Ab Jenkins and the Duesenberg Special set a Class B super-stock record for the flying mile of 145


Tuesday 2nd July 1935

Ab Jenkins and the Duesenberg Special set a Class B super-stock record for the flying mile of 145.44 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, US. The Duesenberg Special was built on a standard 142.5 in (3.62 m) Duesenberg J chassis and was intended to be driven on the street with minimal changes. For higher speeds, the gear ratio of the rear axle was dropped to 3.0 to 1. The car used a standard Duesenberg eight-cylinder, inline engine with a 3.75 in (95 mm) bore, 4.75 in (121 mm) stroke, and displacing 420 cu in (6.9 L). The engine was supercharged and had dual overhead camshafts. The standard engine produced 320 hp (239 kW); however, the Duesenberg Special’s engine had special grind camshafts, larger carburetors, a larger impeller for the supercharger, and updated intake manifolds that increased the engine’s output to 400 hp (298 kW) at 5,000 rpm. An identical spare engine was also built for the Duesenberg Special. The body of the Duesenberg Special was designed by Herbert Newport and was streamlined to minimize the car’s frontal area. Newport’s design included a single headlight positioned below the sloped radiator. The two seats were staggered slightly to keep the car’s body narrow. The front suspension was lowered, and large Firestone tires were fitted onto 18 in (.46 m) wire wheels. Behind each wheel was a fairing designed to reduce air turbulence. Detachable fenders were used for normal road travel. The Duesenberg Special was 18.5 ft (5.64 m) long, had a 56.1 in (1.42 m) track, and weighed 4,800 lb (2,177 kg).


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