Note: The museum’s collection travels regularly for shows and loans across the country. Follow the museum’s social media channels and visit its website for current availability and locations.

1924 Moon 6-50 Roadster: Before joining the Auburn Automobile Co. in late 1924, E.L. Cord worked in sales at Quinlan Motors in Chicago, which specialized in Moon automobiles. At its peak, Quinlan Motors accounted for 40% of Moon sales nationwide. The roadster body style represents the type of vehicle Cord sold during his time in Chicago. The 1924 Moon 6-50 features a Continental inline six-cylinder engine rated at 50 horsepower and originally sold for $1,295. The museum is the third owner of this vehicle.

1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster: The Auburn Automobile Co. planned a streamlined model known as the Cabin Speedster. One example was produced and sent on the auto show circuit. At the 1929 Los Angeles Automobile Show, a fire ignited inside a large exhibition tent, destroying the Cabin Speedster and 320 other vehicles. The company subsequently abandoned the project. In 1983, Dr. Peter Kesling of LaPorte, Indiana, reproduced the Cabin Speedster using original company drawings, blueprints, and photographs. The vehicle was donated by the Peter C. & Charlene J. Kesling Foundation.

1930 Packard 745 Roadster: A competitor and contemporary of the Auburn and Cord automobiles, the 745 series of Packard was produced to compete in the top-of-the-line luxury market. Only 1,789 examples were produced in 1930. They were fitted with bodies from luxury coachbuilders such as the Dietrich-bodied roadster seen here. The 385 cubic-inch displacement in-line 8-cylinder engine produced an ample 105 horsepower. This 1930 Packard was purchased by collector Guy Beatty who funded a complete restoration of the entire car. Upon his death, ten of his automobiles were donated to the museum, and this Packard went to his son John Beatty of Nashville, Tennessee, who decided that this Packard was best suited to be owned and displayed amongst his father’s collection at the museum.

1932 Auburn V-12 Custom Sedan: The 1932 model marked Auburn’s introduction of a 12-cylinder engine, producing 160 horsepower from 391 cubic inches of displacement. Only 1,597 custom Auburn V-12 models were produced. The sedan body style was priced at $1,645 — lower than any other V-12-powered automobile at the time. This vehicle was restored using the museum’s original 1932 Auburn as a reference. It was donated by Ron and Betsy Thomas of Zanesville, Ohio.

1937 Cord 812 Phaeton: The 1936 Cord 810 and 1937 Cord 812 were the final automobiles produced by the Auburn Automobile Co. Six body styles were offered, including the five-passenger phaeton with rear seating accessed from folding front seats. Powered by a 125-horsepower Lycoming V-8 engine paired with a preselect four-speed transmission, the Cord could exceed 100 mph. The vehicle originally sold for $2,595. It was donated by Don and Barbara Tornberg of Novato, California.

“These five automobiles are very important additions to the museum’s world-class collection as they enable the museum to more thoroughly interpret key components of the stories we tell and history we preserve.“ Exclaimed Sam Grate, Curator. “We are immensely grateful to all those involved in the acquisition of these automobiles and their contributions in keeping the stories and history alive.”

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum: The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive-related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St., Auburn, IN, 46706 • (260) 925-1444 • automobilemuseum.org.

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The transformation of a vehicle design on paper to reality on a production line is a long, arduous process. One step in the process is building a full-scale prototype, something that can be fully visualized before any final adjustments or refinements are made for the completed, finished product. In the automotive world, prototypes are regularly scrapped, or bits and pieces are used in the prototyping of other projects. Other times, forward-thinking individuals see the value of saving a prototype from a canceled project, which was the case for the International Harvester (IH) Scout SSV-100 coupe featured here. 

Developing a prototype IH

Let’s take a step back first. In 1975, IH was financially struggling. As a means to reduce overall spending, the Chicago-based IH headquarters began a move to concentrate on medium- and heavy-duty trucks for its lineup, i.e., vehicles rated at 1-1/2 tons and greater. This was done despite market-based research that saw the growth in sales and registrations of the sport/utility vehicle. The International Motor Truck Division, which built the “Light Line,” saw its line of 1/2-ton to 1-1/4-ton trucks discontinued when IH began to concentrate on its medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Only the Scout was left remaining. 

Also in 1975, IH authorized the continuation of a project aimed at designing and creating composite bodies for the Scout and commercial truck line. IH had been interested in the idea of using composite bodies as a means to both simplify the body design process and lower the overall production cost for new body designs. Following the re-structuring of the company, now was the time to begin developing and implementing the technology. The company hired Dr. Leo Windecker, who was an expert in composites and had previously utilized them to build an FAA-certified aircraft. While composite technology was still expensive at the time, IH set up a small research facility for Windecker in Midland, Texas, to develop a process for both profitability and mass production. 

Windecker and the styling team began development in early 1976 with designs ranging from sporty four-wheel-drive SUVs to large motorhomes and minivans. Designs from a June 9, 1978, market research report included named designs such as a 6-8 passenger Mini-Van on a 118-in. wheelbase; the Family Cruiser, aimed at the first-time four-wheel-drive buyer, and on a 100-in. wheelbase; and the Sports Enthusiast, a four-wheel-drive off-roader also on a 100-in. wheelbase. Special care was taken to use a minimal amount of tooling and as many interchangeable parts as possible to lower costs and increase production capability. Approval was given by HQ for a fabric two-door “hatchback” style with a T-top to be built onto a current Scout chassis shortened to a 95-in. wheelbase. It was about this time that the Supplementary Scout Vehicle, or SSV, name was dedicated to the project. The name was appropriate as HQ wanted the project to come to market alongside the current production of Scouts. Initial ideas suggested the hatchback be limited to a 4,000-vehicle run for 1981. The idea was to have a low-volume, more-exclusive Scout sold at a higher selling price, resulting in higher profit per unit, as IH’s profit margins were lower than its competitors. 

Building the SSV

It is important to note that the SSV is not to be considered as the Scout III. It is unclear if it would have kept the SSV name if it had made it to production, or if another name would have been used. There was a short-lived attempt around 1984 or 1985 for an unofficially named Scout III, but it never made it past the preliminary design stage. 

The Scout plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., received the first composite body in February 1977. The material consisted of a combination of long-strand glass fibers placed in an epoxy resin for durability. As composite crash-testing results were very scarce, the body needed to be tested to the current government safety standards. A standard Scout chassis was shortened by 5 in. to attach the SSV bodies. Most were built solely for crash and road testing, although a few were detailed and polished and used as demonstrators and for show. Further testing required changes in the body design, structural shaping, and in the composite itself, which they found needed to crush in a way to control energy dissipation upon impact. They settled on a laminated fiberglass skin with an aluminum honeycomb core and selectively reinforced with Kevlar fibers in areas of high stress concentrations. Crash testing occurred on the Fort Wayne, Ind., road track just north of the factory. (The road track no longer exists today.) It is unknown how many of the SSV bodies and chassis were crash tested, but some figures estimated as many as 19 composite bodies. 

As the testing and refinements went on, the body evolved to a two-door hatchback coupe with doors made from the same composite material, and a pop-up sunroof. The rear glass became hinged. As more results came back from the crash and road testing, the composite body itself went from a more simplistic seven-piece assembly to a more complicated 16-piece assembly. IH also moved to the standard Scout 100-in. wheelbase, likely to cut back on the cost of modifying or creating a new chassis for the line. Historians agree that a total of just three of these SSV coupes were fully completed as demonstrators and show cars. It is unclear if any of the SSV coupes on the 100-in. wheelbase were used for any type of crash testing. Overall, with both the 95- and 100-in. wheelbase SSVs, it is estimated that around 30 examples were built in total. I will refer to the 100-in. wheelbase SSVs as the SSV-100. 

IH fans and historians alike know that what followed in 1979 was a great shame. In an attempt by CEO Archie McCardell to negotiate more company-friendly union terms and higher profit margins for the company, the United Auto Workers union led a strike that lasted nearly six months, from Nov. 1, 1979, to April 20, 1980 — a total of 172 days. At that time, it was the longest strike in UAW history. Some 35,000 workers from 21 plants (about 36 percent of IH’s workforce) in eight states joined the strike. Unfortunately for the SSV project, the strike resulted in the work being either completely stopped or greatly slowed. The backlash from the negotiations and the long strike resulted in production lines idling and vehicle output being slashed. The backlog from unfilled orders resulted in quarterly financial losses of nearly $500 million and sales sliding 47 percent. 

In an attempt to help cover the losses, the Scout line was put up for sale in 1980, and IH began selling equipment. While a potential group of Texas buyers were courted nearly immediately, those talks quickly broke down and the group dissolved. As a result, the production of the Scout formally ended on Oct. 21, 1980. This, too, ended all work on the SSV project. As for the composite bodies that were built, IH chose to scrap them and part out those that were paired with a chassis. For those wanting to know the end of the IH story, in short, McCardell was fired in May 1982 after IH incurred $2.4 billion in losses from 1980-1982, despite refinancing more than $4 billion in debt to avoid bankruptcy. IH ended up restructuring by selling many of its divisions, such as the agricultural division to Tenneco, and re-branded the truck and engine divisions as Navistar International Corp. in 1986, which lasted until September 2024 when it rebranded as International Motors, LLC.

Maintaining & displaying IH history

Today, there are just three complete SSVs known to exist. Two of the completed SSVs are on the 95-in. chassis and the other coupe is on the 100-in. chassis, the latter pictured in these photos. In addition, there remains three partially completed SSV chassis and two separate bodies. The vehicle on the 100-in. chassis is owned by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Ind. I have seen one of the bodies at the 2020 Harvester Homecoming event in New Haven, Ind., and it is a fascinating look back at the mind set and experimentation taking place at IH during the time. 

The 1979 International Scout SSV-100 Coupe was donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum on Nov. 20, 1983. It was driven from IH’s prototype shop to the museum on Oct. 26, 1983, for a special ceremony in celebration of the future donation. IH employees from the design team and engineering department chose to donate the SSV-100 to the museum, breaking the frequent pattern of corporations electing to destroy prototypes after obsolescence. At the time, the museum chose to display the SSV-100 as-is and opted to keep it inside its hallowed halls for preservation for future generations, and to keep a part of IH history alive. Even today, it is just as if it came out of the prototype shop. 

The SSV-100 is powered by a 345-cid (5.6L) V-8 engine called the V-345, which utilizes a four-barrel carburetor and catalytic converter. It produces 150 hp at 3,500 rpm. The torque is rated at 263 lb.-ft. at 2,000 rpm. The compression ratio is 8.05:1. It is mated with a TF-727 TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. It also utilized several parts from the Dana Corp., including the TC-145 transfer case and Dana 44 front and rear axles. It weighs 3,850 lbs. and was built with cruise control, power steering and power brakes to add to ease of driving. The original, sometimes troublesome, smog pump remains with the SSV-100, as it was implemented because of the Clean Air Act of 1970. 

When you look at photos of the SSV-100 or see it in person at the museum, perhaps the most interesting part of the car is the body itself. It is very clearly a prototype body, but the more you look at the details, the more you can see that IH was close to moving to a finished product for production. It was placed on the 100-in. chassis from a 1979 Scout II Traveltop that came off of the line on March 20, 1978. The prototype shop removed the Traveltop body and placed the composite body on the chassis, which only required a few extra body mount bolts to fit. Just like the Scout II, the hood is forward-hinged, but is held down with two hood pins instead of a latch, which likely would have been replaced with a latching mechanism, perhaps the same as on the Scout II. The composite doors are very light and are held with nylon hinges and door strikers. The windows are fixed as there are no internal components in the door, but the bottom half was covered with the same vinyl as the rear compartment, so a window-rolling mechanism could have later been installed. The front grille is unique to the SSV-100 and shows an evolution in design beyond that seen on the Scout II.

As for the interior, it overall feels bare, as befitting a prototype. The same composite material on the outside is also used on the inside, and in the same color. The durable two-tone brown and tan vinyl seats have held up well to time and fold forward to access the rear. Due to the slanted rear window, there are no rear seats. The same brown vinyl is used for the door interiors and the flooring. The dashboard is unique to the SSV-100, but most of the gauges come from the Scout II. In the middle, a cassette player and air conditioning controls are present and unexpected for most prototyping. As someone who has driven the SSV-100, the sunroof is a godsend, even in cooler days, and even with the rear quarter windows opened the few inches they move.

When the SSV-100 was donated to the museum, it remained on static display as an integral part of the “Cars of Indiana” gallery, where it remains today. As per museum standards, and in keeping with best practices with auto maintenance of the museum collection, the engine is rotated yearly and movable components kept free. It remained in the gallery for nearly four decades until 2020, when it was decided to bring the SSV-100 back to running order. With the assistance of Scout expert Jim Allen, and with some general mechanical maintenance and cleaning of the brakes and carburetor, the SSV-100 roared back to life. A quick run through the automatic transmission shifter showed that everything was functioning properly, and a few test drives took place on the museum plaza. It has since been displayed at the Harvester Homecoming for a few years and has been to the Miami Motorcar Cavalcade where it won an award. The museum continues to run the vehicle yearly and will endeavor to keep it running for years to come. 

Behind the wheel of the SSV-100, it feels both durable and rugged. The view from the driver’s seat makes you feel in control of the vehicle and road. Riding on the original Goodyear Tracker A-T tires makes the ride feel a bit rough, and so I’ve kept its speeds to 30 mph. Those tires are just as much a part of the SSV-100’s history and will remain with it for as long as possible. 

Special thanks

I would like to thank Jim Allen for his work on researching the SSV-100, which allows the museum to tell a more complete and more detailed story, as evidenced throughout this article. I would also like to thank Jim and our all-volunteer museum group that we call the “Pit Crew” for getting the vehicle back to drivable condition. Finally, but not lastly, I would like to thank Al Rogers for his help in getting the SSV-100 into publication, and for the fantastic and detailed professional photography of the vehicle that accompanies the article. The museum remains grateful for the donation as it has ensured the survival of the SSV-100 and its story by placing it in the permanent collection of the museum. 

Sam Grate serves as curator of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. The museum is open from 9-5 daily. As the museum participates in several shows and concours d’elegance events, please call ahead to make sure the SSV-100 is on display before visiting. For more information on International Harvester and the Scout, “The International Scout Encyclopedia,” 2nd Edition, by Jim Allen and John Glancy, is a great source. 

MORE INFO

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
1600 Wayne St.
Auburn, IN 46706
260-925-1444 ext. 29
www.automobilemuseum.org
samg@automobilemuseum.org
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AUBURN, Ind. — The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum announced that, through the City of Auburn, it has been awarded a $750,000 Public Facilities Program grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). This funding will support the next phase of preservation work on the museum’s National Historic Landmark building and the historic Art Deco Showroom.

“This critical funding will support our $2 million capital project and will launch the next phase of our preservation work,  focusing on the exterior of our National Historic Landmark building — specifically, the historic Art Deco Showroom portion of the museum,” said Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. “Our building is more than just a structure — it is our largest and most iconic artifact. Within its walls, visitors experience a rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest self-made innovators in American history.”

The restoration project will include:

• Repairing brick and masonry
• Restoration of original windows
• Replacement of deteriorated cast-iron window lintels
• Restoration of the original front entrance
• Installation of new UV-protective film and historically appropriate lettering

“These renovations are not only about preserving a historic landmark, but also about strengthening tourism, supporting our local economy, and enhancing the visitor experience,” said Auburn Mayor Dave Clark. “The museum stands as an icon in our community and serves as a daily reminder of Auburn’s proud automotive heritage. Auburn is fortunate to be home to such a world-class museum, and this investment will help ensure it continues to educate, inspire, and draw visitors from across the country.”

The $2 million campaign seeks to save and restore our National Historic Landmark building, and this funding brings us closer to our goal. Your support of a fully tax-deductible gift or multi-year pledge will help us move forward into the future with the ability to influence the leaders of today and tomorrow by sparking their curiosity and engaging in them a sense of wonder and inquiry. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and all gifts are fully tax-deductible to the extent of the law. EIN: 35-1294918

To help support this important project, we invite you to donate online, at https://acdamstore.com/products/capital-campaign. If you would like to send a check, please have it addressed to the museum and sent to 1600 South Wayne Street, Auburn, IN 46706. For any additional questions or to donate gifts of stock, real estate, vehicles, or securities, please contact Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO, at 260-925-1444 or banderson@automobilemuseum.org.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum was one of 15 recipients across Indiana awarded funding as part of OCRA’s $10.8 million investment in rural communities. OCRA’s Community Development Block Grant programs assist local governments with projects such as infrastructure improvements, public facilities, and downtown revitalization.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive-related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St., Auburn, IN, 46706 • (260) 925-1444 • automobilemuseum.org.

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AUBURN, IN – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum announced the addition of a 1934 Auburn 652X Brougham to its growing collection of automobiles thanks to a courteous donation by Tali and Lynn Petersons of Baltimore, Maryland. Only two 652X broughams are known to exist today, and the museum can now ensure that this important piece of Auburn automotive history will be preserved for all time.

“This is the first 1934 Auburn in our collection and it fills an important slot in our museum’s story,” said museum curator, Sam Grate. “Stylistically, it was a departure from any Auburn before it. Being the rare brougham body style with only one other known to exist, we are honored to be the stewards and representatives of this exceedingly rare automobile.”

The 1934 Auburn was the last model that company designer Alan Leamy penned for the Auburn Automobile Company. Compared to his previous designs, it was his smoothest and most streamlined yet. It stood out with its split radiator grills and ‘bear claw’-like hood louvers. It was also the first time since 1930 that Auburn produced a six-cylinder engine in its lineup. They produced four models, the 652X and 652Y equipped with the six-cylinder engine, and the 850X and 850Y paired with the eight-cylinder engine. The difference between the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ were trim and interior options. However, company officials and the public disliked the design, and production of the 1934 line stopped midyear in July. In total, 7,275 Auburns were produced in 1934. Only 1,295 of those were the 652X designation, and only 413 were of the brougham body style.

The 1934 Auburn 652X Brougham is currently on display at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 AM until 5 PM. For visiting information please visit automobilemuseum.org.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is one of just 26 museums in Indiana accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, signifying a continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and continued institutional improvement. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 | (260) 925-1444 | automobilemuseum.org.

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(AUBURN, IN) – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum announced that the National Park Service has awarded the museum a $500,000.00 matching grant in the maximum amount through the Save America’s Treasures program to preserve and restore its National Historic Landmark Building. The SAT program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund using revenue from Outer Continental Shelf oil lease revenue, not tax dollars.

The Save America’s Treasures matching grant will begin the critical components to their preservation plans as it will replace the leaking roof and seal the top half of the building envelope and install new HVAC equipment prior to exterior and interior rehabilitation and restoration activities to be completed in future phases.

For forty-seven years, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum has provided a meaningful experience through the significant portrayal of the automotive industry as a transformation in the American story. We are dedicated to preserving the history of design, engineering, and architecture; celebrating its relevance to our present and future; and continuing to be a driving force.

In 2018 the museum launched a capital campaign with a goal of $5 million to address the critical needs of the building and to embark upon an informed preservation and rehabilitation plan that will honor the legacy of all who contributed to one of the country’s most innovative and influential periods. A Historic Structures Report has been the guide to this preservation and restoration plan, and with this Save America’s Treasures grant, the museum has reached the halfway mark of its $5 million goal.

“Through the generosity and support of our local, regional, and national donors and partners, we have reached a critical milestone in our campaign to save our landmark building,” states Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO of the museum. “As the caring and passionate stewards of our collections and artifacts, our building needs to be preserved, restored, and rehabilitated to continue to meet its high standards as a National Historic Landmark and to protect its integrity and its priceless, irreplaceable contents.”

The campaign’s future funding-dependent phases will repair, restore, and preserve all the original metal windows and frames, deteriorating brick and mortar, deteriorating cast iron window lintels, replace electrical, plumbing, and HVAC equipment, repoint masonry, and clean and protect the building for another hundred years. Through completed scientific paint analysis, period appropriate paint restoration of the Company Showroom and other parts of the building that have never been open to the public before will also be implemented in future phases.

Ninety years ago, industrialist E.L. Cord commissioned the design and construction of our building to be a capstone to his empire. Designed by A.M. Strauss, the Art Deco masterpiece served as the brain and nerve center of the Auburn Automobile Company and Duesenberg, Inc. Out of this building came some of the most epic and forward-thinking designs in automotive history. Innovative designers, marketing geniuses, and tenacious engineers all contributed.

In 2005, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior bestowed upon the museum the status of National Historic Landmark, which is the highest distinction in the country. Regarding the history of the site, it is states that, “The facility possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.”

The National Park Service has partnered with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities to award this matching grant to better support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections. This project is supported through the Save America’s Treasures Grants Program, provided by the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

For additional information on the museum’s capital campaign and how your tax-deductible gift or donation can be a part of preserving the past for the future, please contact Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO, at banderson@automobilemuseum.org or 260-925-1444.

For more information on the museum, please visit us online at www.automobilemuseum.org, or on Facebook at ACDAM1974.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is one of just 26 museums in Indiana accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, signifying a continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and continued institutional improvement. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 | (260) 925-1444 | automobilemuseum.org.

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AUBURN, IN – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum announced the loan of a rare 1948 Tucker from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection at Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage in Chicago. The 1948 Tucker and its related interpretive objects will be on display until August 15, 2022.

Billed as ‘The First Completely New Car in Fifty Years’, the Tucker brought about excitement in design, technological innovations, and safety standards. Former Auburn Automobile Company designer Alex Tremulis penned the streamlined design. This Tucker is the eighth one built, bearing serial number #1008. It was won in 1949 by Rudy Schroeder in a raffle, who paid 35 cents for a ticket. It is powered by a four-cylinder Franklin O-335 helicopter engine that produces 166 horsepower. Tuckers utilized a re-manufactured Cord 810 vacuum-electric pre-selector four-speed transmission. When new, the Tucker sold for $2,450.

Next to the Tucker is a display engine, showcasing its unique design modified for automotive use. Two original showroom banners and a copy of the invoice and bill of sale for Tucker #1008 are on display. For more information, please visit the ACD Automobile Museum online at www.automobilemuseum.org, or on Facebook at ACDAM1974.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is one of just 26 museums in Indiana accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, signifying a continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and continued institutional improvement. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 | (260) 925-1444 | automobilemuseum.org.

If you like stories like these and other classic car features, check out Old Cars magazine. CLICK HERE to subscribe.

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(AUBURN, IN) – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will be sending one of the rarest Duesenbergs in its collection to Washington, D.C. where it will be placed on display at the National Mall. Visitors to the nation’s capital will be able to view the first ever passenger-built Duesenberg, a 1921 Model A, beginning on September 17^th until September 23^rd during Cars at the Capital. Cars at the Capital is a month-long celebration of car culture in Washington, D.C. and is held on the National Mall. This free exhibit will feature the latest four vehicles to be placed on the National Historic Vehicle Register throughout the month of September.

The 1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight Model A (“Castle Duesenberg”), the 27^th vehicle listed on the National Historic Vehicle Register, will be on exhibit in the Hagerty Drivers Foundation lighted glass display case, located on the hardscape between the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art. A lighting ceremony will be held at dusk on Friday, September 17^th; additionally, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation will be hosting “Cars at the Capital + Coffee” on Saturday, September 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Both of these events are free to the public. For more information please visit: Cars at the Capital + Coffee.

“We are honored to not only have the first Duesenberg passenger vehicle on the National Historic Vehicle Register,” states Brandon J. Anderson, Executive Director & CEO of the museum, “we are also ecstatic that it will be on display in our nation’s capital to be seen by all and appreciated for its history and all it represents to automotive heritage. The legacy of the Duesenbergs, the Castle family, and the museum will be highlighted during this celebration and exhibit.”

Donated by CyrAnn and James C. Castle, Jr. of California, the 1921 Duesenberg Model A Coupe features a body built by the Bender Body Company of Cleveland, Ohio and was produced to the order of the car’s original owner, Samuel Northrup Castle, including space for his seven-foot-tall stature. Mr. Castle was from a family of Hawaiian missionaries and was a founder of Castle & Cooke Co., a Hawaiian sugar cooperative, when he ordered the car and received it in 1921 due to delayed production. It was the first production Model A to be built after the prototypes were completed and tested and the first one to be sold to the public.

The Castle Duesenberg would remain in his possession until his death in 1959 when ownership was transferred to his nephew, James Christian Castle, and was transported to San Francisco and placed into storage. Upon his death in 1994, ownership then transferred to his son, James C. Castle, Jr. and his wife CyrAnn. The 1921 Duesenberg Model A Coupe has remained in the Castle family until the decision was made to entrust the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum with the care and preservation of the vehicle in 2020 after 99 years of ownership and to be its future steward.

For more information about the automobile, its 100-year long journey, or upcoming exhibits, please visit us online at www.automobilemuseum.org, or on Facebook at ACDAM1974.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 • (260) 925-1444 • automobilemuseum.org.

About Hagerty Drivers Foundation

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit launched in 2021 by Hagerty, the automotive enthusiast and membership brand with a mission to help shape the future of car culture while celebrating our automotive past. Through and initial annual pledge of $2.5 million with additional support from individual car enthusiasts and other automotive brands, the foundation focuses its work in three key areas: culture, education, and innovation. For more information, please visit https://corporate.hagerty.com/cars-at-the-capital/.

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(AUBURN, IN) – Beginning on Sunday, August 29^th, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will kick off a host of events to take place during the 2021 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. After a one-year hiatus, the annual Labor Day Festival returns with events beginning on Saturday August 28^th and continuing through Saturday September 4^th. A complete schedule of Festival events and details can be found at https://www.acdfestival.org.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will kick off Festival week as a participant in the Annual Garage Cruise, taking place on August 29^th from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. The 2021 Garage Cruise has been dubbed “The Year of the Restoration Shop.” Take a Sunday drive to visit the garages and shops of local automotive enthusiasts and business owners for a behind-the-scenes look at their automotive projects. The museum will have its Collections & Conservation Center and Collections Storage Facility on the tour. Visit the National Auto & Truck Museum at 1000 Gordon Buehrig Place, Auburn, or any of the Garage Tour stops for tickets. For more information call (260) 925-9100.

The ACDAM will also host a free concert outdoors at the Education & Exhibit Plaza on the museum campus on Thursday, September 2. The Sweetwater All Stars will be on the main stage at the plaza located adjacent from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. Music starts at 6:00 PM and ends at 9:00 PM. Food trucks and cash bars will also be available throughout the event. Members of the community and supporters are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets out to this family-friendly event. To purchase VIP tickets, which includes prime reserved parking for your vehicle, VIP tent, and more benefits, please visit https://acdamstore.com/products/classic-car-concert-vip-ticket. Only 50 VIP tickets are available, so be sure to get yours early!

On Friday, September 3, professional racecar driver, Lyn St. James, will be at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in the Gallery of Racers and Record Setters for a meet and greet event from 1:30 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. Lyn St. James is a former American race car driver and is the first woman driver to reach over 200 mph on a racetrack. She competed in the IndyCar series, with eleven CART and five Indy Racing League starts to her name. St. James is one of nine women who have qualified for the Indianapolis 500, and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award. Artifacts on temporary loan from St. James’ career from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and The Henry Ford will be on display at the museum during this program and during the ACD Festival. Museum admission is required to attend this event. Visit www.automobilemuseum.org for museum information, including admission prices.

On Saturday, September 4, the museum will host its annual Connecting Rods Lunch from 11 A.M. until 12 P.M., and the annual Gatsby Gala from 7 P.M. until 11 P.M. The Connecting Rods Luncheon is an opportunity to join others from around the globe with a connection to the Auburn Automobile Company. Enjoy lunch with past employees and their relatives for this special event. Museum Curator, Sam Grate, will deliver a special presentation that examines the life of Robert Wiley and the impact of the Export department at the Auburn Automobile Company. Tickets are required and can be purchased at https://acdamstore.com/products/connecting-rods-lunch-tickets.

The Gatsby Gala is a 1920s themed evening of dancing, period inspired cocktails, and a live big band! Master the dance floor with The New Millennium Jazz Orchestra and celebrate with friends and family! The rhythm will be swingin’, your feet will be tappin’, and everyone will be dancin’. Make a statement, and take part in a dazzling experience. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the event lasts until 11:00 PM. Tickets are $50 for non-members, $30 for members, and $250 per table of eight. For more information call (260) 925-1444, or visit https://acdamstore.com/collections/gatsby-gala-ball to purchase tickets.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is one of just 26 museums in Indiana accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, signifying a continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and continued institutional improvement. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 | (260) 925-1444 | automobilemuseum.org.

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AUBURN, IN – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will host the first of three outdoor movie nights on Saturday, July 17^th, beginning at sundown as part of an all new Duesies & Movies series. The first feature film, The Princess and the Frog, will be screened in the education plaza on the campus of the museum. The movie will be projected on a screen in the parking lot and audio will be available on a dedicated FM channel. Parking is first come, first served. All members of the community are welcome and encouraged to join us for this first of its kind event. 

“We’re hoping to celebrate Auburn’s automotive legacy as we celebrate the art of film. We want everyone in the community to be able to safely enjoy educational opportunities this summer in a fun way!” said Elyse Faulkner, Education & Programs Manager for the museum.

Set in the 1920s New Orleans, the film tells the story of a hardworking waitress named Tiana who dreams of opening her own restaurant. After kissing a prince who has been turned into a frog by an evil witch doctor, Tiana becomes a frog herself and must find a way to turn back into a human before it is too late.

The second move in the series will be screened on Saturday August 21^st, and features Dick Tracy. A third movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, is scheduled for September 18. For more information, visit automobilemuseum.org, or call 260-925-1444. Movie titles are subject to change depending on licensing and availability. Activities are made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 • (260) 925-1444 • automobilemuseum.org.

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(AUBURN, IN) – The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum announced it will join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently-serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2021 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15, 2021, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2021. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and participating museums nationwide.

“Like the resilience that military families demonstrate time and again, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is an example of resiliency in the arts sector over the past year,” said Ann Eilers, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We are grateful to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum for their leadership in strengthening community through their participation in the Blue Star Museums program this summer.”

Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Blue Star Museums 2021 program! Thank you to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum for participating in this impactful and highly anticipated program,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO Blue Star Families. “Because of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum and their counterparts in the arts community, military families have the opportunity to create special memories and experience the arts again!”

The free admission program is available for those currently-serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

Follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily, #bluestarmuseums.

About Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – where the world’s finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage, and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is one of just 26 museums in Indiana accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, signifying a continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and continued institutional improvement. The museum is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! 1600 S. Wayne St. Auburn, IN, 46706 | (260) 925-1444 | automobilemuseum.org.

*As an Amazon Associate, Old Cars earns from qualifying purchases.  

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