1930 Duesenberg Fred Frame Special

Few cars can tell the confused story of American racing in the 1930s better than this Duesenberg. While under construction by Augie Duesenberg as a supercharged 91 cubic-inch (1500cc) machine, the AAA Contest Board introduced a 'junk' formula to make racing more accessible by favoring modified passenger cars, raising maximum engine capacity to 366 cubic inches (6.0 liters), outlawing superchargers and brought back two-man bodies that accommodated the driver and riding mechanic.

Harry Hartz purchased this car, enlarged the engine to 142 cubic inches, and hired Indianapolis veteran Fred Frame to drive in the 1931 '500.' 'Fabulous Fred' finished second and was just 43 seconds behind Lou Schneider's winning Miller.

Frame bought the Duesenberg from Hartz and in 1933 had a new chassis and monoposto body crafted for short track competition. Engine wizard Frame increased the eight-cylinder to 168.7 cubic inches (2770cc) and fitted a Duesenberg 'side-winder' supercharger resulting in 200+ horsepower.

The 'Side-Winder' was perhaps the best-known of the racing Duesenbergs in the 1930s, on both East and West coast tracks. It was updated for the 1938 '500,' but failed to qualify. After campaigning the car on the 'outlaw' IMCA fairground circuit, Fred Frame retired from racing.

This veteran Duesenberg raced on into the 1940s on the West Coast circuit and years later, Briggs Cunningham found it in a chicken coop in Santa Rosa, California.

Source - Collier Collection