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Diesel Powered Duesenberg at Indy?

  • Mike Dube
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15 Jan 2006 00:23 #4243 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Diesel Powered Duesenberg at Indy?
It seems there were at least three Cummins-Duesenberg specials at Indy in the 30's, according to an article by Karl Zahm in the June 1998 issue of "The Classic Car". In the fall of 1930, Clessie Cummins contacted Fred Duesenberg about having the brothers build a suitable race car around his diesel engine. Augie built a car based on a Model A chassis which Cummins then took to Daytona in February 1931 and was officially timed @ just over 100 mph.

Having accomplished this, Cummins decided to enter that year's 500. The special finished 12th averaging 86+ mph, and 16 mpg for the race. Further, no pit stops were required, and all this in a car weighing almost 3400 lbs.

In 1934, with 2 more Duesenberg designed cars, Cummins made another assault on the brickyard. This time he was unsuccessful, with neither car finishing.

Mike
8-100A

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  • russv
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12 Jan 2006 22:17 #4228 by russv
Diesel Powered Duesenberg at Indy? was created by russv
My Autoweek this week has an article on diesel powered race cars and it refers to a car that raced Indy in 1931 that was powered by a Cummins diesel mounted on a Duesenberg chassis. Anyone know anything of this car?
Russ

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