Auburn in DeKalb County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Gordon Buehrig
Chief Body Designer - Duesenberg, Inc. & Auburn Automobile Company
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 13, 2021
1. Gordon Buehrig Marker
Gordon Buehrig was only 25 when he became the chief body designer for Duesenberg, builders of the most prestigious motor car in the United States. There he rendered some of the most stunning classic car body designs ever penned. With his amazing talent recognized, Buehrig was brought to Auburn to restyle the 1935 models. Working with a miniscule budget, Buehrig executed a brilliant new powerful lock. His next project was the fabled 1936 Cord 810. With styling cues derived from contemporary aircraft, Buehrig conceived a breakthrough in design that influenced automotive fashion for decades.
Gordon Buehrig was born in 1904 in Mason City, Illinois. His storied career included periods of work at General Motors and Ford Motor Company, as well as with Duesenberg and Auburn. Buehrig was awarded several patents for his designs. His best-known work was the 1936 Cord. According to Buehrig, "The opportunity to work out the design of the new Cord and to have it a front-wheel-drive vehicle gave me an assignment as ideal as an automotive designer could imagine." The Museum of Modern Art in New York City recognized the artistry of the 1936 Cord in a special exhibit titled "Hollow Rolling Sculpture." Buehrig passed away in 1990 and was interred in Auburn, Indiana.
In honor of the 40 year tenure of dedicated museum employee
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 41° 21.384′ N, 85° 3.453′ W. Marker is in Auburn, Indiana, in DeKalb County. It is on South Van Buren Street just north of Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1521 S Van Buren St, Auburn IN 46706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana and in Greater Fort Wayne. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alan Leamy (within shouting distance of this marker); Auburn / Cord (within shouting distance of this marker); Men Employees (within shouting distance of this marker); Duesenberg (within shouting distance of this marker); Women Employees (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Eckhart (within shouting distance of this marker); Auburn Automobile Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert Wiley (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Auburn.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 13, 2021
2. Gordon Buehrig Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 13, 2021
3. Gordon Buehrig Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 13, 2021
4. Gordon Buehrig Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 322 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on April 3, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 14, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
