1936 Auburn 654 Salon Phaeton, older restoration, freshly rebuilt engine, nice!

In the early days of motoring. Auburn was known for building sturdy. reliable cars. But once E. L. Cord took over. the Auburns became something special. Building on the idea that image and styling would sell cars as well as practicality and reliability. the Auburns were practically transformed overnight into the reasonably-priced performance cars of the period. Speedsters. cabriolets. and dashing 4-door convertibles were the mainstay of Auburn’s lineup until the very end. and there wasn’t a single one that wasn’t spectacular to look at. Today they are cherished collectables that are instantly identifiable from a distance. showcasing advanced features. ground-breaking design. and impeccable taste. not to mention some of the best road manners of the period. For high performance at a reasonable price. Auburns were hard to beat then and it’s still true today.

This 1936 Auburn 654 Salon phaeton is a rather unusual machine. Yes. you’re reading the number right. this is a 654. which means it’s packing a 6-cylinder engine rather than the 854’s straight-8. but given the six’s many engineering improvements. it is an excellent machine in its own right. Restored in the 1970s and having spent much of the past three decades in a museum. it retains all of the flashy design cues that made Auburns famous in the 1930s. The color combination and materials may be a bit dated. but thanks to ideal storage conditions while in the museum. it exhibits few of the flaws that distinguish older paint jobs. There is no chipping. checking. or flaking and almost no micro-blistering. a remarkable feat that suggests that the restoration work was done to extremely high standards. Today it still looks quite good in two-tone red with black fenders and with a thorough buff and polish. it could be easily enjoyed as-is without the need for excuses. All four doors fit well. with the only issue being one side of the hood requiring some minor massaging to fit exactly flush. Chrome and brightwork are also in surprisingly good condition. needing little more than a good polishing to be ready for casual shows and tours. and those big Trippe lights up front are magnificent. As it sits. the whole car has a nice look that’s all-of-a-piece where nothing stands out as too perfect or too deteriorated. and given the age of the restoration. it’s quite remarkable. Clean it up this winter and it’s ready to enjoy in the spring.

The brown interior is perhaps where its age is most obvious. The upholstery is shiny brown vinyl which is obviously incorrect. However. they did work hard to get the patterns correct and it has weathered the passage of the years quite well and remains very presentable. If you’re OK with the material. you’ll find no reason to object to its condition and again. it could easily be used as-is without issues. The carpets are deep ‘70s shag and a bit soiled. so I would probably start there. but otherwise it looks quite presentable inside. The instruments are complete and in place. and all but the fuel level gauge appear to be functional. An original radio block-off plate has been installed in the center of the dash. although we are unsure whether this car was originally equipped with a radio; there’s an antenna on the side of the cowl. but no other signs of radio equipment inside. It also offers a clock in the glove compartment lid. which. as usual. is not functional. The steering wheel is excellent and all the door hardware is intact and in presentable condition. Needs include a pair of windshield wiper motors. a new ignition switch (the car starts via a pushbutton under the dash) and a new accelerator pedal. which should be relatively easy to source. The tan canvas top also dates to the ‘70s. and while it is a bit brittle. it does not have any rips or tears and the ultra-rare side posts are included.

The 210 cubic inch inline-six was rebuilt recently and runs superbly. Most Auburn enthusiasts will tell you that the six gives up little to the eight. particularly with its counter-balanced crankshaft which offers notably smoother operation and high-speed cruising comfort. It makes a few less horsepower. but the six is torquey and energetic and makes for a great travelling companion on the open road. The engine bay is nicely detailed with a green engine block and aluminum head. correct wiring. and a rare Startix system that automatically restarts the engine in the event of a stall (not currently hooked up due to owner’s preferences). The original carburetor and Mallory distributor remain in place. too. although the air cleaner appears to be from a Ford (we know the location of a correct. original air cleaner should the new owner wish to acquire it). The engine makes plenty of oil pressure and keeps its cool without complaint—temperatures during our photo shoot were over 85 degrees. but it never once got cranky. There’s an electric fuel pump underneath to help alleviate vapor lock issues. and the exhaust has a smooth and sporting grumble that suits the Auburn’s personality just fine.

Underneath. the chassis is solid and clean. although not detailed for show. A 3-speed manual transmission with synchromesh means effortless shifting and all Auburns used hydraulic brakes. The brakes need some TLC. as the pedal is somewhat softer than it should be. although we’re working on solving that problem as you read this. Suspension is conventional with rigid axles and leaf springs fore and aft. but ride quality is quite good and the car feels quite nimble around town. Standard steel artillery wheels are a handsome touch and they wear Goodyear whitewalls of unknown age. so replacements might be a good idea before next year’s touring season.

Check the price guides and you’ll quickly see that it’s impossible to come out upside-down on this car. It does need some TLC. but it would make for a fine project this winter and all the difficult. expensive items are already done. Clean it up and fix a few minor items and you will have one of the most handsome. dynamic open cars of the ‘30s. all at a fraction of the cost of its 8-cylinder siblings. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a car that will always be the center of attention and where some sweat equity will truly pay off in a big way.

Accent Stripes

Body Side Moldings

Chrome Bumper

Clock

Convertible

Fog Lamps

Rear-Wheel Drive

Running Boards

This vehicle is being sold as-is. where-is. with no warranty. expressed written. or implied. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle. and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle.

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