NEWS

Indiana-Made Duesenbergs Subject of Nov. 8 Talk

Automotive historian Matt Short shares the history of the luxurious, made-in-Indiana automobiles in a talk at Indiana Landmarks Center.

Okay, so the expression “it’s a doozy” does not derive from the Duesenberg automobiles made in Indiana from 1920 to 1937. But it’s not surprising that many people, especially Hoosier car fans, think the knockout luxury and racing line inspired the word. Indiana Automotive, an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks, wants to share the Duesenberg story.

On Nov. 8, automotive historian Matt Short’s illustrated talk, “Duesenberg: A Legend in Racing and Luxury Motor Cars,” will bring to life the work of Frederick and August Duesenberg, E.L. Cord, and famed automobile designers Gordon Buehrig and Alan Leamy. His talk also highlights Duesenberg’s racing history and luxury passenger car production in Indiana. After his talk, he’ll be joined for a Q & A with Duesenberg owners John Klein of Indianapolis and John Gambs of Lafayette.

Indiana made its mark on the automobile industry beginning in the early 20th century, when 250 automobile manufacturers called the state home. Duesenberg enjoyed status as a leader in the industry, cemented by its elegant, top-of-the-line automobiles and its Indianapolis 500-winning race cars in 1924, 1925 and 1927. The factory remains on West Washington Street, renovated as IndyGo’s headquarters, with the Duesenberg sign proudly refreshed at the top of the landmark in 2014.

Matt Short’s lifelong passion for the great classic cars of the 1920s and 1930s led him to work in the museum field for 30 years, including 20 years with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn as curator and executive vice president. He is founder and director of the National Association of Automobile Museums and serves on the board of the Society of Automotive Historians. Short regularly judges Concours d’Elegance around the country, including the events at Amelia Island, St. John’s, and South Bend.

Indiana Automotive sponsors the talk, which takes place in the Grand Hall at Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Avenue in Indianapolis. The evening opens with light refreshments and cash bar at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., Indiana Automotive President Steve Tarr offers brief highlights of the group’s activities and leads the annual election of affinity group directors. Short’s talk begins at 6:15 and concludes at 7 p.m., followed by the Q&A session.

Tickets for the Duesenberg talk cost $10 per person (free for members of Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Automotive) and are available online at www.indianalandmarks.org/duesenberg-talk or by calling 317-639-4534.

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Media contact:
Jessica Kramer, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534 jkramer@indianalandmarks.org
Jen Thomas, JTPR, 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, reconnects us to our heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

Indiana Automotive, an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks, celebrates the early Indiana auto visionaries and their products, and promotes the preservation of the cars, the factories and showrooms, the homes of auto moguls, and the landscaped parkways and roadside architecture birthed by the auto age. The group offers lectures, tours, and news of interest to all who love vintage cars and the places where they were designed, built, tested, and sold. For more information on the affinity group, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

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