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Auburn was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1900 through 1937. It grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1875 by Charles Eckhart (1841-1915). Eckhart's sons, Frank and Morris, began making automobiles on an experimental basis, then entered the business in earnest, absorbing two other local carmakers and moving into a larger plant in 1909. The enterprise was modestly successful until materials shortages during World War I forced the plant to close.

In 1919, the Eckhart brothers sold out to a group of Chicago investors headed by Ralph Austin Bard, who later served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and as Under Secretary of the Navy for President Roosevelt and for President Harry S. Truman. The new owners revived the business but failed to realize the profits that they hoped for. In 1924, they approached Errett Lobban CordErrett Lobban Cord also known as E. Cord ( 1894 1974) was a leader in United States transport during the early and middle 20th century. Cord owned Cord Automobile, Auburn Automobile and Duesenberg amongst other holdings in shipping, railroads and departme (1894-1974), a highly successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company. Cord countered with an offer to take over completely in what amounted to a leveraged buyoutA leveraged buyout (or LBO occurs when a financial sponsor gains control of a majority of a target company's equity through the use of borrowed money or debt. Typically this money is borrowed through a combination of prepayable bank facilities and/or publ. The Chicago group accepted.

Cord aggressively marketed the company's unsold inventory and completed his buyout before the end of 1925Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 See also 1925 in aviation 1925 in film 1925 in literature 1925 in mu. In 1926Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 See also 1926 in aviation 1926 in film 1926 in literature 1926 in mu, he partnered with DuesenbergDuesenberg was a United States based luxury automobile company active from the 1910s to the 1940s. In 1913 the Duesenberg Brothers, Fred and August, founded Duesenberg Inc. Paul, Minnesota, to build sports cars. Born in 1885 in Germany, the two brothers w Corporation, famous for its racing cars, and used it as the launching platform for a line of high-priced luxury vehicles. He also put his own name on a front-wheel-drive car, the L-29 CordCord was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1929 through 1937. The Cord Corporation was founded and run by Errett Lobban Cord, who also ran the Auburn Automobile Company. Cord was noted for its innovative technology and streamlined design..

Employing imaginative designers such as Alan Leamy and Gordon Buehrig1935 Auburn Speedster designed by Gordon Buehrig Gordon Miller Buehrig ( June 18, 1904 January 22, 1990) was a noted automobile designer. Born in Mason City, Illinois, he had early design experience with Packard, General Motors and Stutz. At age 25 he bec, Cord built cars that became famous for their advanced engineering as well as their striking appearance, e.g., the 1928 Auburn Boattail Speedster, the Model J Duesenbergs, the 1935-1937 Auburn Speedsters and the 810/812 Cords.

Styling and engineering failed to overcome the fact that Cord's vehicles were too expensive for the DepressionThe Great Depression was a global economic slump that began in the United States following Black Thursday, the Wall Street panic of October 1929. On October 24, 1929, share prices on Wall Street collapsed catastrophically, setting off a chain of bankruptc-era market and that Cord's stock manipulations would force him to give up control of his car companies. Under injunction from the Securities and Exchange Commission to refrain from further violations, Cord sold his shares in his automobile holding company. In 1937, production of Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs ended.

The Auburn Automobile Company also had a manufacturing plant in Connersville, Indiana.