Duesenberg Model A

The Duesenberg Model A, sold at the time as the Duesenberg Straight Eight, was a large luxury car built in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1921 to 1926. It was the first series-production automobile in the United States with a straight-eight engine and the first in series production with hydraulic brakes. Its 260 cubic inch (4.3 litre) engine had a shaft-driven single overhead camshaft and gave 88 horsepower, enough for a top speed of about 71 miles per hour. It was sold as a rolling chassis on a 134 inch or 141 inch wheelbase, and each buyer ordered a body from a coachbuilder. It was shown in New York in late 1920, but production did not begin until late 1921 because Fred Duesenberg redesigned the valvetrain and the company moved from New Jersey to Indiana. About 650 were built before E. L. Cord bought the company in October 1926, and the name Model A was applied only after the Model J appeared.