Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Museum!!

1934 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
They DO NOT make them like this anymore!

Three famous US automakers are celebrated at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn Indiana. On our recent midwestern trip we stopped by to have a look. The museum houses a nice collection of automobiles, an extensive library of reference materials from the three brands, and a collection of other automotive miscellaneous items.  Correction, it houses a HUGE collection of Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, and other related cars. I took a ton of photos, because it really is just a huge amount of automotive goodness!

1932 Cord
If you own the company, why not start a brand with your own name like Mr. Cord!

The short version of the company history is that the Auburn car company was started by the Eckhart family, when they added to their carriage business. At some point, the family was bought out by some owners in Chicago, and they brought in E. L. Cord to run things. Before long he added a line of cars using his own name, and bought the Duesenberg brothers company down in Indianapolis. All three brands were on the high end (expensive) side, with Duesenberg being really luxurious! 

The company was doing well, and built a new art deco headquarters in Auburn, and that building is now the museum you see here.

1932 Auburn with Lycoming BB V-12 engine!

Unfortunately, the depression didn't help their business, and the company ceased operations in 1937. I read that out of all the companies that went bankrupt during the depression, this was the only company that was NOT bailed by the government, likely because it would have looked bad to be rescuing such a high end luxury brand as Duesenberg! Mr. Cord was hugely successful in not only the car business, but in many other endeavors, and a chunk of the museum tells his story too. 

1937 Cord 812
Production of the Auburns stopped in 1936, and 1937 was the end of the Cord production. 
Only two were built with two spare tires outside the trunk, making more trunk space. 

Here's two little tidbits about the company that I liked: The Duesenberg brothers made their fame with racing engines and cars, with a Duesenberg winning the 1921 French Grand Prix, as well as winning multiple Indy 500s in the 1920s! Also, even though Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg was out of business, their production facility in Connersville Indiana landed a contract to build Jeep bodies during WWII! In fact, they built the main tub for both Ford and Willys Jeeps, AND built some of the first civilian Jeep bodies AFTER WWII! 

1933 Auburn 8-105

So, let's check out the museum with a few highlights. 

1926 Duesenberg Model A Touring Car
After focusing on racing and engines, Duesenberg started making passenger cars with the Model A. They also were the first company to put hydraulic brakes on all four wheels. This was also the year (1926) that Auburn bought Duesenberg.

I'm a big fan of the Duesenberg Straight 8 logo, and I even bought the t-shirt!

1935 Auburn Speedster Model 851

Here's a hood ornament and brand name that lets you know it's from the 1930s!