1936 Auburn 852 SC
The 851 returned for 1936 and was re-designated the 852. While E.L. Cord’s industrial empire fell soon thereafter in 1937, the 851/852 remains an inspired milestone of engineering and styling prowess.
In Detail
submitted by | Richard Owen |
price $ | $2 245 USD |
engine | Water Cooled, Inline-8 |
position | Front Longitudinal |
aspiration | Schweitzer-Cummins Supercharger |
valvetrain | 2 Valves per Cyl |
displacement | 4589 cc / 280.0 in³ |
bore | 77.78 mm / 3.06 in |
stroke | 120.6 mm / 4.75 in |
compression | 6.5:1 |
power | 111.9 kw / 150.1 bhp @ 4000 rpm |
specific output | 32.71 bhp per litre |
bhp/weight | 88.35 bhp per tonne |
torque | 311.8 nm / 230.0 ft lbs @ 2750 rpm |
body / frame | Steel Body on Steel Cross-Braced Chassis |
driven wheels | RWD |
front tires | 6.5×15 |
rear tires | 6.5×15 |
front brakes | Lockheed Drums w/Hydraulic Assist |
rear brakes | Lockheed Drums w/Hydraulic Assist |
steering | Worm & Peg |
f suspension | Non-Independant w/ Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Hydraulic Dampers |
r suspension | Live Axle w/ Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Hydraulic Dampers |
curb weight | 1699 kg / 3746 lbs |
wheelbase | 3226 mm / 127.0 in |
front track | 1488 mm / 58.6 in |
rear track | 1575 mm / 62.0 in |
length | 4938 mm / 194.4 in |
width | 1816 mm / 71.5 in |
height | 1473 mm / 58.0 in |
transmission | 3-Speed Manual |
gear ratios | 2.86:1, 1.68:1, 1.00:1 |
final drive | 3.1:1 |
top speed | ~167.4 kph / 104.0 mph |
0 – 60 mph | ~15.0 seconds |
0 – 1/4 mile | ~19.5 seconds |
Auction Sales History
1936 Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster 33914E – sold for $770,000 ACD-Certifed Example. Exhaustively Researched Restoration. Multiple-Award Winner. Astonishing Attention to Detail. Pebble Beach Concours and Tour d’Elegance Veteran.
Auction Source: The Scottsdale Auctions 2015 by Gooding & Company
Auction Source: 2014 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Company

Auction Source: 2012 Daytime Auction by Mecum

Auction Source: 2012 Pebble Beach Auctions by Gooding & Compan

1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster 32923 –
Auction Source: 2011 Amelia Island Auction by RM Auctions

1936 Auburn 852SC Cabriolet 35757F –
Auction Source: 2010 Vintage Cars of Meadow Book by RM Auctions