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car had-power: A total ‘of 265 horsepower from eight cylinders . (Courtesy of the Craven Foundation)

Fred and’ -August
Duesenberg designed their
first car, the Mason, in 1904.

. They..made..engines..for..the...

1921 _Mason racers and
founded Duesenberg Motors
the following year, to
produce marine engines and

extremely expensive, very
advanced, and highly

luxurious. It-employed an 8: ~

cylinder in-line engine, the
first to be seen in an
American production car.
The engine had 260 cid, and

of op

public. this Model ‘A’ was”

céstly. Its 420 cid 8-cylinder
engine was made by
Lycoming (another firm

owned by~Cord); and had -

two chain-driven overhead
camshafts operating four
valves per cylinder; a unique
layout which developed 265

complete racing cars bearing
the family name.

In 1920, inspired by
Bugatti, they unveiled the
183 cid Straight-cight with
single overhead camshaft
and three (vertical) valves
per cylinder that won the
1921 French Grand Prix.
Throughout the 1920's
Duesenberg racers were
constant contenders at
Indianapolis, contests which
led to the adoption of a

centrifugal supercharger in
1924,

Though a 2-cycle 91.5 cid
8-cylinder racing engine
capable of 7,000 rpm was
made in 1926, it was not
developed further. The
horizontal-valve engine was
adopted hy the Rochester
Motor Manufacturing
Company in 1920, and was
used in several sporting and
luxury cars,

By the end of 1920, the
first Duesenberg production
car was offered to the

was similer to the racing

unit, but had only twq valves .

per cylinder and developed
about 100 bhp.

In 1926, E.L. Cord of
Auburn acquired control of
the company. He was a man
of foresight and imagination
and demanded that the next
Duesenberg be completely
new, and wholly == cox-
ceptional. The Model ‘J’ of
1928 was the most
remarkable automobile in
America: the biggest,
fastest, most claborate and

bhp at 4,250 rpm — more
than double the output of
any other car.

‘ Duesenberg made only the
chassis which, in 1929, cost
$8,500. These were very

‘strong, long, and low-built,
and were popular among all
the leading coachbuilders.

Duesenberg preferred to sell
a complete car, with a body
designed by them and made
_ by approved builders, such
as Murphy, Bohman &
Schwartz, Judkins, Derham
and Le Baron. A completed

Deal with experience « Deal with Quality
* Deal with a winning team

and

Gordon Import Autos Ltd.
10th & Alma, Vancouver

733-8105

Denier No. 5087, |

model could cost as much as
$17,950.

In. 1932 .the.. ‘SDF, a.

supercharged ‘J’ was added
to the line. To handle its 320
bhp, bearings, reciprocating

parts, and valve springs were |

strengthened. Usually the
shortest ‘J’ chassis was used,
with the highest axle ratio
and strong front springs. The
‘SJ’ could touch 129 mph,
and accelerate from Q - 100
mph in 17 seconds. It at-
tracted the most prominent

* Power Flush Engine Block & Radiator
* Check All Hoses Belts & Hose Clamps

* Check Thermostat

Peter Brand Motors Ltd.

American public figures —
Mayor Simmy Walker,
William Randolph Hearst,

“Mae West, Gary Cooper and ~

Clark Gable all drove a
Duesenberg. European kings
bought the car, but few
crossed the ocean, for the
chassis was more expensive

than similar Européan
makes, and could not match
them in quality.

Duesenberg survived the
Depression, but collapsed,
with the rest of the Cord:

ENGINE & RAD FLUSH

Deratures

includes:

d po

WYNN'S X:TEND Power Flush utilizes multipie-
Grectional flushes to clean the radiator, water pump,
engine block, heater core, and hoses helping to insure
optimum coolant tlw and angine aperating tam-

Corporation in 1937. Two >

attempts at revival have

1966. The -first was un-
successful. In the most
recent attempt, only one car
was actually produced,
powered by a Chrysler V-8,
with body styling by Ghia.
Unfortunately, it failed as
well, and it seems that the
standards of opulence and
power the Duesenberg

epitomized will not be seen
again.

$15 .°°

plus parts

* Check Radiator & Heater Core
* Check Radiator Cap

* Replace Ant- Freeze

1519 CLYDE AVE. WEST VANCOUVER

922-3231

We keep a goad thing going
We are Open Mon -Fn 8-5p mM

te SRT a
9, September 9, 1979 - S

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