It Was Indeed, A Doozy

During the decade of the 1930’s it was quite common to hear the phrase, “It’s a doozy.” This was used to describe anything that was the best of everything.

It is attributed to the Duesenberg automobile that was reputed to have the mechanical precision of a Rolls Royce accompanied by the epitome of style, luxury, and elegance.

The Duesenberg was the creation of Fred and August Duesenberg, self-taught engineers, who hand crafted their cars. In 1913, they opened the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Co. on State Street in Garner, Iowa and started building sports cars.

At the Daytona in 1930, the Duesenberg set a new land record speed of 156 miles per hour. Again in 1921, Jimmy Murphy, who was the first American to win the French Grand Prix, drove a Duesenberg across the finish line at LeMans. And as late as 1960, the only American car to win a European Grand Prix was the Duesenberg.

Then again in 1924, 1925, and 1927 a Duesenberg finished first in the Indianapolis 500.

However, in July of 1921, the Duesenberg factory was moved to Indianapolis and began the production of passenger cars. The first vehicle manufactured was the Model A. Six hundred and sixty of these cars were produced launch x431 v.

The Model A was an advanced car for the times. It had dual overhead camshafts, 4 valve cylinder heads and the first hydraulic brakes ever installed on a passenger car.

In spite of this, it was not a success and the company was forced to file bankruptcy in 1922.

In 1926, E. L. Cord, who was already a successful automotive entrepreneur, purchased the company to acquire the engineering skills of the brothers and the brand name.

Fred Duesenberg was a genius engineer and Cord was an innovative designer launch x431. Together they were an unbeatable team. They produced the Model J, which was unveiled at the New York Car Show in 1928. It had a top speed of 119 mph and could attain 94 mph in second gear. It was undoubtedly the best of its time.

Only the chassis and engine was exhibited in New York. The interior and body were always custom built to the purchaser’s specifications.

The Duesenberg was definitely the choice of the rich and famous. It was popular with Hollywood celebrities as well as European royalty. Gary Cooper and Clark Gable drove the convertible. King Alfonso XIII chose the Duesenberg J to accompany him into exile.

The Duesenberg was not only owned by Hollywood actors and actresses, it also starred in films.

In the 1959film,”Some Like It Hot”, starring Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis, the Duesenberg, charges into a parking lot and unloads a car full of outlaws. They deliver a barrage of bullets to their mobster foes, jump back in the car, and leave with the chain and entry “Sound Your Horn” sign hanging on to the bottom of the car. A Duesenberg also appeared in “Pocketful of Miracles” and “The Mummy Returns.”

The Duesenberg was advertised as the best car in the world and the claim would be difficult to dispute. Unfortunately, Cord’s financial empire was unable to survive The Great Depression and the company ceased production in 1937.

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