The Duesenberg

The Duesenberg is one of the oldest classic race cars to be created. Two German born brothers, August Duesenberg and Fred Duesenberg, started the company that produced this type of vehicle in 1913 and the company was known as Duesenberg Automobile and Motors. This company was located in Des Moines, Iowa, at eighth and Grand Avenue and started specifically to make sports cars. Fred Duesenberg was born in the year 1876 and his brother August Duesenberg in 1879. They built many trial cars and were considered one of the best of cars despite being hand-built entirely. The 'duesy' participated in a race in 1914 and was driven by Eddie Rickenbacker and finished 10th at the race held in Indianapolis. Later on in the years of 1924, '25 and '27, a Duisenberg car won these races. In 1923 at the Indianapolis 500, the Duesenberg was used as the only pace car.

In July 1921, the Duesenberg brothers moved their company, Duesengerg Automobile & Motors Company from their New Jersey location to their new headquarters in Indianapolis to start with the making of traveler vehicles. It is in the same year that the first American to win the French Grand Prix, Jimmy Murphy, accomplished this enormous task by piloting the Duesenberg to formidable success in the Le Mans racetrack. The brothers, although being world acclaimed engineers, still could not sell their 'A' model car, which was their first vehicle to be mass-produced, and was considered to be quite advanced. Instead the brothers' company went bankrupt and was closed. The company was later absorbed by receiver managers in the year 1922 and was acquired from its creditors by an investor group that was led by Fred Duesenberg. They went ahead to form Duesenberg Motors Co.

Erret Lobban Cord was the Auburn Automobile Company and Cord Automobile Company owner. These firms that provided transport facilities, bought Duesenberg Company for the sole reason of the engineering capabilities of the Duesenberg brothers between 1925 and 1926. The company was bought together with the trade name for the sole purpose of producing luxury cars. Fred Duesenberg was then hired to plan the engine and the chassis that was going to be among the most impressive all over the world. Model 'J' was the first Duesenberg vehicle to be produced after the revamping of the Duesenberg Company and was available for the first time at the 1928 car show in New York. It produced an enormous 265 horsepower from a double slide camshaft and managed a high speed of 119 mph (miles per hour) and 94 mph when in gear 2 when, it was not in a supercharged version. In a supercharged version, the SJ as it was commonly referred could manage 104 mph in second gear and a speed topping between 135 to 145 mph in third gear.

The Duesenberg quickly became one of the most luxurious cars and was owned by the rich and famous in the society. Unfortunately, Duesenberg ceased production after the great depression in 1937 when Cord's financial empire collapsed.

The Duesenberg quickly became one of the most luxurious cars and was owned by the rich and famous in the society. Unfortunately, Duesenberg ceased production after the great depression in 1937 when Cord's financial empire collapsed.