| [GMCnet] Gearhead heaven [message #90504] |
Wed, 30 June 2010 07:45  |
Gerald Work
Messages: 102
Registered: June 2010
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A few days ago we were in Auburn, IN, and were able to go through the Auburn, Cord Dusenberg museum in the original headquarters building for the company. It was breath taking. Cord amassed an empire of some 60 companies covering all aspects of land, air and sea transport.
He enticed a then young designer away from GM named Gordon Behrig who, among many others, designed the Cord 810. I find it one of the most refreshing and original auto designs ever. The V8 engine featured a most interesting flat head engine with one center mounted cam that drove upright roller rockers pushing both sets of valves nearly horizontally producing almost the same volumetric efficiency as the mighty OHC Dusenberg's of the day. It makes the Ford flathead look like a crude door stop.
The museum occupies the whole of the admin building and includes perfectly restored examples of the most important ACD vehicles. Until you stand right beside a Dusenberg or Auburn V12 it is hard to comprehend just how big these suckers really are! Or, how elegantly proportioned and human scale the Cords are. Also a good selection of other designs as well.
In the design studio are the original clays from which the body dies for the 810 were taken.
The museum closed long before my interest was satisfied. A highly recommended experience for any one interested in some of Americas finest examples of the automotive art. It didn't hurt that a number of Frank Lloyd Wright's original color drawings were also on display while we were there as we had toured one of his Usonian homes earlier in the week. He was an enthusiastic owner of an L-29 Cord.
Jerry
Sent from my iPad
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