The 1934 Auburn Twelve Salon Speedster stands as one of the most iconic and striking examples of pre-war American automotive design. Produced by the Auburn Automobile Company, this car epitomized the daring spirit and luxurious innovation of the Art Deco era. With its sleek, boat-tail rear end and sweeping fenders, the Speedster was as much a work of art as it was a machine.
At its heart was a powerful 160-horsepower, 6.4-liter (391-cubic inch) V12 engine—hence the “Twelve” in its name—engineered by Lycoming, a company also owned by Auburn's parent corporation. The engine was mated to a three-speed manual transmission with a unique dual-ratio rear axle system, effectively offering six forward speeds and exceptional flexibility. This allowed the Speedster to cruise effortlessly at high speeds, and in fact, Auburn guaranteed that every model was capable of exceeding 100 mph, a staggering claim for the time.
The “Salon” designation marked it as an elite model, featuring the finest materials, hand-finished details, and Auburn’s most advanced technology. Signature design elements included chrome-plated exhaust pipes arching from the engine bay, a sharply raked windshield, and artful interior flourishes like machine-turned dash panels and premium leather trim.
Despite its brilliance, the Speedster was born into hard times. The Great Depression had taken a massive toll on luxury car sales, and Auburn—under the direction of the flamboyant E.L. Cord—struggled to stay afloat. Although the Twelve Salon Speedster garnered attention for its performance and aesthetics, it could not reverse the company’s fortunes. Auburn ceased production in 1937, just a few years after this masterpiece debuted.