The Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster offered here is among the finest and best-known surviving authentic examples of the model. It was owned in the early 1950s by longtime Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club member, Bob Graham of California, known to readers of the Club’s Newsletter as “The World’s Greatest Car-Watcher.” In one such article, published in the No. 10 1992 edition, Graham recounted that the Auburn was “bought for $50.00 in L.A. Calif. 1950. Went to Harrah’s Museum.” One of the longest-term denizens of the famed Harrah’s Automobile Collection, it was refinished but otherwise remained an original, well-preserved car. During its time in the collection, it was featured in several well-known books, including Motorcars of the Golden Past by Ken Purdy and Harrah’s Automobile Collection by Dean Batchelor.

At the 1985 Harrah’s dispersal auction, the Auburn was bought by a very special personage: Sally Cord Hummel, daughter of its manufacturer, E.L. Cord. Mrs. Hummel put the car on anonymous loan to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in its hometown of Auburn, Indiana, where it was exhibited for 14 years. During this time the speedster was inspected by the ACD Club and Certified as a Category 1 Original Car. Interestingly, based upon the “S” denoting the body style on its serial number plate, it was determined that it had been a 1928 model, subsequently renumbered by the factory to sell in 1929!

In 1999 the Auburn was purchased by the late award-winning actor, passionate automobile enthusiast, and much-missed friend to many, Edward Herrmann. Mr. Herrmann commissioned RM Auto Restoration to undertake a complete restoration, although the original Harrah’s inventory tag, number 186, was charmingly preserved and is still present today on the firewall. The result, stunning in two subtle shades of green, was presented at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, winning 1st in Class, and at that year’s Michigan Grand Classic, being scored at a perfect 100 points. Mr. Herrmann subsequently sold the Auburn to a friend in Indiana, from whom Terence Adderley acquired the car in 2011.

Still in excellent overall condition, this is in the first rank of surviving early speedsters and would be an outstanding complement to any Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg collection.