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U.S. Design Patent No.: 79,563
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Auburn Cabin Speedster
On October 8, 1929, U.S. Design Patent No.: 79,563 issued to Wade Morton for the design of the Auburn Cabin Speedster, which had a brief life and is shrouded in mystery. The owner of the Auburn Cabin Speedster was the Auburn Automobile Company, who commissioned the Griswold Body Co. of Detroit, Michigan to build it as a concept car. Griswold completed the car in January of 1929 and soon after it was shown at big auto shows on the East Coast, where it was a sensation due its unique construction. The Auburn Speedster was low-slung and sported innovative features, such as front cycle fenders that moved with the front wheels, a canted windshield, a ducktail deck and screened airfoils in the sides of the hood. In February, 1929, the Auburn Cabin Speedster was transported to California for the Los Angeles Auto Show, where it met its demise. On March 5, 1929, a fire swept through tents erected for the show, destroying over 300 cars, including the Auburn Cabin Speedster.
The mystery surrounding the Auburn Cabin Speedster is who actually designed it. The inventor listed on the '563 design patent was Wade Morton, who was a well-known race car driver of the day. Auburn used Wade as a test driver and a promotional spokesperson. Since Wade was not an automobile designer, many enthusiasts suspect he was not the true designer. Instead, they point to Alan Leamy, the chief designer for Auburn, as being the likely designer. Other candidates that have been floated include Robert Grimshaw, the in-house designer for Griswold and R.H Robinson, who helped design the Cord 810 for the Cord Automobile division of Auburn.
The mystery surrounding the Auburn Cabin Speedster is who actually designed it. The inventor listed on the '563 design patent was Wade Morton, who was a well-known race car driver of the day. Auburn used Wade as a test driver and a promotional spokesperson. Since Wade was not an automobile designer, many enthusiasts suspect he was not the true designer. Instead, they point to Alan Leamy, the chief designer for Auburn, as being the likely designer. Other candidates that have been floated include Robert Grimshaw, the in-house designer for Griswold and R.H Robinson, who helped design the Cord 810 for the Cord Automobile division of Auburn.