1925 Duesenberg Model A Phaeton

The Duesenberg Model A was very advanced for its era, and the first production car to be fitted with hydraulic brakes. They also had the first production engine with four-valve cylinder heads and an overhead camshaft. Their drawback was the steep price tag, causing sales to be sluggish, with just 667 examples built in 1927.

The brothers, Fred and August (Augie) Duesenberg were self-taught engineers, and not very business oriented. As the company failed to flourish, they handed over the operations to two investors named Van Sant and Rankin. Unfortunately, they left with all the money, leaving the brothers struggling to survive. Ultimately, the company filed for bankruptcy. It was later rescued by Erret Lobban Cord, who had been searching for a flagship model for the automotive empire he was building.

In the late 1980s or early 1990s, this car was part of a very large Houston collection owned by Jerry J. Moore. In December 2003, the car was sold to John O'Quinn, and it became one of the first Duesenbergs he purchased.

The car was given a restoration many years ago but remains in presentable driver condition. It is finished in red with maroon fenders and beltline, has chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, a tan leather interior, and a tan canvas top. It is equipped with a rear-mounted chrome spare, an accessory folding rear windshield, and a radiator-mounted Duseneberg Boyce Motometer temperature gauge.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at RM Auctions 'Automobiles of Amelia Island' event. The car was estimated to sell for $140,000 - $180,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $104,500, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2010