Few American automobiles stop a crowd quite like a supercharged Auburn Speedster, and a beautifully restored example is now for sale at Aumann Auctions. This 1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Boattail Speedster is offered as Lot 13 in Aumann's online Don Henley Automobile Collection & Vintage Motorcycles auction, where it joins a select group of cars from a fellow collector. Finished in Cigarette Cream over Morocco Red leather and running on its supercharged Lycoming straight-eight, the 1936 Auburn 852 Speedster is open for bidding until the sale closes on November 9, 2026.The Gordon Buehrig–designed body flows from long pontoon fenders to a tapered boattail.A Gordon Buehrig MasterpieceThe 851 and 852 Speedster came from the pen of Gordon Buehrig, the young designer who also shaped the coffin-nose Cord 810. Working with a tight budget during the Depression, Buehrig gave the Auburn a low, raked windshield, sweeping pontoon fenders and a tapering tail meant to recall a racing yacht. The result, as this Aumann Auctions listing shows from every angle, is one of the defining shapes of the Art Deco era.Seen in profile, the Speedster looks fast even standing still.Auburn built the Speedster for just two model years, as the 851 in 1935 and the nearly identical 852 in 1936. The listing estimates that only about 150 supercharged Speedsters were built in total, and far fewer survive today. That rarity is a big part of why this 1936 Auburn 852 Speedster at Aumann deserves a close look from serious Classic Era collectors.The boattail rear is the signature element of the Auburn Speedster.Supercharged Straight-Eight PowerUnder the long hood sits a 280-cubic-inch Lycoming L-head straight-eight fitted with a Schweitzer-Cummins centrifugal supercharger, good for a stated 150 horsepower. It breathes out through the chrome-plated external exhaust pipes that flank the hood, one of the most recognizable details of any prewar American car. According to the auction listing, the powertrain, body panels and supercharger assembly retain their factory numbers and stampings.The supercharged Lycoming straight-eight produces a stated 150 horsepower.The Speedster was quick for its day and clever, too. A three-speed manual gearbox works with a Columbia Dual-Ratio rear axle, giving the driver six forward speeds and a vacuum-controlled overdrive for relaxed highway cruising. The flexible chrome exhaust and Supercharged script on the hood sides, visible in the Aumann photo gallery, let everyone know what is under the hood.Chrome external exhaust pipes and Supercharged script announce the engine within.The 100 MPH GuaranteeAuburn backed up the Speedster's looks with a bold promise: each supercharged car was guaranteed to exceed 100 mph. Racing driver David "Ab" Jenkins, who drove supercharged Auburns on the Bonneville Salt Flats, signed the dash plaque that certified each car. This 1936 Auburn 852 Speedster still carries its plaque, a prized piece of Auburn lore.The dash-mounted plaque signed by Ab Jenkins certifies the car exceeded 100 mph.Inside, the cockpit is every bit as striking as the bodywork. Red leather, a large four-spoke wheel and an engine-turned instrument panel full of round gauges give the driver a view that feels more like an aircraft than a road car. Check the full interior photo set to see how carefully the cabin has been presented.The engine-turned dash and Morocco Red leather define the Speedster cockpit.Restored With Documented ProvenanceThe listing describes a fully documented history, with the Speedster spending decades in a prominent East Coast private collection before passing to its current owner. It then received a comprehensive, multi-year restoration by a marque specialist, with an emphasis on preserving original components. It runs and drives, and it comes with a good Illinois title, according to Aumann Auctions.A slim, vertical grille and Art Deco headlamps lead the Speedster's long nose.Thoughtful details continue all around the car, from the tan convertible top to the whitewall tires and red-striped trim. Whether it lands in a private museum, on a concours lawn or on a vintage tour, this supercharged Auburn Boattail Speedster is the kind of prewar American classic that rarely comes to public sale. Collectors who have wanted a genuine supercharged 852 should not let this one pass.With the top raised, the Auburn's rakish lines remain intact.More From the Don Henley CollectionAuburn's full set of gauges stretches across the engine-turned panel.Aumann Auctions is proud to present an extraordinary collection of vintage automobiles and motorcycles spanning generations of American motoring history. Carefully assembled with an emphasis on quality, condition, craftsmanship and significance, this collection brings together some of the most recognizable machines ever to travel the American road.Don's collection features some extraordinary Fords that are second to none! From the pioneering days of the 1914 Ford Model T Touring to the elegance and innovation of the great Classic Era, the collection offers an impressive journey through automotive history. Among the early Ford offerings are a 1925 Ford Model TT Fire Truck Pumper, 1933 Ford V8 Roadster Pickup and elegant 1935 Ford Deluxe Phaeton. But the real standout Fords are the pristine 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman holding the distinguished Dearborn Award from the Early Ford V-8 Club of America with multiple AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) awards and the 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon also a multi-year AACA winner! Be sure to study all the documentation, awards, recognitions and photographs that prove these Fords to be of the absolute highest quality. Don's collection does not stop there. He's also offering up three very special 2-wheeled machines including an original 1949 Powell P-81 Motorcycle AACA & HPOF certified, an original 1951 Whizzer Sportsman also certified by AACA & HPOF as well as a true piece of Springfield, IL history, a 1957 Forall Scooter in unrestored original condition that is also recognized by AACA & HPOF!Also being featured along with Don's collection is a selection of cars from a fellow collector. This collection includes a stunning 1936 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster embodies the sweeping lines and unmistakable presence of the Classic Era, while the 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged represents one of America's most daring combinations of design, engineering and performance. Luxury is represented in equally impressive fashion by a 1937 LaSalle Opera Coupe, 1937 Cadillac Series 60, and commanding 1939 Cadillac Fleetwood V16 Series 90—an extraordinary automobile from the final chapter of Cadillac's celebrated V16 era.The unmistakable optimism and style of the 1950s comes alive with a spectacular 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, sleek 1951 Mercury Eight and iconic 1957 Ford Thunderbird, followed by the open-air style of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala Convertible. A 2005 Volkswagen GLS Convertible rounds out the automobile offering.Get the free Collector Car Market Brief: auction results, price moves and what's crossing the block, in your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up at moderncarcollector.com/briefFollow our Instagram page and follow us on Facebook.
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