Like Studebaker, the Duesenberg brothers Fred and August were of German ancestry and arrived in the US in the early part of the 20th century. Fred built cars and racing bicycles for other companies and then moved into engine building. They started the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company in 1913 to build sports cars and had immediate success when one of the cars finished 10th in the following years Indy 500.
Although
the company was original started in Iowa, they moved firstly to New Jersey (to
build aircraft, tractor and marine engines as well as sports cars) and then to
Indianapolis – close to the raceway. They started to build advanced passenger
cars (the Model A) using motors with 4 valves per cylinder and double overhead
cams and the cars were one of the first to use hydraulic brakes. However, this
change from building sports models wasn’t a success and only 667 were built before
the receivers were called in. Fred Duesenberg bought the remains and renamed it
Duesenberg Motor Company and saw his cars win the Indy 500 in 1924, 25 and 27.
EL
Cord came on the scene in 1926 and not only bought the company to produce
luxury cars but retained Fred to design them. The first model after the
acquisition was the Model J that had a 265hp straight 8 capable of 119mph! The
chassis and engine were debuted at the New York car show in 1928 and owners
purchased bodies either from US or European coachbuilders.
In
1932, a supercharger was added increasing the power to 320hp and these were
known as the “SJ” and were one of the fastest cars on the road. The final
evolution in 1937, called the “SSJ” included a ram air induction system that
produced 400hp from the blown engine. Only 481 “J”, “SJ” & “SSJ” were
built.
1937
saw the Cord Corporation sold and the car manufacturing ceased, although after
WW2 August Duesenberg tried to revive the name and his son Fritz had a go in
the 60s with a rebodied Chrysler Imperial designed and built by Ghia in Turin.
50 were sold but none were ever built because Fritz couldn’t pay the sales
commission and the prototype was confiscated! The car cost $19,500 with a
$1,000 deposit and $4,000 to be paid at start of the production of the buyers
car. The prototype can be seen at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.
In
1996, the trademark was bought by Duesenberg Custom Coach and in 2006 they
announced the Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe to be launched in mid 2008. This model
will be built alongside the Duesenberg II, a car designed along the lines of
the 30s models that has been manufactured since 1978. The company also plans to
build the Duesenberg Torpedo motorcycle in honour of one of Fred Duesenberg’s
earlier creations.