The Auburn Automobile Company grew out of the Eckhart Carriage Company, founded in Auburn, Indiana, in 1874 by Charles Eckhart (1841–1915). Eckhart’s sons, Frank and Morris, experimented making automobiles before entering 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 the company to a group of Chicago investors. The new owners revived the business but failed to realize their anticipated profits and in 1924, they approached Errett Cord, a highly successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company. Cord countered with an offer to take over completely, the Chicago group accepted. Cord aggressively marketed the company's unsold inventory and completed his buyout before the end of 1925.But styling and engineering failed to overcome the fact that Cord's vehicles were too expensive for the Depression-era market and Cord's stock manipulations that would force him to give up control of his car companies. Cord sold his shares in his automobile holding company.
In 1937, production of Auburns, along with that of Cords and Duesenberg's, ended.
In 1919, the Eckhart brothers sold the company to a group of Chicago investors. The new owners revived the business but failed to realize their anticipated profits and in 1924, they approached Errett Cord, a highly successful automobile salesman, with an offer to run the company. Cord countered with an offer to take over completely, the Chicago group accepted. Cord aggressively marketed the company's unsold inventory and completed his buyout before the end of 1925.But styling and engineering failed to overcome the fact that Cord's vehicles were too expensive for the Depression-era market and Cord's stock manipulations that would force him to give up control of his car companies. Cord sold his shares in his automobile holding company.
In 1937, production of Auburns, along with that of Cords and Duesenberg's, ended.
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