Previously sold at the St. Louis Car Museum 1926 Duesenberg Model-A Show Chassis that runs and drives with ease! This beautiful vintage classic is Ex Homer Fitterling / Ed Weaver Collection. The seat was not included with chassis and sold with Bill of Sale only. This is perfect for that speedster project, new coachwork or beautiful display.

The automotive history of the Duesenberg brothers began long before they produced the first Duesenberg automobile. Fred Duesenberg began building bicycles in Iowa. Soon after, he was hired to design and build a vehicle, which was called the Mason. In 1913 he partnered with his brother Augie, where they would design and manufactured automobile and marine engines. The brothers soon found that their real interests were in racing and modified many of their marine and automobile engines into high performance engines that were fitted in a variety of racecars. As builders, they became so successful that they attracted the attention of some of the most successful racecar drivers of the era including Eddie Rickenbacker and Ralph Mulford. Duesenberg powered racecars were winning races all over the mid west and the brothers were becoming well known.

By 1920, the brothers decided they wanted to manufacture a production car. The first Duesenberg automobile, called the Model A, was introduced at the New York Automobile Show in 1922. The new, Model A Duesenberg was a car that was designed ahead of its time. Its eight-cylinder, inline, overhead camshaft engine developed 100 horsepower with a 260 cubic inch displacement. It was also the first production American car to be equipped with hydraulic brakes. The Model A was constructed using many aluminum components, which kept its weight down. All of these features came with a cost, as the cheapest vehicles were priced at $6,500.00.Duesenberg only manufactured the chassis assemblies and bodies were custom built by some of the finest coach-builders of the 1920s.During the five years the Model A Duesenberg was produced, only about 650 vehicles were built and sold. After producing the Model A, the Duesenberg Company was sold to E.L.Cord who would build a new Duesenberg for 1929- the legendary Model J.

The 1926 Duesenberg Model A chassis, seen here, has been owned by some of the most important collectors in the vintage automobile hobby. It was restored by Al and Dottie Bennett for the late Homer Fitterling of South Bend, Indiana. The chassis was later sold to the noted Duesenberg collector Ed Weaver before being purchased by the current owner. The chassis was last publicly displayed in the1995 ACD Labor Day Reunion Meet where it also participated in the Annual Parade of Classics. In recent years, it has been displayed in a private museum. Although this chassis is assembled from parts, all of parts are original Model A Duesenberg components. This car retains an original Duesenberg firewall tag, which labels the chassis as car number 765 and engine number 1164. It should be noted, however, that this engine is number 1010 and does not match the number on the build plate. The 100 horsepower, Duesenberg overhead camshaft engine is complete and retains its rare, original Schebler Model S updraft carburetor as well as its original ignition system, water pump, manifolds, starter and generator. The radiator has its original honeycomb-style core and is fitted with an original Model A Duesenberg radiator shell. The 141" wheelbase chassis assembly is in excellent condition and is made up of all original Model A Duesenberg parts including the front-end assembly, rear end assembly, steering assembly, brakes, shock absorbers and a rare, proper set of Rudge Whitworth wire wheels. The chassis starts easily and runs well. The hydraulic brakes are working and the brake pressure gauge also works. With the exhaust cut out open, the engine really sounds like an aggressive racecar. The car is currently being operated from the gas in the vacuum tank, but the original gas tank could be made operable if needed. The original gas gauge is present but not operating. The 20" Lester white wall tires are older replacements but appear to be in good condition. The driver's area retains correct and authentic Duesenberg Model A instruments and controls mounted to an original firewall assembly. Included is a complete oval dash cluster, ignition and light switch assembly, steering wheel, pedal assemblies, brake and shift levers, dash controls, etc. The mileage indicated on the odometer is about 77,500. The clock is missing one hand, but the other gauges appear to be in very good, mostly original, condition. Original cast aluminum floorboards are also present and are in very nice condition. To drive the chassis, a temporary seat assembly has been installed, but is not included in the sale. This chassis is ready to be displayed and operated. It is an extremely impressive exhibit that really highlights the advanced engineering accomplishments of Fred and Augie Duesenberg.

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