1931 Auburn Model 8-98 Cabriolet
Sweeping fenders and dramatically lowered bodywork marked a complete design transformation when Alan Leamy comprehensively redesigned Auburn’s eight-cylinder models for 1931.
The new styling featured a double-drop X-braced frame that reduced overall height by three inches, creating the rakish profile that would define Auburn through 1933.
Auburn produced 34,228 examples that year, all powered by a 269 cubic inch Lycoming straight-eight engine delivering 98 horsepower at 3,400 rpm.
This powerplant could propel the Auburn to speeds approaching 100 mph, maintaining the marque’s reputation for challenging Stutz as “America’s fastest” automobile.
The drivetrain featured a three-speed Synchro-Mesh manual transmission with freewheeling capability, while four-wheel internal expanding drum brakes provided stopping power.
Most body styles rode on a 127-inch wheelbase, contributing to the car’s balanced proportions and handling characteristics.
This model year represented Auburn’s successful response to the Great Depression, offering luxury performance at accessible prices during challenging economic times.
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