Businessman Errett Lobban Cord sought to take the Auburn Automobile Company, a small and struggling Indiana automaker, to national prominence.

One of his many successes was the development of the Auburn Speedster, which was intended as a showroom draw that would be built and sold in limited numbers to attract new customers.

Its racy bodywork, styled by the great Alan Leamy, featured a dramatic tapering rear end and angled doors, appearing to have been shaped by the force of the car’s power.

The Speedster, which was adapted from a Duesenberg show car bodied by McFarlan, was a performance icon that was advertised as “the biggest package in the world for the price.” As it sold for under $2,000 but offered a remarkable top speed of 100 mph, thanks to special chassis and engine modifications unique to this model, it became a legend in its own time.

Not only did it make everything else look old-fashioned overnight, but it also had an emphasis on open-air performance for two passengers, m...