Fred Duesenberg

Inventor, engineer, and automotive pioneer Fred Duesenberg, a German immigrant, shaped the automotive industry in the early twentieth century on both race tracks and public roads through major advances in automobile design, engineering, and manufacturing. His racecars held the world's land-speed record, won the Indianapolis 500 three times, and won the French Grand Prix at LeMans. He was also instrumental in creating the Duesenberg Model J. Born in 1876, he began his career by building and racing bicycles in the 1890s, then became fascinated with the internal combustion engine and the automobile at the turn of the century. With his brother Augie, he designed and built eight-cylinder inline engines for their racecars, which won countless races and set many records in the 1920s and 30s. He patented the first four-wheel hydraulic brake system and first introduced superchargers to American passenger cars. He died unexpectedly in 1932 from complications following an accident while driving along the Lincoln Highway.

Auburn, Indiana · United States