1926 Duesenberg Model A Boattail Speedster
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| The Duesenberg Model A's inline eight cylinder engine displaced 260 cubic inches with cross-flow porting into hemispherical combustion chamber with angled valves actuated by rocker arms from the single overhead camshaft. The Duesenberg Model A's features included high pressure lubrication, tubular connecting rods and an intake system with the carburetor on the exhaust side of the engine to pre-heat the intake charge, then a passage through the cylinder head to a beautiful ram's horn manifold. Its four-wheel hydraulic brakes were a first in American production automobiles. About 600 were built and they are appreciated for their quality, innovation and performance but the Duesenberg Model A never achieved the recognition it deserves and was overlooked by custom coachbuilders and their flamboyant clientele. That lack of vision was not evidenced when this car was commissioned in 1933 by a Los Angeles connoisseur believed to have been Theodore Koslov. It is a sublime, sporting expression of the best ideas and concepts of the Thirties with sleek, low, narrow two-place coachwork with teardrop fenders and a graceful tapered boattail rear deck. Its coachwork and the tall, narrow raked grille are like the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900s of Pinin Farina, but it was built years before the 8C 2900 emerged to inspire Farina's vision. So low to the ground that running boards didn't need spoil the simplicity of its purposeful body, its Woodlite headlights and matching parking lights adeptly complement the grille's shape. It is an extraordinary example of the conceptual vision of its designer and the skills of the craftsmen who built it, a true one-off without parallel in the classic era. Koslov commissioned this unique speedster body from Bud Lyons' Hollywood Boulevard shop. It utilizes a 1934 Oldsmobile hood and taillights but is otherwise completely originally built and done to very high standards. It is a particularly attractive expression in two tone light grey with dark red leather upholstery, chrome wire wheels and wide whitewall tires that complement the subtle body colors, Woodlite headlights and matching parking lights and a steeply raked, low vee windshield. The interior is dominated by a big leaf spring spoke steering wheel and engine turned dashboard with oval Duesenberg instrument panel. A Jones tachometer and switches are mounted in a separate engine turned console atop the cowl where it can be easily seen by the driver. |
