While the flamboyant speedster draws much attention, the honor of actual extreme rarity among surviving 1935–1936 Auburns goes to the coupe model. The car shared the same body as the convertible cabriolet, but its leather-covered roof was fixed in place by a wooden frame and heavy bolts, and the rumble seat lid was reversed to form a lid for an utterly capacious trunk. The result has all the sporty, svelte good looks of a cabriolet but with the all-weather comfort of a closed car, and it has more than enough storage for comfortable touring.

Yet, over the years many coupes have been “cut” into faux cabriolets, and as a result, only a handful of the most desirable eight-cylinder examples have survived. Because of their outstanding high-speed touring capabilities and beautiful design, they rarely change hands outside of private transactions between long-term owners.

The Coupe shown here is in the desirable, up-level Custom trim, with chromed headlights, dual side-mounted spares with hard covers, a Flying Lady hood ornament, side-mount mirrors, and the Dual Ratio rear axle, which allows the transmission to be driven in either a low or high range, depending on the road conditions. Set in high, an Auburn Eight with Dual Ratio is a superb highway and touring car, which is how this particular machine has served its Michigan owners for many years.

This faithful Auburn is well known to Detroit-area Classic Car Club of America members, and it has successfully completed five CCCA CARavans, in New England (2001), Old South (2004), Upper Midwest (2005), Indiana (2007), and St. Louis/Memphis (2009). Needless to say, it is an excellent driver, as its owner confirms, and the addition of lap belts ensures further safe travels. The Auburn also presents beautifully cosmetically, as would be expected of a car carrying a CCCA Senior badge, number 2486S.

This Coupe is an outstanding car for ACD Club and CCCA events, and it offers the best possible combination of drivability, space, power, and rarity, making it a must for any Auburn enthusiast.