1932 Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster
Among the automotive industry’s briefest yet most memorable offerings, Auburn’s Twelve series ran for just two model years, 1932 and 1933, creating one of the Classic Era’s most coveted performance machines.
The 12-160A featured distinctive “boattail” styling by Alan Leamy, with flowing lines that tapered gracefully toward the rear in a design that perfectly captured the era’s speed-focused aesthetic.
Power came from a 391-cubic-inch Lycoming V-12 engine producing 160 horsepower, delivered through a three-speed manual transmission.
The standout mechanical feature was the innovative dual-ratio rear axle system, controlled by a dash-mounted lever that offered either 4.5:1 or 3.0:1 ratios for each transmission gear, providing exceptional flexibility for both acceleration and high-speed cruising.
Performance credentials were proven when a twelve-cylinder speedster achieved speeds of over 100 mph at Murdoc Dry Lake in California, with some sources citing a top speed of 115 mph. This surpassed the average speed of that year’s Indy 500 winner.
Depression-era economics severely limited production, with only about 35 original twelve-cylinder speedsters produced, making survivors among America’s rarest Classic cars.
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