I found this engine
in a Craigslist ad. An American LaFrance V12. ("J" series)This engine is based on the Lycoming "BB", used in Auburn Automobiles 1931-1933. |
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with the V12 engine home
I needed something to do with it other than sitting on a stand. I bought this 1932 Brougham body. NOTE the unusual hump in the firewall! (There was no frame) |
May 2014- recently I came across this photo from 1931 or 32 in which Al Leamy had Factory workmen fit an Auburn 2 door sedan (brougham) body onto a L-29 Chassis. This lowered version is what I had envisioned as I started to build up my car. I had not ever seen this photo until about a week ago!
Cord never built a 2 door sedan.
Cord never built a 2 door sedan.
This is the firewall that came wih the car that I bought. The body had been by itself in a Michigan warehouse for quite some time. The craftsmanship of the offset was well done, and old insulation attached to the back side. Beads for strength had been rolled in, and it had been gas welded together
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Anxious to get the body back together and unable to explain the modified firewall with the "hump", I removed it and began to rebuild for stock appearance. All the while wondering WHO would cut a stock Auburn firewall, and WHY?
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Could this have been the inspiration of the (re) build of the car at the right? 1952 Maverick Sportster:
One of Two Cars of the Designed by Sterling Gladwin- Author George Dammann Calls It “America’s Postwar Duesenberg” Photo from- http://www.undiscovered-classics.com/ |
Duesenberg J-415 as recorded in the late 1960's-70's at Auburn
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1933 Auburn 'Salon' Brougham |
1932 Auburn V12 Brougham |
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I had a 'devil' of a time getting this curve done in one piece, so I split it .
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Top made from Styrofoam to take flexible patterns from
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