1936 Auburn 852

In an attempt to expand its market share, the Auburn Automobile Company announced a line of commercial vehicles at the end of 1935. The lineup included a limousine, a hearse, an ambulance and a combination hearse-ambulance. The Auburn Automobile Company touted its vehicle’s prowess: “LUXURIOUS FUNERAL CAR… ITS BEAUTY AN ASSET TO YOUR BUSINESS.” These vehicles were possibly the final Auburn cars to be assembled in the city of Auburn; most production had already been shifted to the Connersville, Indiana, factory. The wheelbase was 36 inches longer than a standard Auburn 852, requiring the use of two X-braces to stiffen the lengthened frame. Only 75 of these professional cars were built during the 1936 model year. This Auburn hearse was operated by a funeral home in Fairmount, Indiana. According to a sales record, the funeral director traded in a 1925 Hudson hearse for this Auburn when it was brand-new in 1936. The final price was $1,890. The wheelbase is 163 inches and weighs 4,300 lbs.