Duesenberg Automobile Auto History

Fred and August Duesenberg began buinding racing bicycles in the 1890’s . In 1906 the brothers were approached by Edward Mason to build automobiles for the Mason-Maytag Motor Company . Fredrick Maytag of Maytag Appliances was a financial partner in the company and owned about 60% , which explains the name . the Duesenberg brothers left the Mason-Maytag Motor Company in 1913 to build their own automobiles and founded the Duesenberg Automobile Company . Their intention was to build sports cars . The first Duesenberg automobiles were hand built . The brothers had an interest in racing and so their automobiles were entered in races to help draw public attention to their cars . Duesenberg placed 10^th in Indianapolis 500 and eventually won , in 1924,1925, and 1927 . Duesenberg also won the French Grande Prix in 1921 , and was the first American built automobile to win it .

In 1922 the Duesenberg Automobile Company hit financial problems and went bankrupt . Fred Duesenberg and a group of investment partners acquired the company and reopened it under , the Duesenberg Motor Company .

Due to the high price of the Duesenberg , $13,500.oo to about $25,000.oo , only wealthy people could afford to buy them . Many were sold to movie stars as a sign of prestige . Duesenberg automobiles were known to be very powerful for that time , with a 265 horsepower dual overhead cam straight eight naturally aspirated engines . The Duesenberg also had a supercharged version that was even more powerful with 320 horsepower and was much quicker too . It is said to have an acceleration rate of 0 to 100 miles per hour (160 kmh) in 17 seconds and to have easily exceeded 150 mph(245 kmh) .Any Duesenberg automobile is a very valuable collectors item today .

The Duesenberg Motor Company was sold to E L Cord of Cord Automobile company , in 1925 and production continued until 1937 when the last Duesenberg was built . Duesenberg designs and technology were also in Cord and Auburn automobiles , which were also part of the Cord Empire .