1931 Duesenberg J

Duesenberg was a United States-based luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for their extremely high-quality, record-breakingly fast roadsters. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 780 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1040 × 800 pixel, file size: 528 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image was copied from wikipedia:en. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 780 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1040 × 800 pixel, file size: 528 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image was copied from wikipedia:en. ... Image File history File links 3d_glasses_red_cyan. ... Karl Benzs Velo (vélo means bicycle in French) model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race 2005 MINI Cooper S. An automobile (also motor car or simply car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... 1923 Ford Model T roadster 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster This article is about the roadster car body style. ...

History

In 1913, the German Duesenberg Brothers, Fred and August, founded Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa, at 8th and Grand Ave, to build sports cars. Born in 1876 and 1879 in Lemgo Germany, the two brothers were self-taught engineers and built many experimental cars. Duesenberg cars were considered some of the very best cars of the time, and were built entirely by hand. In 1914 Eddie Rickenbacker drove a "Duesy" to finish in 10th place at the Indianapolis 500, and a Duesenberg car won the race in 1924, 1925, and 1927. Frederick Samuel Duesenberg (December 6, 1876–26 July 1932) was an automobile pioneer designer, manufacturer and sportsman. ... August Samuel Duesenberg (12 December, 1879–18 January 1955) was an automobile pioneer manufacturer. ... Nickname: Hartford of the West, City of Skywalks, Raccoon City, DSM Location in the State of Iowa, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Iowa County Polk County Incorporated September 22, 1851 Government  - Mayor Frank Cownie Area  - City  77. ... 1963 Jaguar E-Type, a classic sports car A sports car is an automobile designed for performance driving. ... Lemgo is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany with a population of 42. ... Eddie Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 27, 1973) was best known as a World War I fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient. ... “Indy 500” redirects here. ...

1923 saw the only use of the Duesenberg as the pace car at the Indianapolis 500. In 1921, Jimmy Murphy became the first American to win the French Grand Prix when he drove a Duesenberg to victory at the Le Mans racetrack. See also List of Indianapolis 500 pace cars A pace car has been used to start the Indianapolis 500 since 1911. ... James Anthony (Jimmy) Murphy (1894–1924) was a race car driver who was the American Racing Champion in 1922 and 1924. ... The French Grand Prix is a Formula One race held as part of Fédération Internationale de lAutomobiles annual Formula One automobile racing championship season. ... Le Mans is a city in France, located at the Sarthe River. ...

Duesenberg Automobiles and Motors Company moved from New Jersey to a new headquarters and factory in Indianapolis in July of 1921 to begin production of passenger vehicles. Although the Duesenberg brothers were world-class engineers, they were unable to sell their Model A car, their first "mass-produced" vehicle (just 667 were ever made). It was considered extremely advanced, offering features such as dual overhead cams, four-valve cylinder heads and the first hydraulic brakes offered on a passenger car. The company went into receivership in 1922, finally being acquired from creditors by a Fred Duesenberg-led investor group in 1925 forming the Duesenberg Motors Company.

1930 Duesenberg J Walker Legrande Torpedo Phaeton

E.L.Cord, the owner of Cord Automobile, Auburn Automobile, and other transportation companies, bought the company in 1926 for the Duesenberg Brothers' engineering skills and the brand name, in order to produce luxury cars. Hiring Fred Duesenberg to design the chassis and an engine that would be the best in the world, the newly revived Duesenberg company set about to produce the Model J. The Model J Duesenberg was first shown at the New York Car Show of 1928. In unsupercharged form, it produced a whopping 265 horsepower (198 kW) from a straight-8 engine with dual overhead camshafts, and was capable of a top speed of 119 mph (192 km/h), and 94 mph (151 km/h) in 2nd gear. The supercharged version of the Model J, the SJ, was reputed to do 104 mph in second and have a top speed 135-140 mph in third. Zero-60 times of around eight seconds and 0-100 times of 17 seconds were reported for the SJ in spite of the unsynchronized transmissions, and all at a time when even the best cars of the era were not inclined to exceed 100 mph. Duesenbergs generally weighed around two and a half tons. Up to three tons was not unusual, considering the wide array of custom coachwork available. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Errett Lobban Cord on the cover of Time Magazine, January 18, 1932. ... A 1929 Cord L-29 Phaeton on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Cord L-29. ... Auburn was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1900 through 1937. ... hp, see HP (disambiguation) The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... 1933 Bugatti DOHC straight-8 in a Type 59 Grand Prix racer 1940s Oldsmobile Straight-8 engine A Straight-8 is a straight engine with eight cylinders. ... A double overhead cam (also called a dual overhead cam, DOHC, or twincam) engine is a type of internal combustion engine where the camshafts that operate the intake and exhaust valves are mounted above the cylinders, and where there are separate camshafts for inlet and exhaust valves. ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ...

1932 Duesenberg J Murphy-bodied coupe convertible

Only the chassis and engine were displayed at the 1928 New York Car Show, since the interior and body of the car would be custom-made by an experienced coachbuilder to the owner's specifications. The bodywork made for Duesenbergs came from coachbuilders in both North America and Europe, and the finished cars comprised some of the largest, grandest, most beautiful and elegant cars ever created. The chassis cost $8,500 ($9,500 after 1932), the completed base model cost $13,500, and you could have a top-of-the-line model for $25,000 (an extreme amount of money for that time, when the average US physician was reported to earn less than $3,000 per annum). Download high resolution version (2015x1408, 387 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2015x1408, 387 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

A 1929 Duesenberg J 350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix

Introduced in 1932 was the supercharged Model J with 320 HP (often referred to as 'SJ'), which had a top speed of 135-140 mph. Special-bodied models, such as the later "Mormon Meteor" chassis, achieved an average speed of over 135 mph, and a one-hour average of over 152 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The SJ's supercharger was located beside the engine; to make room for it, the exhaust pipes were creased so they could be bent easily and extended through the side panel of the hood. These supercharged cars can be recognized by these shiny creased tubes, which Cord registered as a trademark and used in his other supercharged cars from Cord and Auburn. It was said that, "The only car that could pass a Duesenberg, was another Duesenberg, and that was with the first owner's consent." Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1100 KB) A 1929 Duesenberg J350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1100 KB) A 1929 Duesenberg J350 Willoughby on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. ... The 2005 United States Grand Prix, was a Formula One motor race held on June 19, 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ... Bonneville Salt Flats The Bonneville Salt Flats are a 121 km² (47 mi²) salt flat in northwestern Utah. ...

1930 Duesenberg J Judkins

Quickly the Duesenberg became one of the most popular in America, owned by the rich and famous, among them Clark Gable, Gary Cooper (each owning one of the two very rare SSJ 125" short-wheelbase convertibles), and the Duke of Windsor. Duesenberg advertising claimed it was the best car in the world, and their world-beating performance and extreme opulence tend to back that up. There was a gradual evolution up to the 1937 model that preserved the "stately lines" while moving into a more integrated mode of styling. The final evolution of the Duesenberg engine was ram-air intakes added to some of the last supercharged models to produce 400 horsepower, referred to as 'SSJ' (also a name never used by the factory). Of the 481 Model Js and SJs produced between 1928 and 1937, 384 are still extant, four of them now owned by Jay Leno. Duesenberg ceased production in 1937 after Cord's financial empire collapsed. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 206 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Duesenberg J Judkins Baujahr 1932, fotografiert von Ramgeis in Pebble Beach, Kalifornien im August 2004, GNU-FDL first upload in de wikipedia on 05:14, 17. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 206 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Duesenberg J Judkins Baujahr 1932, fotografiert von Ramgeis in Pebble Beach, Kalifornien im August 2004, GNU-FDL first upload in de wikipedia on 05:14, 17. ... William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961) was a two-time Academy Award-winning American film actor of English heritage. ... The peerage title Duke of Windsor was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1937 for The Prince Edward, formerly King of the United Kingdom. ... Jay Leno (born James Douglas Muir Leno April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian who is best known as the current host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. ...

Model X Duesenbergs are very rare. According to Randy Ema, the country's top Duesenberg authority, only 13 Model X's were built. They fit in between the Duesenberg Model A and the famous Models J and SJ, which were built from 1929 to 1937. Only four known X's survive.

Revival

Place of birth of Fred & Augie Duesenberg in Germany

After World War II, August Duesenberg tried to revive the Duesenberg name, but was unsuccessful. Several later attempts were also unsuccessful. The closest came in the mid-1960s with Fritz, August's son, at the helm and Virgil Exner as the stylist by using the chassis of a 1966 Imperial with a Chrysler engine. One of Exner's Duesenberg designs was later produced as the modern Stutz Bearcat. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Virgil Ex Exner (September 24, 1909–December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. ... 1955 Imperial Imperial was the Chrysler Corporations prestige automobile brand between 1955 and 1975, with a brief reappearance in 1981-1983. ... For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... The Stutz Motor Company, later reborn as Stutz Motor Car of America, was a producer of luxury cars. ... The Stutz Bearcat was an American luxury high-performance sports car made by the Stutz Motor Company. ...

A 1970s Duesenberg was also created, based on a Cadillac Fleetwood and with modern styling, although its production was not high. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. ...

Beginning with its introduction in 1975 at the ACD Festival in Auburn Indiana, the reproduction Duesenberg II automobile was produced and sold through mid-2000. Five models of the original Duesenbergs were made, each one carefully copied from an original and visually identical, with a modern Ford V8 driveline and modern comfort features. These exacting reproductions sold for up to US$225,000. The Murphy Roadster model is currently being revised and will be on the market in early 2007. Details are available on the Duesenberg Custom Coach website.

Currently, there is another attempt to revive the Duesenberg name with the "Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe" slated for introduction in August 2007 at Pebble Beach. This vehicle will have a Mercedes-Benz CL500 as a chassis donor, and offer an air-cooled, self-lubricating, supercharged, 12-cylinder rotating engine with an estimated fuel efficiency of 70 MPG and 300 horsepower (called the Cylindrical Energy Module). The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. ... 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600 SEC, a predecessor of the modern CL-Class 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG The Mercedes-Benz CL-Class is a 2-door luxury coupe. ... The Cylindrical Energy Module or CEM Rotary Pump is a modified swash-plate pump. ...

The Duesenberg name still lives on as an object of opulence and luxury. It is estimated as of 2006, approximately 50% or roughly 600 of the originally manufactured Duesenbergs are still on the road as classic cars or "Oldtimers." Today Duesenberg Model J's and SJ's are among the most desired collectible classic cars in the world. It is not uncommon today for a Duesenberg in good condition to sell for over $1 million, and a few sell for a multi-million price.

Etymological note

The origin of the American slang word "doozy", meaning something excellent or powerful, is either the Duesenberg's nickname "Duesy", or an older term (derived from earlier slang "daisy"). Encarta.com describes the origins of the term as unknown, and dictionary.com lists it as possibly a blend of the terms "daisy" and "Duesenberg". Etymonline.com lists it as "1903 (adj.), 1916 (n.), perhaps an alteration of daisy, or from popular It. actress Eleonora Duse (1859–1924). In either case, reinforced by Duesenberg, expensive, classy make of automobile 1920s–30s." Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ... Eleonora Duse (October 3, 1858–April 21, 1924), was an Italian actress, often known simply as Duse. ... Karl Benzs Velo (vélo means bicycle in French) model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race 2005 MINI Cooper S. An automobile (also motor car or simply car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ...

Trivia

• Jay Leno owns multiple Duesenberg SJ's, one of which is Murphy-bodied.
• In the musical Annie the character Daddy Warbucks has a line ordering his butler to get the Duesenberg ready.
• Likewise, in the musical High Society, Bing Crosby's character comments on something being 'a doozy.'
• On the television show The Simpsons, Mr. Burns' car is a Duesenberg, model unspecified.
• In the novel Pimp: The Story of My Life, the author witnesses a pimp by the name "Sweet Jones" riding in the backseat of a Duesenberg.
• In the cartoon Rugrats, Grandpa loses Tommy in the backseat of a Duesenberg Phaeton at a grocery store.
• "Boys, the only difference between me and everybody else is that everybody else drives around in a Volkswagen, and Minnesota Fats drives around in a Duesenberg," a quote by Rudolph Wanderone, Jr., "Minnesota Fats."
• Cruella de Ville drove a Duesenburg in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Jay Leno (born James Douglas Muir Leno April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian who is best known as the current host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. ... Jay Lenos vehicle collection includes 84 cars and 73 motorcycles as of April 11, 2006. ... Annie is a musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. ... Lieutenant General Oliver Daddy Warbucks is a fictional character from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. ... High Society is a 1956 musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in VistaVision with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... For the 1980s Canadian childrens band, see The Rugrats. ... Minnesota Fats On Pool, 1965 Rudolph Walter Wanderone Jr. ... Rudolph Walter Wanderone Jr. ... One Hundred and One Dalmatians (often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians) is the seventeenth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. ...

References

See also

• Cord
• Auburn
• List of automobile manufacturers
• List of Indianapolis 500 pace cars
• Packard
• Pierce-Arrow

A 1929 Cord L-29 Phaeton on display at the 2005 United States Grand Prix Cord L-29. ... Auburn was a brand name of United States automobiles from 1900 through 1937. ... // The following data show the automobile manufacturers which produce or have produced automobiles, and some data on their relative sizes. ... The Indianapolis 500 auto race has used a pace car since 1911. ... Packard red hexagon symbol made its debut in 1905, with the color red added in 1913 Packard was a United States based brand of luxury automobile built by the Packard Motors Company of Detroit,Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. ... 1919 Pierce-Arrow advertisement The Pierce-Arrow was a Buffalo, New York (United States) based manufacturing company from 1901 to 1938. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Duesenberg vehicles

• Auburn/Cord/Duesenberg Museum
• Duesenberg History and Photo Albums
• picture of the 1966 Duesenberg prototype at the Imperial website
• other site about the 1966 Duesenberg prototype
• about the words "doozy" and "Duesy"
• Duesenberg Custom Coach - Proposed makers of the 2007 Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe
• French article about Duesenberg returns
• French article from Le Blogauto