1926 Duesenberg Model A Dual-Cowl Touring
Fred and August Duesenberg introduced America’s first production straight-eight engine with their Model A, which began production in 1926, drawing directly from racing experience that included victories at the Indianapolis 500.
Millspaugh & Irish served as Duesenberg’s primary coachbuilding partner and in-house finishing contractor, executing touring, phaeton, roadster, and sedan bodies. The Model A established technical foundations that informed the later Model J’s development.
The 260 cubic inch single overhead cam engine produced 88 horsepower through crossflow combustion chambers, paired with Indianapolis coachbuilder Millspaugh & Irish bodies that defined most Model A production.
Ladder frame construction supported four-wheel hydraulic brakes (the first American production car so equipped) with finned aluminum drums for improved cooling, another racing innovation.
The dual-cowl touring configuration featured separate windshields and seating compartments for front and rear passengers, creating distinct climate zones within the open coachwork.
Produced between 1926 and 1927 with a standard 134-inch wheelbase, approximately 650 examples were completed before E.L. Cord’s October 1926 acquisition ended production.
Financial difficulties plagued the Duesenberg Motor Company despite the Model A’s technical superiority, with receivership in 1924 temporarily halting progress.
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