Duesenberg’s production cars were as extravagant as its racers were successful. The Model J started at $8,500 in 1929, which equals more than $150,000 when accounting for almost a century of inflation. As should be expected for the most important component of a high-end car, the Duesenberg inline eight engine is a masterfully engineered and crafted wonder. A few years ago, antique engine expert John DeBates had a chance to do some minor work on a 1929 Duesenberg engine and raved about the build quality to Engine Builder Magazine.
“I have never seen an engine before that looked like it was a Swiss watch,” he said. “The [timing] chains are like 3 inches wide. The crankshaft is completely polished and it’s just a beautiful piece to work on.” The Duesenberg’s engine isn’t a showpiece, though. When the 1921 Model A debuted with the world’s first production inline eight, it displaced just under 260 cubic inches and produced 88 horsepower. That seems weak by modern standards, but it was four times as powerful as the Model T’s inline four.
[Featured image by Alvfan Beem via Wikimedia Commons|Cropped and scaled|Public Domain]
