Ontario Road Maps - 1971 Gulf Oil Map - Canadian Version
1971 Gulf Oil - Canadian Version

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Folded Dimensions: 4 " X 9 " with a 5" 'tail'.

Open Dimensions: 34 " W X 23 " H

Date Location: Lower right corner of the map - Copyright Date

 

Cover Description: Green background featuring a 1936 Auburn 852 Speedster.  The Ontario title appears in the right upper corner and the Gulf logo is in the lower right corner.  This map cover is viewed in the landscape layout as opposed to the more common vertical layout.

Date Code: Non Applicable

Scale: Ontario side - 1" = 15 miles

           Northern Ontario Side - 1" = 35.5 miles

 

Main Legend Side Features: Legend, map of Southern Ontario, smaller maps of Windsor and the Niagara Frontier, Gulf Tourguide Services Information, Key map, Mileage Table, Explore Canada logo, Index to Points of Interest, Index of Cities, towns and villages.

Opposite Side Features: Legend, Map of Northern Ontario, maps of Central Hamilton, Index of Cities Towns & Villages,  Central Ottawa, District around Toronto, Downtown Toronto, Thunder Bay, St. Catharines, London, Waterloo - Kitchener, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa & Hamilton, Gulf Tourgide information and Canada Customs Regulations.

 

Other: Complied, Reproduced and Lithographed in Canada by Rolph-McNally Limited, Toronto, Ontario

Note: See write-up below about the Auburn 852 Speedster.

North Arrow Used on This Map.

Rear Cover

Text From Rear Cover

 

THE GULF GALLERY OF GREAT CARS

 

Auburn 852 Speedster. The raciest car of it's day in North

America was the boat-tailed  Speedster.  The most famous

of these was the supercharged 1936 Auburn model 852. 

With a supercharged 150 hp Lycoming engine, it could beat

 an honest 100 mph.

 

Click on Mileage Table to see

 Full Sized Version

The success of the vehicles and the survival of the company up to this point were due mostly to Erret Lobban Cord. The Auburn Company had come into existence in 1877 producing wagons. In 1903 the direction of the company switched to creating automobiles, their first being a one-cylinder chain-driven runabout. The styling and diversity of the vehicles evolved over the years, as did the mechanical capabilities and technological innovations. The Great Depression had taken its toll on the Auburn Company and was headed to receivership when it was rescued by William Wrigley. Cord was recruited to assume the duties of general manager. This fast-talking, energetic, sales man, though less than thirty years old, was the right man for the job. By applying new paint to a parking lot of excess vehicles, Cord was able to sell over 750 cars in just a few months. This earned him the title of vice president and in 1926 he became president and primary stockholder of the Auburn Company.

Throughout the next few years, the Auburn/Cord Company would experience highs and lows. The L-29 featured front-wheel drive, a first in the industry.

Designer Gordon Buehrig and engine designer Augie Duesenberg were tasked with creating a new design for 1935. A V-12 Speedster was used as a starting point. The front-end, cowl, and bonnet were completely reworked. It was given a convertible body-style that was low and complimented its small side windows. The masculine look of the Auburn 851 was due in part to its teardrop headlamps, chrome exhaust pipes, pontoon fenders, and newly styled grille and hood.

Under the hood lurked a 279 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine. An existing six-cylinder engine had been outfitted with two additional cylinders while keeping the bore and stroke the same. The result was a 115 horsepower in natural aspiration form and 150 when outfitted with the Schwitzer-Cummings supercharger.

The vehicle was put through its paces at a 24-hour endurance run in the Bonneville Salt Flats with driver, Ab Jenkins proving the vehicle was capable of exceeding 100 miles per hour.

The car was introduced in 1935 and expectations were high but sales were low. Just over 5,000 examples were sold during its initial production year. For 1936 the name was switched to 852 and this did nothing to help sales, with just 1850 vehicles sold.

Unfortunately, in 1936 the Auburn Company went out of business. The Auburn 851's exclusivity is guaranteed by it limited production. It is a wonderful creation and hinted at what might have been if the company would have stayed in business. It was unique and distinctive.