The Duesenberg X is a luxury car of the American car manufacturer Duesenberg, an improved version of the previous Duesenberg A, with an improved version of their previous inline 8 (Straight Eight Duesenberg SOHC 16-valve 4.3 L for 100 hp and 160 km/h top speed) with hydraulic four-wheel braking system. About 13 were produced between 1926 and 1927.
Background
Duesenberg, founded by brothers Fred and August Duesenberg, initially gained fame through motorsport successes, including victories at the Indianapolis 500 and the 1921 French Grand Prix. The company entered receivership in 1924 amid financial difficulties but was acquired in 1926 by Errett Lobban Cord, who sought to reposition Duesenberg as a premier American luxury marque. The Model X was developed in 1925 as an upgraded, performance-oriented derivative of the Model A (produced 1921–1927). It featured a reengineered chassis and powertrain intended to offer greater speed and refinement while retaining the straight eight engine architecture that had become a Duesenberg hallmark. Production was extremely limited, with chassis supplied as rolling platforms for custom coachbuilt bodies by various firms, including Locke & Company and McFarlan. The model was exhibited at major auto salons, such as the 1927 New York and Chicago shows, in an effort to generate interest among wealthy clientele. By late 1927, Cord shifted focus toward a more ambitious and imposing flagship, the Model J, which featured a larger engine, greater power, and even more extravagant coachwork. As a result, the Model X program was curtailed, and some unfinished X chassis were repurposed or destroyed during the transition.