Fresh from one of its most successful Auburn Spring events to date, Auctions America has already lined up a tremendous Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg trio for its flagship Auburn Fall sale — a perfect fit for the ACD Festival celebration in Auburn, Indiana. A fantastic early highlight for the August 31–September 3 event, the trio includes a well-known Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton, a superb Cord 812 Phaeton and the only Duesenberg Model J originally fitted with Fleetwood coachwork.
“We’re thrilled to offer this important trio of ACD cars in the Classic Car Capital of America,” said Barney Ruprecht, Car Specialist for Auctions America. “All three are highly usable, drivable examples, a quality more and more sought after by today’s collectors.”
The star of the trio is most certainly the 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe, J-417. Originally ordered by Judge Alfred North of Philadelphia, who retained the car for three decades, the Model J was fitted with a roadster body by Fleetwood — the only Model J to wear the coachbuilder’s work from new. Within just a few years, North replaced the roadster with the current Fleetwood Convertible Coupe body. Judge North thoroughly enjoyed the car, accumulating nearly 200,000 miles by 1940 and going through three engines—the last of which is still installed today. Despite the miles, the Duesenberg was always fastidiously maintained.
Following North’s passing in the late 1950s, the car passed through the hands of several enthusiast owners before landing with Dr. Barbara Atwood in 1985. Dr. Atwood had it restored to the highest standards by future CCCA chief judge Steve Babinsky. Stunning in its rich two-tone green and black with a velvet green leather interior, the Duesenberg’s exacting restoration earned it a class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as well as an AACA National First Prize. Some 30 years later, the car remains in immaculate condition.
Also set for the Auburn Fall sale is powerful 1932 Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton. Produced in Auburn, Indiana, to compete head-on with its luxury contemporaries from Lincoln, Pierce-Arrow and Cadillac, the Auburn Twelve boasted incredible engineering wrapped in timeless Alan Leamy styling. This particular example, serial # 12160 1181 A, has enjoyed long-term enthusiast ownership throughout its life, and sports a well-maintained older restoration in crimson over a butterscotch leather interior. Rounding out the trio is a 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton; beautifully restored, presented in striking dark blue, and ready to roll.
A Labor Day weekend tradition for enthusiasts across the country for more than 45 years, Auctions America’s Auburn Fall collector car weekend will present more than 750 quality collector cars as well an assortment of Automobilia across four days of auction action. Beyond the dual-ring auction block, there’s fun for the entire family, with an onsite swap meet, car corral, Cars & Coffee and more.
For further information on Auburn Fall, please visit www.auctionsamerica.com
