WWYR? Pre-War Celebrity Rides

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 07/22/2014 at 21:55 • Filed to: None

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Back in the 1930's, if you wanted the fastest, most expensive, most luxurious, and most opulent cars money could buy, you didn't go to Italy or Germany. You went to Indiana. Duesenberg A&M Co/Inc was based out of Auburn, with Cord located just over 130 miles south, in Connersville. Both makers produced powerful, high speed, high quality touring cars, limousines, and coupes/roadsters. And both attracted the rich & famous with their glamorous styling and enormous price tags.

Clark Gable was one of the greatest actors of all time. For 6 years, from 1935 to 1941, Gable drove this stunning 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Straight 8 Convertible Coupe. This streamlined car produced nearly 300 horsepower, and had a top speed of between 115-120 mph, very fast for the day. Gable drove the car regularly until the death of his wife, actress Carole Lombard, in 1942. He and Carole went on their first date in the car, and enjoyed driving together along costal roads in it. Gable could not bear the memories the car brought back, and promptly sold it. It went to Pebble Beach in 2012, but did not meet the reserve, despite bidding in excess of $6 million.

Another celebrity of equal fame, and perhaps greater ego than Clark Gable, also purchased a similar vehicle. Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed some of the most iconic and breathtaking houses and buildings in the world, ever, including !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which I am admittedly a huge fan of. Along with his great taste in architecture, Wright possessed great taste in automobiles. In 1929, he purchased a brand-new Cord L-29 roadster. Despite its sporting, two door appearance, the L-29's Straight 8 was not nearly so powerful as the Duesenberg's, meaning that it was not a performance car, even for the time. But the the revolutionary front-wheel drive system and luxurious interior were enough to move 4400 L-29s before the Great Depression ended production. To aid the head-turning styling and imposing dimensions, Wright had the car painted bright orange with white detailing, like a massive orange creamsicle. The car now resides in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg museum, where I have had the pleasure of seeing it in person.

So Oppo, which would you rather have? Clark Gable's swift, subtle Duesenberg? Or Frank Lloyd Wright's flashy, futuristic (and slow) Cord?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 21:59

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Is both an option?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/22/2014 at 22:00

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I guess so. If you have $6 million to spend on one, whats a few more million for the other?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:02

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Exactly!

MAXIMUMVRM > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:12

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franks by far. It has that luxo ganster feel which I prefer. Clark's is a sex symbol. Would rather have the real thing.

lone_liberal > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:15

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Gable had it right.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:18

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Gib Gable's pls.

Your boy, BJR > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:23

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CORD. Because holy shit, look at it, and also my great grandfather's steel company provided all the steel for use in Falling Water, and I like to think maybe he rode shotgun in this at some point in the planning stages.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Your boy, BJR 07/22/2014 at 22:27

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Very cool. Perhaps he drove it, though I can't think why.

Your boy, BJR > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:29

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Maybe him and Frank went to a party and FLW got too blitzed to drive home.

f86sabre > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:31

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Between these two cars I go for the Duesenburg. bespoke coach work means there is a lot of variation from car to car, but I prefer that one over the Cord.

The museum is great, isn't it?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Your boy, BJR 07/22/2014 at 22:33

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...and I'm supposed to believe that your grandfather, who was related to you, did not get too hammered to drive, and is a relation of yours?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > f86sabre 07/22/2014 at 22:33

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I want to go back. Like now.

Your boy, BJR > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:35

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He was also a Scottish orphan adopted by an Irish family. The point being, it was a different time and homeboy could out drink every frat in america. The party would run out of booze before he got drunk.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Your boy, BJR 07/22/2014 at 22:50

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Good grief. In that case, I'm going to assume your grandfather never did drive the car, because it still exists in one piece.

Let's just stick to "Perhaps he rode in it some time."

Your boy, BJR > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 22:53

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HEY! It's not that bad. 1 of my cars is still more or less in one piece

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Your boy, BJR 07/22/2014 at 22:55

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