This classic Duesenberg is one of the exhibits on the gleaming Art Deco showroom floor of the historic Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Ind. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

We’re going slightly outside the state of Ohio once again because we’d like to steer you to a place you won’t want to miss – the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Ind.

We’ve visited this world-class museum a number of times, including several separate occasions when we camped and stayed at the hotel at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. The classic car museum is an easy daytrip from there and other locations in northern and western Ohio.

The Art Deco-styled museum has been exhibiting its exquisite collection of automobiles since 1974. The Austin Automobile Company was founded in 1900; the company also later produced Cords and Duesenbergs, some of the most luxurious and feature-laden cars of their day, until the company closed in 1937.

The museum is housed in the company’s original sales showroom and offices, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building contains three floors and seven main galleries of more than 100 classic automobiles as well as restored offices and work areas, thousands of artifacts, photographs and pieces of literature.

Permanent exhibits include the first-floor company showroom and special interest automobiles, exhibits of automotive excellence and innovation, cars of Indiana, racers and record-setters, early model Auburns, and more. An exhibit of infamous gangster John Dillinger’s car, an Indianapolis 500 racer, and a car you can get in for a photo opportunity are all popular.

To say that this is an amazing place is an understatement. Even for those who aren’t necessarily car buffs, it is an enjoyable experience. And for those who appreciate automobiles, they’ll probably want to live here.

A 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster (a “boattail speedster”) is one of the gems in the museum’s collection. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

My favorite car in the museum is a popular choice – a beautiful cream-colored 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster with a supercharged 8-cylinder Lycoming engine. It cost $2,245 when new; one can be had today (if you can find one for sale) for up to $1.17 million.

It’s tough to describe everything about this museum; you simply have to go there and see it for yourself, at 1600 S. Wayne St., Auburn, Ind. (260) 925-1444.

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Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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