The Auburn Automobile Company was going through quite a rough patch back in 1924 and needed a Hail Mary to turn things around. Luckily, Errett Cord and James Crawford had a lightbulb moment and quickly went on to design the 1925 Auburn Boattail Speedster. The model was an instant success and was known as one of the best-performing race cars of its time.
The Speedster went on to sell well into the ‘30s and quickly became a popular consumer vehicle. Sales were picking up quickly for the Auburn Automobile Company, and soon, things were back in shape. What really made this racing car stand out was its unique boattail, which ended up becoming its most recognizable feature. You may notice that the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Buick Riviera actually copied this unique feature.
1956 Nash Ambassador
You may recall the 1956 Nash Ambassador from various commercials of the era. It used to be a classic, and you know what they say about classics. They never die. It’s an American suburban car and was a sign of prosperity and wealth for the upper-middle class. This was the most luxurious car Nash ever made and was used as their showcase model. It was manufactured from 1932 up until 1974.
Many royal families owned the 1956 Nash Ambassador and proudly flaunted it even more than their expensive houses. Nash stopped producing the Ambassador in 1957, and another automaker took over the famous car’s production instead.
1953 Kurtis 500S Roadster
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Kurtis Kraft, the American auto designer and race car company. It mostly focused on building sports cars for racing championships but ended up closing its doors in the early '60s. Despite its short run, the company produced the 500S Roadster, one of the most advanced and successful supercars of the mid-20th century.
This supercar was compared to various other vehicles that were made by the top brands, including Jaguar, Mercedes, and even Ferrari. The 500S Roadster raced against these luxury sports cars and often came on top. Only 20 of these were ever made, and they were each hand-built using modified car parts, with a special emphasis on Chrysler engines.
1931 Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster
For our ultimate pick in the “vehicles as art” category, we have the iconic and legendary Duesenberg Model J. Back in 1928, it was one of the world's most luxurious and powerful cars. The supercar had a sick 7-liter DOHC straight-8 engine that came with an optional supercharger. It was supposed to be an all-time hit, but unfortunately, it was introduced just a year before the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression.
The Duesenberg Model J quickly became a status symbol among the European and American elite and was driven by some of the world's most powerful people, including Al Capone, Howard Hughes, Clark Gable, and many more. Its production ceased in 1937, but the car remains traded all across the world. It was recently purchased at an auction for $22 million, making it the most expensive American car ever sold.
1925 Rolls Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe
The 1925 Rolls Royce Phantom was a wonderful option at the time if you had money burning a hole in your pocket. Besides looking like a car from Tim Burton’s Batman adaptation, this vehicle was one of the most prized and awarded in its time. The Phantom won numerous awards both because of its design and thanks to its incredible build and performance.
One of the most legendary features behind this car was its ability to make almost zero noise at speeds of over one hundred miles per hour. The beautiful curves on the vehicle look better than some of today’s most expensive luxury cars. We’re happy to say that the company maintained its standard, as today’s Rolls Royce Phantom is just as impressive as it was back then.