WWYR? Pre-War Celebrity Rides (Morning crowd repost)

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
07/23/2014 at 11:59 • Filed to: None

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?

DISCUSSION (15)

Agrajag > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:09

I would take the King of Hollywood's.

potentialthreat > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:15

I want the Duesenberg....but in orange and white >.<

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > potentialthreat
07/23/2014 at 12:16

The "votes" have been pretty evenly spilt. 1/3 want the Duesy, 1/3 want the Cord, and 1/3 want both.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:17

No Auburn-branded on the list? Boo.

Meanwhile, two other top-of-their game motor cities of the time were Buffalo (Pierce Arrow) and Detroit itself with Packard and Cadillac - and that's not even counting Ruxton in St. Louis and Peerless in Cleveland, though both of those didn't make it past '31. There really were a surprising number of world leaders in luxury in the US at that time.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
07/23/2014 at 12:19

Indeed there were.

And I didn't include Auburn partly because I didn't know offhand of celebrities that owned one, and partly because Cord was made by Auburn.

langadamd > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:22

Gotta go with the Duesy. And living in Indianapolis, I have to go up to the museum sometime! They look like they have some astonishing cars.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > langadamd
07/23/2014 at 12:23

They do. It's absolutely a must see.

catkam623 misses his 944 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:36

I think the Duesenberg has to be my pick 300 hp, glorious body work, and It wasn't front wheel drive.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 12:48

Both, despite the FLW provenance on the orange one. I'm no fan of Wright. Having grown up in western Pennsylvania where just about every art class had a field trip to Fallingwater at some point, I wore out on him. Also — just because it's different doesn't mean it's better. Loewy was superior.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 22:41

Is that even a question? I'd take a Duesy before anything else. Cords are nice but they are my least favorite of ACD

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
07/23/2014 at 22:44

Apparently it is, because I've gotten a nearly perfect 50/50 split for the answers.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 22:47

Interesting. The Duesenberg story is far more romantic and they built arguably the best car of the first half of the 20th century. For me it is an easy decision. Furthermore the Cord was a horrible car in the winter time (not that it matters today)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
07/23/2014 at 22:50

People cited the Cord's imposing gangster styling and bright paint. I personally prefer the Duesenberg, but having seen the Cord in person, I really like it too. It has so much presence.

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/23/2014 at 22:54

I've been to the ACD as well and the Cords just had the most spectacular paint work. I must admit I am not a big fan of Clark Gable's model J. A beautiful car no doubt but a little bland. If I am buying a Duesy I want it brightly colored. Furthermore it needs to be a dual cowl phaeton.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1
07/23/2014 at 22:58

Yeah, it is elegant, but it needs a little more...pomp and circumstance, I think the Brits call it.