- Posts: 28
- Thank you received: 3
What caught your eye.
- Mike Dube
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
Steve Derus wrote: now there's an idea for the reunion....a test drive exchange event.
Duesenberg, Cord, and Auburn owners exchange test drives in their cars. I bet there would be quite a bit of interest. Do a basic driving familiarization lesson in a closed area like a prking lot or airstrip, followed by a short drive on city streets.
I'm just sayin.........
I like the way you think Steve!
Mike
8-100A
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Steve Derus
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
- Posts: 11
- Thank you received: 2
Duesenberg, Cord, and Auburn owners exchange test drives in their cars. I bet there would be quite a bit of interest. Do a basic driving familiarization lesson in a closed area like a prking lot or airstrip, followed by a short drive on city streets.
I'm just sayin.........
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mike Dube
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
- Posts: 28
- Thank you received: 3
[i:234hx77w]I have been privileged to drive two different Model J's, and I consider both times to rank among the most memorable experiences of my life. It's not something you ever forget. [/i:234hx77w]
I have driven a lot of interesting cars over the years, including a number of Auburns and an A Duesenberg, and have ridden in a couple of different Js. I have spent some time in and around general aviation and soloed in a small aircraft. All were memorable. But.... a major item left in my bucket is having generous J owner give me a lesson.
Mike
8-100A
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Steve Derus
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
- Posts: 11
- Thank you received: 2
I have been privileged to drive two different Model J's, and I consider both times to rank among the most memorable experiences of my life. It's not something you ever forget.
Back in the day, around 1962, I was lucky enough to have access to my dad's Model J Murphy convertible sedan (mostly without his knowledge I must admit). The car was in pretty good shape mechanically but looked much like what we now call a rat rod. Suffice to say it was not looking its best back then. I drove the car frequently, and hard. The clutch chattered a bit, but other than that it was a joy. It had good to excellent brakes, it had plenty of power and handled freeway speeds easily. It never overheated, always started even after a good romp, and I had it up to 65 or 70 mph in second gear on more than one occasion; I believe 90mph in second gear would have been achievable but others may argue that claim. One has to drive a Model J to really appreciate it. I would love to have had a chance to try out an SJ.
I enjoy the Jay Leno video clips where he takes his J's out for a spin, I've seen the one with the Murphy beverly and the Walker coupe, he knows how to drive them and not afraid to wind em up a little.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- fyreline
- Offline
- Senior Forum User
-
Registered
- Posts: 48
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Steve Derus
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
- Posts: 11
- Thank you received: 2
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the National Auto Museum in Reno with my 21 year old grandson Adam Griffith. The Weymann fishtail speedster is on special exhibit there, along with the Murphy clearvision sedan that Adam's great grandfather, Nate Derus, owned for a brief time in the 1960's. I think Adam was bitten with Duesenberg fever after seeing those cars. He described them as works of art. I sponsored an ACD club membership for Adam in hopes of cultivating his interest in these cars. Maybe one day he'll be lucky enough to actually get a ride in one.
Steve Derus
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mike Dube
- Offline
- Moderator
-
Registered
- Posts: 28
- Thank you received: 3
My real ACD education began around 1963, when I got a copy of Roger Huntington's Cord treatise as a Christmas gift; it was all downhill from there. :rolleyes:
Mike
8-100A
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Chris Summers
- Offline
- ACD Club Life Member
-
Registered
- Posts: 26
- Thank you received: 3
In 8th grade I read Clive Cussler's "Flood Tide," which features one of his Duesenbergs. I remembered the name and the other car, so I started looking at Duesenberg pictures online. Eventually, to keep all the cars I saw straight in my head, I started making lists of them by chassis and engine number, which led to keeping records of their history.
I found Bill Hummel's cordhaven.com site when I was 16, and through that site found the ACD Club and the Forum. I found the people friendly, helpful, and receptive to my questions. At the age of 18 I joined the Club after being encouraged by Mike Huffman and others.
I've never identified that long-ago red convertible coupe. It might have been a Duesenberg II.
Chris Summers
ACD Club
CCCA
H.H. Franklin Club
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Bob Roller
- Offline
- Premium Forum User
-
Registered
- Posts: 299
- Thank you received: 0
There were others that called from distant places but Don Thompson hated to travel so we did nothing but work on the ones that could get to the garage. Memories stay sharp for me even after all these years and sometimes,I will encounter someone who remembers the garages (there were three)and those big cars we were seen driving around in. That was another America,on another planet and I am glad to have been a part of it even if it didn't last very long.
Bob Roller
Bob Roller
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- kedeuel2008
- Topic Author
- Offline
- Non-Member
-
Registered
- Posts: 23
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.