Hello - Page 2

ChrisSummers · September 21st, 2007

Thanks, I enjoy putting it together! J-214 is still in the Museum.

The Nethercutt Collection fits the bill--two Cords, several Duesenbergs, an Auburn Twelve, multiple Packards and Pierce-Arrows, and two or three Peerlesses, plus, as one of my friends says, "everything else worth being caught dead in." [img]<>/grin.gif[/img] I'm sure the LeMay Collection, in all its massiveness, has at least one of all of those too.

The ACD Museum has everything but the Peerless, and one would be a nice addition to their collection. I'd like to see the V-16 prototype on loan there for a while, since it shares several features with some Murphy Duesenbergs.

jeff_a · September 24th, 2007

Thank you for pointing out that the Nethercutt Collection has what I call the two triple crowns of American car collecting: Packard-Peerless-Pierce Arrow & Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg. Since my last post, I have read that one other museum may have all six as well: the Northeast Classic Car Museum in Norwich, NY.

I guess that wouldn't be a bad addition to have a Peerless in the ACD Museum. I would reccommend a 1929 "8-125" Sedan like the one advertised on antiquecar.com until a few months ago. ---Jeff

ChrisSummers · September 25th, 2007

I'd like to see the Crawford loan the ACD Museum the V-16 prototype for a few months. Frank Hershey used the same "cut-in" doors on two Duesenbergs (surviving) and a Cord L-29 (gone).

jeff_a · September 26th, 2007

Have you ever read any of the conflicting reports on the 1931 Peerless prototype cars? One version says there was just the one car. Another suggests one V-12 and one V-16. Then there's version "3.0", with one V-16 and two V-12's. There's even a variation that has FOUR chassis'; some aluminum, some steel, some V-12, some V-16 driving Cleveland-Pasadena for testing purposes and to get bodies installed!!!! One of the four versions says that a second V-16 car was finished, with an aluminum blind-rear-quarters sedan body installed.

Can you imagine finding one of these other Peerlesses...if they ever existed, that is? Pret' near impossible, as they say in Tuscaroras County...but no more unlikely than Jay Leno walking around in old N.Y. City parking garages asking "You got any old cars?" and finding a Duesenberg Town Car. ---Jeff

ChrisSummers · September 27th, 2007

I usually hear that three were built, with the Crawford car being the only survivor.

Jay Leno didn't stumble upon that town car. Its location was known for years, it was just that the owner would not sell. (I guess his star power finally swayed them.) Fred Roe photographed the car in the garage for his book.

jeff_a · September 27th, 2007

Gee, I was a bit mistaken about the Duesenberg. I spend more time than I should trying to locate Peerless autos...and was hoping that Mr. Leno had found an easier way than the usual L.R.P.* I did read about the many years he politely asked an owner about a Duesenberg he had a lead on before he even got to go near it.**

Sometimes, even things as rare as as Duesenbergs, 4 1/2 Liter Bentleys, and Peerlesses get found. A year ago -- I didn't know where any Peerless cars & trucks were and had never seen one in person. Then I saw a magazine article which pegged the number of remaining Peerlesses at about three dozen. That interested me in sleuthing-around a bit, and I have now located over 250. Some are "leads", some are the real deal, and I've even seen three in person. ---Jeff

jeff_a · September 27th, 2007

* Long Relentless Pursuit
** a 1927 Model X, I believe

ChrisSummers · September 30th, 2007

It's fun, ain't it? [img]<>/smile.gif[/img]

Every J owner I've ever directly contacted has responded (even if one did give me the wrong engine number for his car...).

Steve_Mack_CT · October 4th, 2007

Hi Chris, nice work, love those histories of ownership - its just interesting. I sent you a PM as I wanted to provide you an update on a couple of local cars here in CT.

durant28 · October 7th, 2007

Hello Dusenenberg lovers!
The Durant Motors Automobile Club just had their National meet last week in Auburn, Indiana. The highlight of the week there was our banquet at the ACD Musuem. Every member who had not been there before was extremely impressed to say the least. The cars were fantastic, and the restored showroom in the art deco style was breath taking. For those of you who have never made it there, you have to put it on your list of "must do's". Also if any car club is looking to have a meeting place and banquet, the ACD museum is very accomidating and great to deal with.