Duesenberg: The Pursuit of Perfection by Fred Roe

In the great days of world automobiling, a handful of cars represented the top of the crop. . . Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti Royale. America had no such car—none with such distinction, such quality, such performance. But then the Duesenberg boys built their Model A and J/SJ beauties—built, as their advertising said, "to outclass, outrun, and outlast any car on the road." What car even today can carry 6,000 pounds from zero to 100 MPH in 17 seconds? Or do 104 MPH in second gear? Or reach 129 MPH in top gear? The Duesenberg could do it all—all those years ago. To own one you needed a lot of money, and owning one tagged you as a person with a flair for living, a sense of style and an eye for beauty. The Duesenberg days are gone forever —but The Duesenberg brings them back to life briefly in this tale of the brothers Duesenberg and the cars they built to high standards of sophisticated design and performance. It is an inside story that draws upon the files and memory of the man, J. Herbert Newport, who designed Duesenbergs for such notables as Gary Cooper and Greta Garbo, and who had a close hand in many of the car's developments. With such rare material to use, including personal photographs and designs, Louis Wm. Steinwedel, author of The Mercedes-Benz Story, lets the story flow in such chapters as The Mighty Model J—The Duesenberg Look —The Legend Lives On—Duesenberg At Speed—so that the whole intriguing scene is recreated for today's enthusiasts.