1966 Duesenberg
In 1966 there was a try to create
a "new" Duesenberg.
Virgil
M. Exner designed, on a Chrysler Imperial chassis,
powered by a V8-440ci engine,
a car that was inspired by his "Revival
Cars".
The design was quite different
to the design-suggestion Exner made in 1963 for a Duesenberg revival.
The prototype was built by Ghia,
Torino, Italy.
It cost $ 60'000!
The above picture shows the styling that came true,
below you see the drawing of a 1965(?) styling that
wasn't realized.
Fritz Duesenberg, son of August
and nephew of Fred Duesenberg,
was president of the new founded
Duesenberg.
Above: the design-sketch in
the original brochure
Below: the reality...
photo by Joe Bortz
50 cars were sold (selling price
was $ 19,500 in 1966!),
among the first clients there
were Elvis Presley and
Jerry Lewis.
Production never started.
The marshall seized the car
because Duesenberg owed the salesman his commission.
Provision was $ 500 for each
car, they couldn't pay him $ 5000, so the prototype was destrained.
That was the end of the new
Duesenberg.
The following postcard was issued in 1984.
Stating that the owner was Samuel Schwartz of Long
Island, New York.
For several years, the car was shown at the "Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg-Museum".
In May 2004, Jeffrey King visited the museum, and sent me these two photos.
Today, the prototype is owned by famous car-collector Joe Bortz.
In August 2008, he sent me three great photos, which you can see here.
Press-Releases and Company-Letters
Fact-Sheet
1 (140kB)
Fact-Sheet
2 (106kB)
Fact-Sheet
3 (135kB)
Fact-Sheet
4 (171kB)
Fact
Sheet 5 (130kB)
Letter from Bryan A. Orr, General
Sales Manager, dated May 10,1965
page
1 (141kB)
page
2 (34kB)
Letter
from Fred Duesenberg, Chairman of the Board, dated August 25, 1965
(161kB)
Magazine-Ad (172kB)
Invitation
for Presentation of the Duesenberg, March 29, 1966 (33kB)
