1923 Duesenberg Model A Sport Touring
Specifications
Engine: 260 cu. in. SOHC inline eight-cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors
Horsepower: 110
Transmission: 3 speed manual
Suspension: Solid front and live rear axles with semi-elliptical leaf-spring suspension
Brakes: Four-wheel hydraulic cast-iron drum brakes.
Firmly ranked among the 20th century’s greatest innovators, the rich legacy of Fred and Augie Duesenberg continues stronger than ever today. As the brand’s racing dominance brought intense demand for a Duesenberg road car, the Model A was launched at the 1920 New York Automobile Salon. A race-bred ‘tour de force’, the Model A was America’s first production car with inline eight cylinder power and four wheel hydraulic brakes, which helped Duesenberg’s Jimmy Murphy take victory at the 1921 French Grand Prix. Despite early acclaim, Model A sales suffered with Fred Duesenberg’s insistence on conversion to a new SOHC cylinder head. Built with uncompromising quality, including bodies primarily built by Millspaugh and Irish, the Model A was very expensive with only an approximate 650 built. However, the stellar reputation earned by Duesenberg convinced E.L. Cord to add the marque to his holdings in 1926.
The Model A Sport Touring on display features the famed 260 C.I. inline eight cylinder engine producing 97 horsepower. This Duesenberg came equipped with a rear windscreen, dual side mounted spare tire and a rear mounted luggage trunk, along with a tool kit built into the driver’s door. Known ownership history dates back to the 1940’s, when it was purchased by Laverne Skoglund – a Minnesota native who regularly drove the ‘Doozy’ to Florida and back pulling a travel trailer!
This stunning piece of machinery recently saw floor time at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana for several years, and has also participated in the famous Duesenberg Drag Races!
