(NETWORK INDIANA) Once the Castle Duesenberg makes it back to Indiana, you’ll be able to see it at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn. Owned by the Castle family for 100 years, it’s new permanent home will be at the museum.
The car is significant because it was the first passenger Duesenberg, made in 1920 and bought in 1021 by Samuel Northrop Castle, who had it custom-made in Indianapolis and shipped to Hawaii.
“The family has owned it for a century and I can’t say for sure this is the only vehicle to ever stay in a family for 100 years, but it for sure is the only Duesenberg,” said Brandon Anderson, executive director and CEO of the Museum, talking to Terri Stacy on WIBC’s First Day.
“Everybody kind of new the Castle Duesenberg,” he said, speaking about people in the antique and classic car world. “It’s always had that name and it’ll always be the Castle Duesenburg. We’re just the new caretakers.”
In addition to the Model A being the first Duesenberg meant for everyday customers, it was also the first with hydraulic brakes and the first to be able to go over 100 mph.
“It had the eight-cylinder engine that the Duesenbergs were well-known for,” said Anderson, adding that the Duesenberg brothers had previously built race cars.
The car was produced to Castle’s order, including space for his seven-foot-tall stature. It includes extra space between the seat and the pedals.
Castle was from a family of Hawaiian missionaries and was a founder of Castle & Cooke Co., a Hawaiian sugar cooperative, when he ordered the car and received it in 1921 due to delayed production.
The black Duesenberg has undergone 10,000 hours of restoration to bring it back to its original specs, which was painstaking.
“These things don’t exist anymore. You can’t just pick them off a shelf. Many of the compinents had to be custom-made and custom-made from only four known photographs.”
Anderson said the car made its debut under new ownership at a show in Boca Raton, but will return to its permanent home after this weekend, where he’s already had the pleasure of driving the bona fide classic around town.