Duesenberg Automobiles

From 1906 to 1913, Fred and August Duesenberg were associated with the Mason racing cars of Des Moines, Iowa. In 1913 the brothers opened a small plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they built complete racing cars, marine engines, and aircraft engines during World War I.

In 1920 they began producing automobiles under their own name when they formed the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Duesenberg was the first successful American racing car designed and built exclusively for speedway competition. Capitalizing on their racing successes, they advertised as "The World's Champion Automobile - Built to Outclass, Outrun, and Outlast Any Car on the Road."

Duesenberg cars had a straight-eight engine with a single overhead camshaft and hydraulic four-wheel brakes, both firsts in an American production automobile. Fleetwood, Rubay, and Millspaugh & Irish bodies were ordered by Duesenberg for the Model A chassis and custom bodies could be built by Brunn, Judkins, Murphy and others.

Model A production continued until 1926 and its successor, the Model X, was introduced, but only 12 of the new model were built. A little more than 600 Duesenberg Model A cars were built.

Late in 1926, E. L. Cord purchased the Duesenberg firm and a new company, Duesenberg, Inc., was formed. From this reorganization came the famous Duesenberg J and SJ models. A total of 480 Model J Duesenberg car built. Of this small number, only 37 were SJ (supercharged).

In 1937, the Cord empire collapsed and the Cord-owned companies were sold off. Several attempts have been made to revive the Duesenberg name.

"It's a Doozy (Duesy)!" - not simply an expression we use today but also an affirmation of the grand machines produced by Duesenberg.

The 1930 Duesenberg Model J featured a 420-cid 265-bhp inline eight that was the most powerful engine being put into a American car. When you add that much power to a car built on a 142.5-inch wheelbase, you have a winning combination that attracted the most powerful and elite buyers.

The engines were very technically advanced and included dual-overhead cams with a 32-valve head. Fittings of the four feet long motor were of nickel, chrome, and stainless steel. A model J Duesenberg could reach speeds of over 115 miles per hour.

Exterior design elements such as the exposed exhaust pipes and interior details that included the finest in fabrics and woodwork added to the beauty of the wonderful cars.

In 1930 a bare chassis for a Model J cost $8,500.