Jalopnik: Clip

Duesenberg SJ, The Mormon Meteor

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EDT

One of the standout attractions for us at this year's 2008 Meadow Brook Concours D'Elegance was the Duesenberg SJ known as the Mormon Meteor. Just say the name and you practically have chills. Rightfully so, as few American cars have ever demonstrated such beauty alongside such brutal and uncompromising technical prowess. Arguably the pinnacle of Duesenberg engineering, the Mormon Meteor was commissioned by land speed record fanatic Ab Jenkins in 1934. The baddest of Duesies rides on a traditional Model J chassis, but it's everything else that's shocking and remarkable.

After a successful season in 1935 with a Duesenberg engine sporting hot cams and a supercharger, the Duesenberg engineers adapted a 1,650 cubic inch Curtiss Conqueror V12 to the chassis for 1936. With its running boards removed, the Mormon Meteor was able to run the Bonneville Salt Flats, continuously, for two days with an average 48 hour speed of 148.641 MPH. Shocking that may be, but the 24 hour speed was even higher at 153.823 MPH. Keep in mind, this is a monstrous engine, with streamlined body work running on an essentially unmodified Model J chassis. If you ever get the chance to see this beauty in person, take it. It's a stunning automotive masterstroke and nothing less than a sight to behold.

Bathurst Kangaroo!

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:45:00 EDT

In Australia, there are many wonderous things — utes, sheilas, The Great Barrier Reef, Paul Hogan and road trains — not to mention a rather abundant diversity of marsupials. Some of these marsupials are kangaroos. Sometimes, kangaroos end up where they're not supposed to be, such as on the track at Bathurst during a motor racing competition.

Exceptional Redneck Ingenuity: Sprint Jumping, Platform Pontiac

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:45:00 EDT

We'd really, really love to know just exactly how much illicit hooch was involved in the construction and destruction of the vehicles in this video. While the leaping Chevy Sprint in this vid isn't quite as fantastic as the one featured here, we also suspect that maybe only two of the diminutive runabout's three cylinders were actually on the boil. And just wait 'til the Pontiac shows up. Extended-steering-shaft madness! – Davey G. Johnson

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