Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum News Release - Museum Participates in Exhibit Focusing on Indiana Auto Makers in South Bend

(AUBURN) - The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum will play a part in the development of a new exhibit focusing on Indiana's automotive manufacturing history. The Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana is opening a new exhibit entitled "Hoosier Past Perfect: Indiana's Auto Makers." This exhibit will include examples of Hoosier-made "Full Classics" from the 1920s and 1930s, adorned with an Art Deco motif and complemented by period fashions from the Northern Indiana Center for History costume collection.

The exhibit will include seven Indiana-built automobiles, including two from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum collection. The museum's 1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe will represent Duesenberg in the exhibit. This automobile was donated by Carmine Zecardi. The museum will also contribute a 1936 Cord 810 Beverly that belonged to Gordon Buehrig. It was within the walls of what is now the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum that Buehrig finalized the design for this "rolling sculpture." The Buehrig Cord was presented to Gordon on his 75th birthday and was later donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum by his wife, Kay Buehrig.

The Studebaker Museum was particularly interested in having the Buehrig Cord, because Gordon Buerhrig was once the head of the Raymond Loewey Studio in South Bend after his days at Auburn Automobile Company. He was hired to design the post World War II Studebaker line for the company. Studebaker and Auburn Automobile Company have many other ties to the past, including automotive designer Vince Gardner, who was also involved in developing the 1936 Cord 810, and Virgil Exner who tried to revive the Duesenberg in an ill-fated attempt with only a 1966 Duesenberg prototype being produced.

This exhibit will run from October12, 2006 until March 10, 2007 in the newly constructed Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. For information about this exhibit contact the Studebaker National Museum by phone at (574) 235-9714 or Toll Free (888) 391-5600. You can also reach them online at studebakermuseum.org.

The not-for-profit Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is located in the restored 1930 art deco administrative building of the former Auburn Automobile Company. The museum displays 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars in eight galleries. The museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1997, is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.