North American historians agreed that the Duesenberg were the most beautiful passenger cars ever produced in the United States. And although the brand lasted only 16 years, and retained independence only for the first five, its models were excellent. They have become timeless classics. The history of the company is connected with Frederick Samuel Duesenberg. He was born in 1876 in Germany, came to the USA as a child and considered Iowa to be his homeland. He began by making bicycles and participating in bicycle races. Together with his brother August (August) created cars for the company Mason (Mason), and then for Maytag (Maytag). After that, he began to design racing car engines.

Duesenberg's authority grew after the First World War largely due to the fact that the car with his engine set an absolute land speed record in 1919, and in 1921 his racing car won the first post-war French Grand Prix. In the 20s. Duesenberg cars have won the Indianapolis 500 500 at Indianapolis three times.

After high-profile victories, the brothers decided to produce expensive road cars, founding Duesenberg in Indianapolis. motor company(Duesenberg Motor Company). The debut was the model "A" (1921) at a cost of 6.5 thousand dollars - the first American production car with an in-line "eight". The brothers were bad businessmen and after the company managed to produce about 500 cars, it was acquired by Errett Lobban Cord (Errett Lobban Cord).

The new owner intended to release a prestigious model and attached Duesenberg to his companies Cord (Cord), Auburn (Auburn), Checker (Checker) and Lycoming (Lycoming). Kord authorized the introduction of the "J" model with a Lycoming 8-cylinder Duesenberg engine. "The fruit of the genius of Fred Duesenberg and Kord's money" - this is how the last period of the brand's existence was accurately described. A more complex and expensive model"SJ", but due to the economic crisis, the demand for cars was very sluggish.

Under Kord's management, Duesenberg never made a profit - it existed only as a prestigious brand. Therefore, after the death of Fred Duesenberg as a result of a car accident in which he got into his own car "SJ", the end was inevitable. In 1935, the Lycoming company made its last engine, but sales were so slow that Duesenberg survived until the collapse of Korda's empire in 1937.

Subsequently, attempts were made to revive the company. August Duesenberg created a car for new owners in 1947, and in the 70s. copies were produced on the Dodge chassis (Dodge). And yet the production of real Duesenberg cars ceased in 1937 as a result of Korda's financial collapse. In total, a little over a thousand Duesenberg machines were made, most of which have survived to this day.

Duesenberg A (Duesenberg A) 1921-1926

The Duesenberg Eight (Ait) model - the index "A" appeared later - was introduced in 1921 and immediately indicated the brothers' desire to produce a superbly designed road car. With the most ordinary chassis, she had a great engine and carefully crafted details. The Duesenberg Eight was intended for the wealthiest customers in North America who needed a representative car with a spacious and elegant interior and were willing to pay for exclusivity.

The "A" model, and the "J" and "SJ" that followed it, were distinguished by majestic, beautifully crafted and equipped bodies. The inline 8-cylinder engine of the new car had an overhead camshaft and was a derated and modernized version of the engine that the brothers created for racing. For the first time such a motor was used on a road model. Aluminum was widely used in its design: in particular, pistons were made from this metal. The crankshaft had only three bearings.

The car had excellent performance (137 km / h was considered high in those days), hydraulic brakes and a high level of comfort and reliability. However, it took time for self-affirmation: it was difficult to convince wealthy buyers that this car was not created on a noisy, smoky and unsuitable for normal driving chassis. Five years before the Duesenberg brothers sold their company to Erret Lobban Kord, approximately 500 cars of this model were produced, it was replaced by the new Duesenberg model "J".

Characterization (Turbo, 1921)
Engine:	P8 with overhead camshaft
	73x127mm
Working volume:	4261 cm3
Max Power:	90 HP
Transmission:	3-speed manual
Chassis:	on a steel frame
Suspension:
Brakes:	drum with hydraulic drive
Body:	open or closed
Max Speed:	137 km/h

Duesenberg J 1928-1936

When Erret Lobban Kord called the Duesenberg J "the most beautiful car in the world", it was no exaggeration. In almost all respects, he surpassed competitors from Rolls-Royce (Rolls-Royce), Hispano-Suiza (Hispano-Suiza) and Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes-Benz).

Model "J", like model "A", combined a conventional chassis with an advanced, very powerful and carefully designed engine, had wide choose bodies, which no American manufacturer could offer. There was also a choice of wheelbase (from 3.6 to 3.9 m), and one buyer ordered a car with a wheelbase of 4.5 m, which he called the Throne Car (Royal car).

Semi-elliptical running gear, hydraulic brakes and a three-speed gearbox were pretty common, but the 6.9-litre engine was the best in the world. This inline "eight" had two overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder. Already in 1928, the company adopted a scheme that most other prestigious manufacturers did not use until 60 years later.

Lycoming, another branch of the Korda empire, produced engines with at least 265 hp, which was twice the performance of any other American engine of those years. Doubters should be reminded that this machine, when installing a majestic body, had its own mass of more than 2270 kg and developed a speed of 187 km / h.

At first, the price of the chassis was 8.5 thousand dollars (by 1921 it had increased to 9.5 thousand), magnificent bodies were mounted on it, and the cost of the car was at least 17 thousand dollars. At that time, the most expensive Cadillac model (Cadillac) cost 7 thousand dollars. It is believed that "J" was one of the most expensive and exclusive production cars of all time.

Surprisingly, sales of the "J" and its supercharged "SJ" variant continued slowly but surely during the Great Depression. By 1936, when the last copy was built in Indianapolis, 470 cars had been sold with huge selection bodies and the same radiator lining. Without a doubt, then it was the best American car.

Characterization (J, 1928)
Engine:
Bore and stroke:	95.25x120.6mm
Working volume:	6876 cm3
Max Power:	265 HP
Transmission:	3-speed manual
Chassis:	on a steel frame
Suspension:	dependent on semi-elliptical springs
Brakes:	drum
Body:	open or closed
Max Speed:	187 km/h

Duesenberg I variants

Duesenberg JN and SJN

In 1935-36. 10 copies of the "JN" were made with a 3.9 m wheelbase and smaller (17 inch) diameter wheels. Two of them received a supercharged "SJ" engine - hence the name "SJN".

Duesenberg SI 1932-1935

If the Duesenberg J is called "the most beautiful car in the world", then how to characterize the "SJ" model, which was more powerful, more dynamic and more expensive than anything that was built before it? The "SJ" model became a kind of "pinnacle" thanks to the centrifugal supercharger, which increased the engine power to 320 hp. and increased speed to 209 km / h. Competitors were not even close. By today's standards, it would be a car like a Lamborghini (Lamborghini), developing more than 330 km / h.

Kord began its production in 1932 during a deep economic crisis. The listed price for her chassis is $11,750 and for the car with a body is $19,000. Due to the installation of a supercharger, the old exhaust system became unusable. It was replaced by 4 chrome flexible downpipes passing through the sides of the hood on both sides.

Because of this appearance car has become even more unusual than the model "J". Sometimes buyers ordered two-ton roadster bodies that provided contrast to these shiny details. By the way, such external pipes have become the most frequently ordered additional equipment for the "J" model without a supercharger.

The car had a so-called exhaust cutter, which made it possible to get a quiet and pleasant exhaust sound or growl, like a huge racing car. The "SJ" model had excellent handling, vacuum booster brakes, perfectly behaved in operation. In four years, only 36 of these machines were manufactured, almost all of them have survived and today have no price. And now there are people who will say that these cars are the best.

Characterization (SJ, 1932)
Engine:	P8 with two overhead camshafts
Bore and stroke:	95.25x120.6mm
Working volume:	6876 cm3
Max Power:	320 HP
Transmission:	3-speed manual
Chassis:	on a steel frame
Suspension:	dependent on semi-elliptical springs
Brakes:	drum
Body:	open or closed
Max Speed:	209 km/h

Variants Duesenberg SI

Duesenberg SSJ

The company released two special models"SSJ" with a short - 3.17 m - base and sports bodies. The cars were purchased by American movie stars: Gary Cooper and Clark Gable.

Vladimir KNYAZKOV

duesenberg. Even at home, in the United States, the word is not often used in everyday speech. Most, at least, know that this is a brand of car. Although they have never seen a single "live" car (well, except in the movies) and have no idea where these cars were produced. Due to the unusual name for the average American ear, some, without a shadow of a doubt, consider their homeland Germany.

From 1919 to 1937, hardly over a thousand cars - the daily norm of another modern car factory came out of the Duesenberg workshops. Less than half of them are J and SJ models. But it was they who had the honor to write one of the brightest pages in the history of American automotive engineering.

The brothers Frederick and August Duesenberg, who emigrated from Germany to the United States at the end of the century before last, started in a new place with the production of bicycles, but very soon switched to a much more interesting subject - racing cars.

By the beginning of the First World War, the engineering and technical reputation of the company owned by the brothers was already so high that it was they who were entrusted with the execution of a government order for the production of sixteen-cylinder aircraft engines under license from Bugatti.

After the war, the Duesenbergs designed an inline eight-cylinder engine for a racing car. A three-liter engine that easily developed power up to 100 hp. and a successful chassis made it possible to win the Indy 500 three times and win the Grand Prix of France in 1921 with a record average speed of 126 km / h. This was the only time that an American-made car won a French race.

Along with being active in the field of motorsport, the Duesenberg company, whose plant was located in Indianapolis near the famous "old brick house", drew attention to cars. The first success in the new field was the Model A, shown at the New York Auto Show in October 1920. The car was an improved version of a racing car adapted to the conditions of everyday use. For the first time, an eight-cylinder engine was installed on a production model. Another innovation was the widespread use of aluminum alloy parts. The engine had one overhead camshaft and with a volume of 4.2 liters. developed over 100 hp Not inferior to the engine and the chassis, equipped with hydraulic brakes on all wheels, which was also news for the American automotive industry.

With the release of that early model, the brothers set high standards that other manufacturers had to follow.

But, as it turned out later, advanced, from a technical point of view, the car was not at all synonymous with commercial success. The principle "we win on Sunday - we sell on Monday" worked well in Europe. Americans, especially the wealthy public, perceived auto racing only as noisy, smelling of oil and gasoline, and, moreover, an unsafe action that had no practical significance. And then there's the German surname, to put it mildly, did not cause enthusiasm in the post-war years. The Duesenbergs were great engineers, but clearly lacked the much-needed commercial flair. All this put together put their company in a difficult position by the mid-twenties.

Salvation came in the form of Errett Kord. Duesenberg and Kord needed each other. The company was in dire need of funds to create new masterpieces, and Kord was eager to produce the best car in the world, combining power and speed with reliability and luxury. His target was to be a very specific clientele - crowned heads, financial and industrial magnates, Hollywood movie stars. In 1926, Kord takes control of the company, and Fred Duesenberg becomes its vice president, responsible for the development of new models. But if Kord wanted a big, fancy car, Fred wanted a small car, something Bugatti-ish. Model X became a kind of compromise. Released in only a few copies, it was a direct development of type A with a slightly lengthened base and an engine that received chain drive camshaft instead of the former expensive and noisy - in sports traditions - gear.

But Kord did not need such a car at all. He needed something bigger, grander and more magnificent than anything that had ever traveled on the roads. It was such a car that appeared before the eyes of visitors to the New York Auto Show, which opened its doors on December 1, 1928. It was undoubtedly the best American (and perhaps not only American) car of the pre-war period - the Duesenberg Model J.

The chassis, which was offered in short and long versions with a base of 142.5 and 153.5 inches, respectively, was very rigid and consisted of two massive spars with six cross members. Equipped with a vacuum servo booster, the brakes guaranteed effective braking of a car weighing more than 2.5 tons. An in-line eight-cylinder engine with a volume of 6882 cm 3 with a power of 265 hp became a true masterpiece of design thought. - more than two times more than any competitor. This engine - unheard of in those years - had four valves per cylinder driven by two camshafts in the block head! To reduce weight, many parts of the motor and chassis were made of hardened aluminum alloy. But such savings in weight had a downside - an increase in price. The chassis alone, without the body, cost $ 8,500. Bodies for all Model J cars were made separately. The cheapest of them - manufactured by Murphy - cost 3 - 3.5 thousand. The normal price for a fully equipped car was 17 - 20 thousand dollars, but copies are also known that pulled on all 25 thousand.

Approximately six months before the premiere in New York, the company invited the leading coachbuilders to "dress" the new car at their discretion. Therefore, the car appeared immediately in many faces with bodies from Derham, Holbrouk, Le Baron and Murphy. Later, Judkins, Weymann, Bohmann & Schwartz, Rollston, Brunn, Brewster, La Grande and Woods entered the dispute for profitable customers. He stayed away and them European competitors- Hibbard & Darrin, Barker, Gurney Nutting, Letourner & Marchand, Graber, Vanden Plas, Kellner, Franay, Figoni et Falaschi, Saoutchik, Cattaneo, Castagna - often surpassed American coachbuilders in the perfection of their products. Wishing to satisfy any whims of customers, body companies did not skimp on silk upholstery and mosaic panels made of precious woods, ivory and silver trim, bars built into the back of the front seats and ... duplicate dashboards - especially for passengers! And the abundance of control devices resembled the cockpit of an aircraft. Along with the necessary indicators of fuel level, brake pressure and engine water temperature, a 150-mile speedometer, there was a tachometer on the dashboard - a rarity in those years, and quite exotic: a barometer, a clock with a stopwatch and an altimeter. And the dashboard was also decorated with a whole garland of multi-colored light bulbs, which were switched on by commands of a special timer located under the hood. Every 75 miles, the lubrication system automatically supplied oil to certain points scattered throughout the chassis, as evidenced by the red light coming on. When the oil level in the tank dropped to a critical level, a green lamp flashed. Another reminded the driver every 700 miles that it was time to change the oil in the engine, and the fourth - that it was necessary to check the electrolyte level in the battery.

The dynamics of the car was also impressive. Acceleration from standstill to 60 miles / hour (96 km / h) required 8.6 seconds, to 100 miles / hour (161 km / h) - 20 seconds. In second gear, the car developed up to 153 km / h, while the maximum speed reached 185 km / h.

No matter how good the Duesenberg J was, it turned out to be possible to modernize it in 1932, providing it with a vertical centrifugal compressor that rotated five times faster than the crankshaft. Power increased to 325 hp. at 4750 rpm. New model SJ even in second gear developed 166 km / h, and the maximum speed reached 224 km / h. The short wheelbase roadster accelerated from standstill to 160 km / h in 17 seconds. A characteristic external difference of the new car was four chrome-plated exhaust pipes along right side bonnets - already familiar in Europe, but only appeared in the New World. In total, about 500 cars were produced from 1928 to 1937, including about 35 copies of the SJ model. There are no exact data on this subject, and the information cited by various authors fluctuates somewhere around the figure 485. The rarest was the Duesenberg SSJ with a 400-horsepower engine, an ultra-short 125-inch base and an open two-seater roadster body from La Grande. The first such car was ordered in 1935. Hollywood actor Gary Cooper. Did not want to lag behind him and his main rival Clark Gable, laid out for SSJ almost the entire fee he received for the lead role in the blockbuster "Mutiny on the Bounty". But what does the fee for one film mean! Indeed, it was about unique car, issued in only two copies and looked so fast that the traffic police from one look at him, standing still, literally itched their hands to issue a ticket for speeding.

Through the efforts of enthusiasts and restorers, approximately 75% of Duesenberg J/SJs have come down to us. Today they can only be seen in the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum and at club meetings. But now collectors have a rare opportunity to purchase one of the legendary cars. At the same time, a number of foreign automobile magazines simultaneously published information about the Duesy of the 1930 edition with the imperial cabriolet body of the Parisian studio Hibbard & Darrin put up for sale. Only two such bodies were built, only one survived. The last owner of the car was the notorious publishing magnate William Hurst, who bought the car for his girlfriend, actress Marion Davis. The price of a car completely restored to the level of competitive standards is nothing - some million and a quarter dollars.

Crowning the image of the Duesenberg, the crown of the most famous American car has attracted the attention of many companies that produce collectible models. The most common of them are inexpensive, mass-produced English Matchbox, French Solido and Italian Rio. These models are quite well known to domestic collectors, and therefore do not need a special introduction. It should be noted, perhaps, only a rare version with an open body "double-phaeton", released in 1988 in a small edition especially for members of the Solido club.

Much less known is the compressor model SJ with a "coupe de ville" body manufactured by the Italian company Dugu, which was produced in open and closed versions.

In recent years, another one has been added to the number of inexpensive Duesenberg models. This is a copy of the SSJ short wheelbase roadster produced in China in the Del Prado series. Unfortunately, the coloration of the copy, which is very accurate on the whole, does not match either of the two originals.

More rare is the model of the American company Franklin Mint, distributed by prior subscription, copying the SJ type with a closed four-door "limousine" body. Its removable hood and opening doors are, according to some collectors, an indisputable advantage, while others consider it a clear disadvantage.

English company Western Models in the late 70s included in its catalog a successful copy of the Duesenberg SJ with an unusual streamlined two-seat roadster body. The prototype for the model was a car that installed at one time whole line speed records on the tracks of dried-up salt lakes.

Oddly enough, American firms do not pay much attention to history. famous brand. In addition to the already mentioned Franklin Mint, only one company, Precision Miniatures, has released a high-quality copy of the SJ with a two-tone Weymann speedster body. "Because of the pointed rear end, the latter received another name - fishtail - "fishtail". Much later to the same car applied and Rio, adding a copy of it to his two previously released "phaetons" SJ. And again, as in the case of Auburn and Cord described in previous issues of the magazine, best models Duesenberg belong to the English Minimarque 43. Here you can find the early type A, and J, SJ, and, of course, SSJ. 8-9 basic models allow the company to produce, taking into account different colors and variations of small parts, in total, more than three dozen modifications that meet the most demanding requirements.

Of course, all three articles list only the most known copies Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg in 1/43 scale or close to it. The information provided is by no means exhaustive. There are other, rarer models, which are known only to a few. The author would be grateful to anyone who can provide any Additional information on the topic covered.

Retro car Duesenberg Model J (Dyuzenberg Model Jay) - one of the best American retro cars late 20s - early 30s of the last century! And in her eighty-something years, she looks just amazing! And in terms of design, and even in terms of their technical capabilities, it can still compete with modern cars.

It was not easy for designers to create a luxury car designed for bankers during the Great Depression. Having survived hard times, Duesenberg Model J cars have become one of the most sought after in their class.

They represented the celebration of their time. This became possible due to the fact that the designers received a complete carte blanche, in other words, complete freedom of action and flight of fancy.

It's hard to believe, but the American automobile industry had only 20 years of development when the Duesenberg Model J was released in 1932. From the first days of its existence, this coupe literally became the epitome of an evolutionary leap. The car was beautiful, refined and cost fabulous money.

When the Model J was released in 1928, it was priced at 20 Fords. It was the most modern machine from a technical point of view, and also the most powerful. She had 265 horsepower, 4 hydraulic brakes, adjustable depending on road conditions and self-lubricating running gear. In 2nd gear, the car freely accelerated to 140 km / h, and its maximum speed was as much as 246 km / h.

No wonder the Duesenberg Model J is sometimes called the greatest car of all time. At the age of 21, Franklin Hershey became his designer (later he became famous as a designer).

Interesting fact: when he was already under 80, he was given a ride on the Model J. Getting out of the car, and looking around it, he exclaimed: “What the hell did I make such a trunk!”

The brilliant Duesenberg soon became the perfect example of a retro car in terms of speed, dynamics and comfort. Ranging from the rich to gangsters and Hollywood icons, he has become a symbol of wealth and celebrity. If someone had a Duesenberg, then everyone immediately understood who he was!

But the breathtaking appearance of the Duesenberg Model J should not have been the only advantage for the creators, for them the car, first of all, had to sell well. When this model was first introduced in 1928, the plan was to produce 500 of these models, sell them, and move on to the development of further models.

The heart and soul of the Model J is, of course, a race car with 32 valves, dual chambers and 265 hp. With. At that time, and even now, it was a real engineering miracle!

But over time, it turned out that 265 horses under the hood were not enough. Later models were released with . They began to produce a record power of 400 horses! This record in the automotive world was held for the next 30 years.

The main feature of the car was that its entire body was made of aluminum. The body of the car was made separately by individual order for each owner, but basically they adhered to one design concept. It was called "coupe-cabriolet-torpedo", and gave the car a high-speed look.

Another interesting feature of Model J is that it has additional exhaust pipes. Initially, there were none, but with the advent of turbocharging, this design element appeared. With them, the car looks even better, even more powerful and faster.

On dashboard Model J is equipped with many different instruments and indicators. There is an oil indicator, and a gasoline indicator, a brake power indicator, a speedometer and a unique indicator from Model J - an altimeter that shows altitude above sea level; one blinking light indicated completion lubrication work, and the other reminded me of changing the oil. Also on it there are temperatures, an indicator that reports the expiration date, a chronometer.

It took almost 8 years to create and sell 500 machines. In fact, between 1928 and 1937, only 481 "J" Duesenberg models found a buyer. For the vast majority of American citizens, this Retro car was too luxurious and too expensive. The car cost $15,000; for this money during the Great Depression, you could buy four thoroughbred horses.

It is no exaggeration to say that America in the late 20s and early 30s of the last century literally went crazy for Duesenberg. Buyers shelled out an extra $25,000 for Gordon Behring's custom design, because that's what customers wanted to make their car even more different from the rest.

Created at the very beginning of the Great Depression, it became a symbol of fabulous wealth, and for a long time remained an unattainable dream for every American. But, despite all its obvious advantages, Duesenberg Model J was doomed.

Today, the Duesenberg Model J retro car is one of the most sought after classic cars among collectors. Duesenberg's regular good condition costs about 1 million dollars. This deprivation of times proves its unfading beauty and elegance.

If there is a need for an urgent delivery of timber, then you should think before buying a timber truck. After all, instead of spending money on a purchase, it is better to rent it. What are the benefits of renting a timber truck? Firstly, serviceable and completely ready-to-work special equipment does not require time for running-in and maintenance. Secondly, the terms of the lease have no limits, i.e. You can use the technique for one day, and a month, and years. And, thirdly, registration of documents for rent does not require much time. In my opinion, the benefit is obvious!

Historians of the North American automotive industry agree that the most beautiful cars ever produced in the USA were cars Duesenberg. The Duesenberg brand existed for just over 20 years (from 1913 to 1937), but the models released became timeless classics.

It was the car of bankers and movie stars. Excessive engine power, rugged construction and luxury saloon made this car suitable for parade trips and for sports racing. The price of each copy, exclusively hand-made, was up to 25 thousand dollars, while mass models of other companies were sold at the same time for 400 - 600 dollars. Only a little over a thousand cars were assembled at the Indianapolis plant, and most of them have survived to this day in private collections. Today price for Duesenberg up to two million dollars.

Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. was founded in 1913 by the American engineers of German origin, the brothers Frederick ( Frederick Duesenberg) and August Duesenberg ( August Duesenberg) in Iowa. Both brothers were self-taught engineers and started by making bicycles and participating in bicycle races. Companies « mason" (Mason) and " Maytag”(Maytag) involved the brothers in the creation of cars. Then Frederick and August Duesenberg became interested in designing racing car engines. In 1914, Eddie Rickenbacker took 10th place in a car " Duesy with a Duesenberg Brothers engine in the Indianapolis 500.

The First World War distracted the company from the creation of cars, it had to be engaged in the production of aviation and marine engines under license. At the end of the war, the brothers sell all their real estate and build a new plant in Indianapolis to produce expensive road cars. The new company was named duesenberg motor company"(Dyuzenberg Motor Company).

The authority of the Duesenberg brothers in the automotive world jumped in 1919, when a car with their engine set an absolute speed record on land. In 1921, Jimmy Murphy became the first American to win the French Grand Prix in an automobile. Duesenberg.

Thanks to sports victories « duesenberg motor company» had high level prestige, investors began to appear, and in October 1919, the Duesenbergs, lacking entrepreneurial and managerial skills, transferred the rights to use their name, patents and drawings to Newton E. Van Zandt and Luther M. Rankin. The brothers themselves continued to work at the enterprise as employees. Frederick was appointed chief engineer and August was his assistant.
The model became the debut Duesenberg Eight in 1921 at the price of 6.5 thousand dollars. Later, the model was assigned the index "A". Duesenberg Eight was originally intended for the richest people in North America who needed a beautiful, spacious and elegant car executive class, and they were willing to pay for exclusivity.

In the most ordinary chassis, the car had a great engine and meticulously crafted parts, a single overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and hydraulic brakes on all wheels. The car was more powerful and faster than the competition, but lighter and smaller. The hydraulic braking system was developed by Frederick Duesenberg back in 1914 and could have brought him a fortune if he had patented his invention in time.

Due to financial instability, production of the new car progressed slowly. The plant in Indianapolis was barely turning out one car a day, instead of the planned hundred a month.

In 1923, the company's business began to deteriorate even more, and Van Zandt left the presidency. In 1924 the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Duesenberg-powered cars won the sport (in the Indianapolis 500 in 1924, 1925, and 1927), but big money it did not bring. In 1925, Frederick Duesenberg became president of the company, and the firm was renamed " Duesenberg Motor Corporation».

Model Duesenberg X, released in 1926 was sports option model A. Duesenberg X with a heavier and longer chassis (wheelbase - 3500 mm) and a 100 l / s (75 kW) engine, it reached a speed of 161 km / h. The main difference between the models was the installation of hypoid differentials on the X version. Only 13 copies of the X car were produced. The brothers did not have enough capital to develop and maintain the company, and on October 26, 1926, the company was acquired by Erret Lobban Kord ( Errett Lobban Cord), owner " Auburn Automobile and several other transport companies.

The company became known as duesenberg, inc.". Kord suggested that Fred build the best car in the world that would compete with Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Fraschini, Mercedes-Benz- the most luxurious cars of those times. Frederick became Vice President in charge of design and experimental work. August, who took an active part in the development of models A and X, remained in a separate workshop of the main plant Duesenberg develop racing cars and did not officially participate in the creation of a supermodel.

The first was the Model Y, assembled in February 1927. Two versions were built with engines of 5.2 liters - with single and double camshafts. Both cars were not to Korda's liking and were rejected after road testing. The next development received the H index and existed only on paper. After minor modifications, the creation of the model was completed Duesenberg J, a luxurious and technically perfect car, and therefore very expensive. The car was called "the fruit of the genius of Fred Duesenberg and Kord's money", it took 27 months to create it. September 1, 1928 model Duesenberg J with a body "double phaeton" from LeBaron, painted in silver and black, was demonstrated at the New York Auto Show.

On Duesenberg J a new in-line, eight-cylinder, 32-valve, 6882 cm3 liquid-cooled engine with an ONS distribution was installed, which at 4200 rpm and a compression ratio of 5.2 reached a power of 265 hp. (195 kW). It came with a Shebler carburetor and a battery. massive classic chassis with central lubrication system. Rigid axles on semi-elliptical leaf springs with Watson friction shock absorbers. Hydraulic brakes with booster. With a total mass of 2100 kg, the car developed a speed of 190 km / h, and despite its size, it accelerated from 0 to 160 km / h in just 21 seconds.

A big innovation in the car was the dashboard, on which, in addition to the usual equipment, a barometer, an air pressure indicator in tires, a water indicator in the radiator and battery, an altimeter, a level indicator were mounted. brake fluid. There was also a special device that resembled an ordinary watch, today it can be compared with an on-board computer. With the help of a complex system of 24 gears, bulbs were lit on it, announcing the need to change the oil in the crankcase or check the electrolyte level in the battery, this had to be done after 2000 - 2200 km of run. In addition, this “computer” turned on a pump every 120 km, which fed into the chassis parts liquid oil however, this did not preclude their regular manual lubrication.

The chassis and engines for the Model J were developed on " duesenberg, inc.". The engines were based on the successful racing engines of the 1920s, produced by their company "Lying", owned by Kord. A body work were produced in bodywork studios by order of the client, based on his capabilities and desires. About half of all released Duesenberg J were created by the chief designer of the firm Gordon Byrig ( Gordon Buehrig), the rest were developed and produced by private companies and Duesenberg subsidiaries, so it is impossible to meet two absolutely identical models. Duesenberg J. The cost of the chassis reached $ 10,000, and together with the body it turned out about 20 thousand. For cars assembled in Europe, the price was even higher due to the import of expensive chassis.

In 1929 Duesenberg J was presented at Salon de l'automobile de Paris" in Europe. After the New York exhibition, 200 cars were manufactured during the year. Duesenberg is fast becoming a symbol of status, wealth and prestige in the US and Europe, one of the most popular cars luxury class.

Initially, the buyers were from the US financial capital of New York. Then the Hollywood stars began to buy the car, wealthy buyers appeared in Europe.
Among car owners Duesenberg J were Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Al Capone, Gary Cooper, members royal families Europe - King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III, King of Spain Alfonso XIII, Duke of Windsor, Yugoslav Queen Mary.

Model Duesenberg J produced with short (3600 mm) and long (3900 mm) wheelbases. There were also two cars ( SSJ) with a reduced base (3180 mm) and several machines with extended bases(4000 mm and more).

Indices SSJ And SJ were never officially used by the company, they began to be used among motorists.

Until the company's closure in 1937, only minor changes were made to the series. The 4-speed gearbox, which could not cope with the power of the engine, was replaced with a 3-speed non-synchronized one, which made the car difficult to manage.

In 1932, a supercharged model was introduced by Frederick Duesenberg ( Duesenberg SJ). The centrifugal supercharger was located next to the engine, the old exhaust system was replaced by 4 chrome-plated flexible intake pipes passing through the sides of the hood on both sides. Customers liked the unusual appearance, and external pipes were sometimes ordered as an option for the J model without a supercharger. The exhaust cutter made the exhaust sound quieter and more pleasant.

Only 36 cars of this version were produced. The car had a chassis Mormon Meteor”, accelerated to 100 km / h in just 8 seconds and reached speeds of up to 225 km / h, despite the non-synchronized gearbox.

Shortly after debut SJ, Frederick Duesenberg hit the car accident by own car Duesenberg SJ Murphy and died from pneumonia, which began due to injuries. August took over the duties of a brother.

Under his leadership, a model was developed SSJ. Only two such cars were built with a sports roadster body produced by " Central Manufacturing Company", one of the divisions" Auburn» with a 6.9-liter engine with a capacity of 400 hp. (298 kW) with two carburetors. The cars were purchased by Hollywood stars: Clark Gable ( Clark Gable) and Gary Cooper ( Gary Cooper).

Another version Duesenberg J is a model JN(this index was also never used by the company). 10 copies of the model JN were released in 1935 with bodies from " Rollston". They had 17-inch wheels (other models had 19-inch wheels) and bullet-shaped rear lights. The battery, fenders, tool box and some frame parts have also been changed. Supercharged, this version received an unofficial index SJN.

Company run by Korda Duesenberg existed only as a prestigious brand and practically did not make a profit. Therefore, after the death of Frederick Duesenberg, the end was inevitable.

In 1937 Korda's financial empire collapsed and the company Duesenberg ceased to exist. After the closure of the company, two more cars were assembled from the remaining components in 1938-1940. One of them - with a body from "Rollson" on a long wheelbase, was acquired by the German artist Rudolf Bauer in April 1940.

Interest in cars Duesenberg resumed after World War II. August Duesenberg tried to revive prestigious brand car, but failed. Collectors began to take an interest in the car. Today, the SJ and J models are the most desirable cars in the world of collectors. To this day, 378 machines out of 481 produced (of all modifications) have survived. Most of the surviving cars Duesenberg and on the move today.

In 1975, Auburn, Indiana hosted the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg". Five cars were created for this event Duesenberg II. Vehicles with modern features comfort and transmission Ford V8 visually almost indistinguishable from the original. Copies were sold for 225 thousand dollars.

Yes, this is exactly the task set before the designers: no more, no less, but the best car. And you know what? They succeeded. Duesenberg were cooler than Rolls-Royce and . We recall the most luxurious American cars of the 30s.

Despite the fact that the term “supercar” appeared much later and in relation to a completely different car, already in the 30s there were masterpieces that were technically several decades ahead of their time. The ladies looked at them with admiration, and the men without exception dreamed of at least a ride on them as a passenger from the intersection to the intersection.

It will be about legendary brand Duesenberg, which, despite its short existence, has forever remained in the annals of history as the manufacturer of some of the greatest cars in America, and many auto experts agree that the American auto industry has not created anything more beautiful since then. The Duzys were adored by Hollywood stars for their luxurious design, Wall Street tycoons bought them as a status attribute, and the Sicilian mafiosi knew perfectly well that these cars could get away from anyone.

How it all began

The Duesenberg family emigrated to the United States from Germany at the very end of the 19th century. Two young men, brothers Fred and August, began their journey to the heights of the automotive industry with the production of bicycles, continued it by designing engines for the Mason company, and later, in 1913, founded the Duesenberg Motor Company, which produced outboard motors and cars at the dawn of its existence. to race bearing their own name.

During World War II, the production facilities of the plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey, licensed production of Bugatti U-16 aircraft engines. However, at the end of the second decade of the 20th century, the brothers sold all their factories and built new workshops in Indianapolis to focus exclusively on four-wheeled vehicles.

Duesenberg - the choice of champions

The first sensational successes were not long in coming. In 1919, thanks to the sixteen-cylinder engine developed by Fred, a new land speed record was set on the sands of Daytona Beach - 255 km / h. Over the next year, Duesenberg created its first 3-litre, three-valve-per-cylinder overhead inline eight-cylinder engine, whose concept became the basis for the company's entire subsequent engine line.

And in 1921, for the first time in history, the Americans won the French Grand Prix. I think you understand what was under the hood of the winning car... In the next 10 years, racers who prefer Duzy engines won three first places in the annual 500 Miles of Indianapolis competition.

The first road car that almost ruined everyone

Reputation worked into the hands of the Duesenberg brothers, they had no shortage of experience, so the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bcreating the first road car was born by itself. In 1921, Duesenberg introduced the world to its firstborn, the Model A, for which they asked for a fabulous $6,500 at the time. use of those years was simply unthinkable.

Duesenberg Model A

In addition, Model A became the first stock car, equipped with a hydraulic braking system invented by Fred back in 1914. Hydraulic brakes, which have become something absolutely familiar today, could have made a fortune for the brothers if they had received a patent for their invention in time.

Model A was designed for connoisseurs of comfort and speed with thick wallets. But despite manual assembly, meticulous attention to detail, and cutting-edge engineering, sales went from bad to worse. By 1926, only 500 cars had found their owners, and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

A partnership with Erret Kord that helped a lot

Automotive history knows hundreds of examples when brilliant designers failed simply because they did not understand the laws of the market and, as a result, their work remained unclaimed. The Duesenberg brothers had great technical potential and created a product that was exclusive in every respect, but they needed a person who could sell this product profitably.

And soon such a person was found, he became an enterprising businessman Erret Loban Cord, who by that time owned Auburn Automobile, and later became world famous thanks to the breakthrough front-wheel drive car Cord 812.

Only 13 Model X were produced under the patronage of Kord. The model was essentially a modified Model A, however, it also did not gain success among buyers, and then the brothers receive a very clear directive from the new boss: "Build the best car in the world." Kord wanted nothing less than to wipe his nose at such giants of the automotive industry of those years as Mercedes-Benz, Hispano-Suiza and Rolls-Royce, which had been dictating their rules in the segment of the most luxurious cars for more than a decade.

Under Kord's wing, the company became Duesenberg, Inc., and Fred was promoted to vice president in charge of road car design. August, who took an active part in the development of the Model A and Model X, actually had nothing to do with the creation of the new Model J, but all racing prototypes were created by him in a separate workshop of the main Duesenberg plant. In addition, he has developed a number of innovative technical solutions for Auburn and Cord.

The best car in the world

At the end of 1928, after the presentation at the New York Auto Show, the production of the Model J began. The engines developed for the Model J were produced at the Lycoming plant, which was part of the Korda empire. It was a 6.9-liter straight-eight with four valves per cylinder and two camshafts located in the head of the block, which, in a naturally aspirated version, produced a crushing 265 hp.

Duesenberg Model J

Competitors also relied on volume increase as the main way to get more output, but the top speed of 192 km / h, which developed Model J, was simply unattainable for the rest. Another reason for the outstanding dynamics was the extensive use of aluminum parts. So, for example, a water pump was made of "winged" metal, steering column, gas tank, engine flywheel, connecting rods, intake manifold and brake pads. Thanks to this, the dry weight of the car (without gasoline, oil and other liquids) did not exceed 2.5 tons.

Fred Duesenberg strived to create an excellent car in everything, so the interior in the Model J was truly luxurious and extremely functional. The number of sensors on the dashboard was, frankly, prohibitive even by modern standards. There was everything from a stopwatch to an indicator reminding you of the need to change the oil in the suspension. Interior trim was at the highest level, down to the mosaic panels of the most expensive woods and solid gold details. "Every whim for your money".

Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe

Duesenberg offered customers mainly only the chassis and engine, the cost of which reached $ 9,500. The buyer chose the body and interior, based on his own priorities and capabilities, which was absolutely normal practice in the 30s. Most of the bodies for the Model J were designed by Gordon Bayrig, the company's chief designer, while the rest came off the stocks of such eminent private bodywork studios as LeBaron, Murphy, Derham, Holbrook, etc. The price of the finished car averaged $ 17,000, but sometimes the client had to pay all $ 25,000, which in 1929 was equivalent to the price of fifty (!) Massive Ford Model A.

Duesenberg JN

Duesenberg Model J standard equipment was available in long (3900 mm) and short (3600 mm) wheelbases. At the request of the customer for an additional fee, the size of the base could vary. For example, specifically for famous actors Gary Cooper and Clark Gable built two roadsters with a base shortened to 3180 mm.

Even faster, even cooler!

Later, the SJ version saw the light with an engine equipped with a mechanical supercharger, two carburetors and intake manifold Ram’s Horn, which exchanged “hundreds” in 8 seconds, unheard of for road cars of those years, and the speed ceiling was significantly higher than 200 km / h. Although engine Model SJ developed an incredible 320 hp, it would not be superfluous to recall that we are talking about two and a half tons of iron with aerodynamic bricks, to which bicycle wheels were screwed.

In 1934, August Duesenberg and Duesenberg's in-house designer Herbert Newport set out to set another record and build the mind-blowing Duesenberg Special on the SJ chassis. After installing Bendix-Stromberg carburetors, upgraded exhaust system and replacing the camshafts from the engine managed to remove 400 "horses". It was this motor that was installed in the exclusive SSJ roadster, built specifically in two copies for Cooper and Gable.

IN next year on the salt pans of Bonneville, Ab Jenkins set several records at once, winding 5,235 km on the odometer in 24 hours at an average speed of 218 km / h and accelerating to 245 km / h. The record did not last long. August and Ab understood that all the juices had already been squeezed out of the standard Duzy engine and that in order to continue to fight for records, it was necessary to look for a new power plant. And they found it... It was the Curtiss Conqueror, a 26-litre V12 aircraft engine, which helped Jenkins' new car, called the Mormon Meteor, average 248 km/h over a 24-hour race.

From 1929 to 1936, 470 chassis and 480 engines were sold. To whom? Duesenberg owners included such Hollywood stars as Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and Mae West, business tycoons Howard Hughes and William Randolph Hearst, members of European royal families and the famous Italian mafia boss Al Capone.

Mormon Meteor III

Advertising posters were extremely concise and clearly focused on target audience, they didn't even have a picture of a car on them, let alone technical specifications. A stately middle-aged gentleman on board his own yacht or a woman talking to a servant, and a modest signature “He / She drives a Duesenberg”. Too pretentious? Duzys weren't built for housewives and working-class boys in New York City.

dramatic ending

Duesenberg was never perceived by Cord as a source of profit, it was a symbol of greatness and the pinnacle of his industrial empire, inaccessible to others. His plans were to produce 500 Model Js before creating a new model, but the Great Depression made its own adjustments, and Duesenberg, Inc, following Kord's other companies, was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Fred Duesenberg did not live to see this moment, having crashed while driving a Model J at a race five years earlier. He gave himself without a trace to his offspring and the idea of ​​his whole life, creating the most perfect car for his time. Despite everything, his brother continued the work they started, but an attempt to revive the brand in 1947 was not successful.

Duesenberg Speedway Car

What is the result?

Two self-taught mechanics from Germany, Fred and August Duesenberg, made a powerful technological breakthrough in their short career, setting the bar for approaching the automotive industry to such a high level that it remained out of reach for most auto giants for decades after Duesenberg became part of history. Their cars are still admired, they go from auctions for fabulous money to museums and private collections, remaining monuments to the diligence and engineering genius of the Duesenberg brothers.

After the ball

An attentive reader who is fond of cinema has probably already said to himself: “Somewhere I saw this Duesenberg Model J!” And you can see it, in yellow, in the movie The Great Gatsby that thundered in 2013 - the hero of Leonardo DiCaprio rides just like that. A fatal role for one of the overly loving heroines was played by the Duesenberg mascot, made in the form of an arrow.
The car itself, which took part in the filming, is a high-quality replica made in 1975. A batch of five cars using Ford units was timed to coincide with the first Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Oldtimer Festival, and each sold for $225,000. Connoisseurs of the brand note that outwardly these replicas are almost indistinguishable from the real Model J. As for the festival of fans of retro technology, it is still going on, and the next one will be from August 30 to September 7, 2015 in Auburn, Indiana. There is time to make visas and have time to see Duesenberg with your own eyes;)