Auburn Automobiles - History
Morris and Frank Eckhart experimented with their own automobiles , at their fathers Eckhart Carriage Company of Auburn Indiana . Their Auburn Automobile Company sold one cylinder cars in the local area in the early 1900’s . In 1905 they began making a two cylinder engine . And then their 4 cylinder came out in 1909 .
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In 1909 they acquired two automakers in the area and began manufacturing automobiles on a full time basis . In 1912 Auburn introduced a 6 cylinder engine . Auburn sales were moderate , which led to eventual financial difficulty for the company . In 1919 the Eckhart brothers sold the company to a group of investors , led by Ralph A Bard and included William Wrigley of Wrigley’s gum . No profits were being made and in 1924 the hired Errett L Cord , a salesman , to manage the company . Cord had the 200 plus unsold Auburn automobiles repainted very bright colours and dressed up with chrome , and they all were sold very quickly . Cord bought the company in 1925 . Auburn became part of the Cord Corporation .
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Cord Corporation also acquired Deusenberg Motor Company .
Lycoming Manufacturing and Columbia Axle Company were acquired . Lycoming engines were used in Auburn Automobiles , as were Columbia axles . In 1928 Auburn had success in racing , hitting 108 miles per hour at Dayton , averaging almost 85 miles per hour for 24 hours at Atlanta and won the Pikes Peak hill climb . Through the 1930’s sales steadily declined and Auburn ended production in 1936 .
