1933 Auburn Salon Twelve Phaeton (1250)
- Engine
- Twelve-cylinder
A 1933 Auburn Salon Twelve Phaeton, renumbered and retailed as a 1934 model 1250, this car represents the top tier of surviving twelve-cylinder Auburns. Discovered in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1951, it passed through a distinguished chain of collectors, most notably the enthusiast Dr. Barbara Mae Atwood, under whose ownership it was comprehensively restored by Steve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations and earned second in class at the 1991 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance alongside AACA Grand National honours.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$352,000
- 1951 → 1969Private saleAlbert J. Koertspartial documentation
Prominent early collector from Flint, Michigan, who discovered and purchased the car from a dealer in Battle Creek, Michigan.
- 1969 → 1987Private saleErvin F. McClellanfull documentation
Saginaw, Michigan owner who regularly showed the car at regional ACD Club and CCCA events; had it restored by Bill Dreist and documented its low original mileage of approximately 24,000 miles in a 1980 magazine feature.
- 1987 → 2008Private saleDr. Barbara Mae Atwoodfull documentation
Rockford, Illinois collector and philanthropist who commissioned a full restoration by Steve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations and campaigned the car successfully on the concours circuit; her collection was housed in a dedicated private museum until her death in 2008.
- 2009 → 2011Private salePaul Andrews Jr.partial documentation
Acquired the car for the Andrews Collection based in Fort Worth, Texas, the year after Dr. Atwood's passing.
- 2011 →Private saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Has maintained the Auburn as the centerpiece of a personal collection for over a decade.
Competition
- 1991Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance2nd in class
Part of a strong 1991 show campaign conducted under Dr. Atwood's ownership following restoration by Steve Babinsky's shop.
- —Antique Automobile Club of AmericaAACA Grand NationalGrand National status achieved
The car also won the National Auburn Cord Duesenberg Award from the AACA during its 1991 season and eventually attained Grand National standing.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationBill Dreist
An initial restoration was carried out by Bill Dreist, completed prior to 1980, returning the car to a well-preserved condition consistent with its low recorded mileage.
A 1980 article in the CCCA Michigan region magazine Torque featured the car, with a period photograph documenting its intact, original state before this work.
- —RestorationSteve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations
A full concours-level restoration was undertaken by a noted specialist, preparing the car for the major show circuit. The work was carried out under the close supervision of the owner with the aim of achieving top competitive results.
Workshop located in Lebanon, New Jersey. Restoration underpinned the car's success at the 1991 Pebble Beach Concours and AACA events.
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