Duesenberg Model X

Duesenberg, founded by brothers Fred and August Duesenberg, initially gained fame through motorsport successes, including victories at the Indianapolis 500 and the 1921 French Grand Prix. The company entered receivership in 1924 amid financial difficulties but was acquired in 1926 by Errett Lobban Cord, who sought to reposition Duesenberg as a premier American luxury marque. The Model X was developed in 1925 as an upgraded, performance-oriented derivative of the Model A (produced 1921–1927). It featured a reengineered chassis and powertrain intended to offer greater speed and refinement while retaining the straight eight engine architecture that had become a Duesenberg hallmark. Production was extremely limited, with chassis supplied as rolling platforms for custom coachbuilt bodies by various firms, including Locke & Company and McFarlan. The model was exhibited at major auto salons, such as the 1927 New York and Chicago shows, in an effort to generate interest among wealthy clientele. By late 1927, Cord shifted focus toward a more ambitious and imposing flagship, the Model J, which featured a larger engine, greater power, and even more extravagant coachwork. As a result, the Model X program was curtailed, and some unfinished X chassis were repurposed or destroyed during the transition. The Model X is often viewed as a bridge between Duesenberg's early production efforts and its peak luxury era in the late 1920s and 1930s.^[5]

Production totaled just 13 chassis, with only a portion receiving complete bodies. Estimates suggest that around five finished automobiles survive today.^{[citation needed]} Several chassis were lost or converted during the shift to Model J production. The extreme rarity has made surviving examples highly prized among collectors, with public sales being exceptionally rare—the last notable one occurring in 1996. Notable surviving examples include:

• A 1927 Model X Boat Roadster (one-of-one, bodied by McFarlan), built for the 1927 New York Auto Salon. This influential design, with its tapered boattail and sporty proportions, is credited with inspiring later Auburn speedsters. Restored in the late 1990s, it won awards at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, and European concours events before being donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, where it is prominently displayed.
• A 1927 Model X Dual-Cowl Phaeton by Locke & Company (chassis D95D), originally delivered to paper mill owner C. Walter Pratt. This is believed to be the only surviving example of its body style. It passed through notable collections, including Harrah's Automobile Collection (where it was restored and frequently driven by Bill Harrah), before entering private ownership. It has been certified by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club.
• A sedan originally owned by the chief engineer of General Electric.
• Additional examples, including one acquired by comedian and collector Jay Leno in the early 2000s.

Fred Duesenberg (whose Duesenberg company was based in Indianapolis, Indiana) won numerous prestigious competitions in 1925, 1926, and 1927 with a supercharged 1.4L Duesenberg "Straight Eight Race" (8-cylinder racing) version of his engine, including the Indianapolis 500 and the American Motor Racing Championship.

• 1925: Victory in the 1925 American Motor Racing Championship, with 6 wins by driver Peter DePaolo.
• 1925: Victory in the 1925 Indianapolis 500, with driver Peter DePaolo.
• 1926: 5th in the 1926 Indianapolis 500, with driver Peter DePaolo.
• 1927: Winner of the 1927 Indianapolis 500, with driver George Souders, at an average speed of 156.9 km/h.

Though overshadowed by the more powerful and numerous Model J, the Duesenberg Model X represents a pinnacle of American engineering ingenuity in the 1920s. Its advanced chassis dynamics, high-performance straight-eight engine, and exclusive coachbuilt bodies embodied the era's blend of speed, luxury, and custom craftsmanship. Today, the surviving Model Xs are celebrated as "the rarest of the rare" among Duesenberg enthusiasts and are featured in major automotive museums and concours d'elegance.^[6]