This model dates to the early days of N scale (late 60's / early 70's). It was originally imported as part of the Aurora "Postage Stamp" line, and later on by Minitrix / Model Power. I'm told that the carbody on the later Model Power import is slightly different than on the earlier releases. And yes, these do come with 12 really dorky looking autos.
Roco made a similar (but not exactly the same) auto rack for Atlas around the same time.
Open-style auto racks like these were first introduced circa 1960. They were used into the 1980s, at which point auto carriers with sides (and eventually totally enclosed) became the norm.