACD museum:

 

[kar3516]

Another image from original Auburn brochure:

 

[kar3516]

And another:

 

I don’t see a canvas or other non-metallic insert.

 

 

[34LaSalleClubSedan]

Love the front seat upholstery. Do you think that is original? If so, its the nads  

Edited February 4 by 34LaSalleClubSedan (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

Great looking car. Another TROG candidate? 

[auburnseeker]

17 hours ago, Xander Wildeisen said:

Great project, that would be a fun car to play with.

It would probably be a sin but I bet you could make a really sleek 3 window coupe out of it.

[Xander Wildeisen]

These cars have a funky design to the top, aside from increasing the value. I can see why people would turn so many of them into an open car. A 33-34 Packard coupe has a beautiful design to the top. The Auburn would look better as a three window. It would look fine as a five window, with about 6 more inches in length added to the cab. And reshaped rear quarter windows. The squared off front window frame needed for the open car, adds to the odd shape of the five window coupe design. Just my thoughts.

[alsancle]

45 minutes ago, Xander Wildeisen said:

These cars have a funky design to the top, aside from increasing the value. I can see why people would turn so many of them into an open car. A 33-34 Packard coupe has a beautiful design to the top. The Auburn would look better as a three window. It would look fine as a five window, with about 6 more inches in length added to the cab. And reshaped rear quarter windows. The squared off front window frame needed for the open car, adds to the odd shape of the five window coupe design. Just my thoughts.

Typically the convertible coupe was made by cutting the top off the coupe.  I think Auburn did the opposite where they glued a top on to the convertible coupe.   I think a 3 window would look better.

 

The 34 Packard is a fantastic design for a 3 window and recognized as such.  I believe the 33 is different.

[Xander Wildeisen]

33 has a more elegant look to the design. 34 is sleek and well balanced with the design of the car. 34 Packards are perfect in scale.

[alsancle]

28 minutes ago, Xander Wildeisen said:

33 has a more elegant look to the design. 34 is sleek and well balanced with the design of the car. 34 Packards are perfect in scale.

 

I believe 34 has the chopped windshield.

[58L-Y8]

The 1932-'34 'hardtop' coupes are one of those fascinating short-lived configurations which surprisingly didn't catch-on.  First, to definite what makes them unique: simply a convertible coupe body on which non-folding top has been fixed.  This means the convertible coupe windshield frame and half-door construction are retained, no stationary door window frames are added.  

Packard introduced the style first on the 1932 Light Eight 900 Style No. 568.  The configuration continued for 1933 as the Light Eight was folded in to become the 1001 Eight, Style No. 608.  It was joined by a 1002 Eight Style No. 618.  All other 2/4 passenger coupe continued the prior full-door construction, 3-window metal roof more in common with the sedans.  For 1934, along with the 1101 Eight Style No. 718, finally the 1104 Super Eight listed Style No. 758 and the 1107 Twelve Style No. 738.  For 1935, Packard abandons this configuration completely, even as appealing as it is.

Auburn picks it up for their 1935-'36 swan song cars, and a few Cord 810/812 convertible coupes receive a fixed top.  

A 1934 Pierce-Arrow coupe shown at the 2001 Centennial in Buffalo had this configuration. Whether it was a latter fitment is unknown.

One last hybrid configuration: The 1934 Hupmobile 417-W which has the full stamped steel coupe top but fitted with convertible-stye half-doors.  The surprise is the coupe, and the sedan bodies were by Murray, same as the 1934 Fords with minor changes for the Hupmobile application.  A one-year-only model.  

 

Steve
 

Edited February 5 by 58L-Y8
Added photo of '34 Hupmobile 417-W coupe for context (see edit history)