The Nostalgia of Forgotten Gods: Duesenberg, USA, 1913-1937

In the world of collecting, Duesenbergs hold a prominent place with significant auction valuations (from a minimum of $500,000 to $5 million these days). The American brand was created in the 1910s by the brothers Frederick and August Duesenberg, who emigrated with their family from Germany to Iowa to ride the wave of the new internal combustion engine-powered transportation revolution. Their initial focus was on racing cars, which quickly proved to be very competitive.

Their passion led them to concentrate on performance and the build quality of their cars more than on a commercial organization. Thanks to the experience gained during World War I with engines for military use, the Duesenberg brothers designed their first eight-cylinder engine with the intention of entering it into races. The perfect opportunity came with the 1921 French Grand Prix, the first major post-war racing event, where they fielded four cars ready to challenge the established Peugeot, Ballot, and Talbot-Darraq teams. To everyone’s surprise, the victory was clinched by the Duesenberg driven by Jimmy Murphy. It was a prestigious message for the brand, demonstrating its reliability in a grueling race and marking the first time an American manufacturer triumphed in Europe, a feat not repeated until the 1960s.