It can be said that many of the best things in life begin with humble beginnings. The same goes for the Duisenberg Motor car. You may have heard the expression from time to time: “That’s a Doozie” or “That’s a Doozie.” These are all references to a great car and renowned car manufacturer: the Duisenberg.
The Duisenberg began life as Auburn-Cord-Duisenberg. Ernest Lobban Cord began his career in the automotive industry in the most humble way: as a simple repairman for Model T Ford cars. This start of the Duisenberg line arguably met with rather mixed fortunes. -Mr. Cord claimed to have become a millionaire on three separate occasions, even before reaching the mature and seasoned age of 21, losing all of his fortune completely each of the three times. Finally, at the ripe age of 30 and with lasting and real wealth, Mr. Cord joined the bankrupt Auburn company as its “general manager”, purchased a substantial interest in the company, and proceeded to take Auburn from return to the path of financial economics. security and wealth.
In addition to obviously being a smart engineer, Cord had the greatest skill and ability to spot great talents and talents in others. As a result, he scouted, hired and employed classic notables and famous legends in the automotive trades such as Gordon Buehrig, Harry Miller and Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. Mr. Cord then quickly bought control of the Lycoming Engine Plant and the Duisenberg Company itself.
The Deisenberg brothers, Fred and August, had originally started manufacturing bicycles in their adopted “hometown” of Des Moines, Iowa, before turning to the sport of motor racing, building their first racing car in 1903. The Duisenberg Company itself was formed in 1912. to build racing cars, and their success inevitably led to the manufacture of standard road cars. The first in the Duisenberg line of standard road and driverless racing cars was the model A tourer. The Model A “Tourer” has been dated to the year 1920. It can be rightly, truthfully and knowingly said that Duisenberg’s road cars relied heavily on knowledge and experience gained from auto racing and They were excellent examples of advanced engineering and automotive mechanical technologies of the time. Duisenberg’s line of automotive products quickly established a more than solid and well-earned reputation on the road just as Duisenberg’s racing cars had amassed a host of speed and racing records. Remarkably, Duisenberg’s racing group had taken venerable Indianapolis race victories in the years 1924, 1925 and 1927.
It could be said that Mr. Cord’s tough leadership and empire-building ambitions had created a more vital and effective combination and Auburn-Cord-Duisenberg proceeded to flourish in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, Cord’s timing was particularly bad, and all of his projects came to fruition in the same fateful year: 1929, the same year as the great stock market crash. Miller himself patented his version of “Front Wheel Drive”.
The following year, 1929, in which Cord’s nameplate was first used, the L29 was introduced and released for sale. Designed by Carl van Ranst, it carried the Miller front axle setup. Next in line were cars as quick and fickle as the Auburn Speedster, which had the distinction of being the first line of cars to declare and guarantee that each car had been individually tested to 100 miles per hour.
Hence Duisenberg’s reputation for fine automobiles of great speed and beauty was born, cultivated and maintained. It is no coincidence that the name Duisenberg has such a reputation and notoriety among car aficionados.
The phrase “It’s a Doozie” is well earned.
