1925 Duesenberg Model A Roadster (Project)

Right side of chassis displaying all running board brackets removed.

Brock carefully removing the original wiring harness and junction boxes.

The bare Duesenberg chassis as it arrives at the sand blasting facility.

The chassis will be sand blasted and an epoxy primer will be applied.

View of chassis from left front side as it was just returned to our shop after being sand blasted and having epoxy primer applied.

View from right front side. We will now attend to filling pits and smoothing all surfaces.

View from right rear. This chassis is in remarkably good solid condition as these photos show.

Ed has recently joined the restoration team and will be performing a complete engine rebuild for this car.

Ed will completely disassemble the engine and determine how much work has already been completed on the engine before proceeding.

Brock using an orbital grinder with filler to repair small pits and imperfections on the bare chassis.

Brock hand sanding around rivets to fill small pits.

Filling of pits and imperfections on left side of rail is now completed.

Colby removing the old brake shoes to have new ones made.

Left side leaf springs are removed and will be replaced by new leaf springs.

Right side leaf springs being removed.

After the brake shoes were removed, Colby removed all the hydraulic brake parts and made them functional again.

The chassis is now completely free of pits and imperfections and it is ready for paint.

Brock puts the finishing touches on the chassis before the final paint is applied.

The original Roadster Boat Tail body is brought from our downtown facility to be fitted to the chassis and tweaked before finish paint and upholstery is completed.

Body reunited to the chassis.

Left view of body on chassis.

New left front leaf springs are fitted to the chassis.

New left rear leaf springs are fitted to the chassis.

The straight 8 engine being temporarily placed in the chassis for fitting.

The radiator shell and cowl section is temporarily placed on the chassis for fitting before a complete body-off restoration is undertaken.

Engine, cowl section, radiator shell, and body are temporarily fitted to the chassis before a complete restoration of those parts is undertaken.

After fitting the hood to the body, we saw that a small section of the hood had been removed from the outer edge of the front hood panel. It will be replaced.

The flywheel belonging to the engine from this car has been located and delivered to us today, June 18, 2021, with various bearings and other related parts.

A treasure trove of parts for this project has been delivered to us today from the previous owner as he has made good on his word to do so. He has also assured us that he is actively looking for the rest of the "lost" parts.

The drive shaft, steering wheel. oil filler housing, fan blade assembly, front spindles, aluminum wire harness assembly, master cylinder, brake shoes, water pump, engine mounting brackets, and other very important parts were received today.

The original unrestored wooden steering wheel was located and was sent to a master wood restoration specialist.

Rear fenders are being fitted and placed onto the chassis.

Cowl, body, and fenders are placed onto the chassis and are fitted before paint work etc. is started.

Many hours were spent on this steering wheel to bring it back to near perfection.

Master woodworker and restorer, David Perrotti, was called out of retirement for this one. We are fortunate to have experts like David available to take on near impossible jobs like this. Thank you again David. Click here to see the original unrestored wheel.

The boys begin cutting and fabricating the floor.

With the cowl removed, the floor section is being fitted around the transmission.

The completed floor with the cowl section, the fire wall, and the cast aluminum floor kick panel in place.

Cast aluminum kick pad in place against the inner firewall.

Another view of the cast aluminum kick panel in place.

Left side view of cowl with the correct Duesenberg firewall in place.

Colby and Ed fitting the completely rebuilt head onto the engine block.

The new head in place.

Now that the engine has received new pistons, rings, and valves and has been completely rebuilt, it has received paint primer and is ready for paint.

Right side of engine after high temp green engine paint was applied.

Left side after receiving high temp engine paint.

Ten hours has been spent on the firewall sanding and polishing. An additional several hours will be needed before completion.

Final assembly has begun on the rebuilt engine.

Left side of detailed engine displaying restored porcelain exhaust manifolds.

Right side of detailed engine.

Frontal view of detailed engine.

Left front fender fitted in place.

Right front view of body with front fender and hood sections

Upper hood panels were reconstructed and fitted to the cowl.

Left side of body ready to be transferred to the work table for final preparation and painting.

The rear end "pumpkin" has been removed and will be completely disassembled and rebuilt.

Rear end housing will be steam cleaned and degreased.

Rear end before steam cleaning and degreasing.

Newly constructed rolling work table where the body will be transferred to for final fabrication and paintwork.

Newly constructed rolling work table where the body will be transferred to for final fabrication and paintwork.

Left side view of body sitting on the newly fabricated work table.

Right side view of the body sitting on the new work table as it was just removed from the chassis in the foreground.

Rear view of the body sitting on the new work table.

A new aluminum dash is being fabricated.

The new aluminum dash will be attached to the dash posts that have been attached to the inner fire wall.

We have reached the final stages of preparation of the body before shipping it to the paint shop for finish body work and paint.

Moving day, November 5, 2021. The body is finally on its way to the paint shop.

We are exploring different options as a color choice for this body and are moving in the direction of the "red" family.

Body secure on the trailer and ready for transport.

A pair of map lights have been fitted to the new dash.

All the dash instruments including the rare Elgin clock have been located making the dash instrument cluster complete.

All the dash instruments including the rare Elgin clock have been located making the dash instrument cluster complete.

The cast aluminum radiator shell has been stripped of many years of dirt and grime.

The radiator shell is being restored to its original beauty.

Left side of cowl receiving skim coat.

Left side of cowl receiving skim coat.

Left side of body receiving skim coat.

Left side of body receiving skim coat.

Right front fender receiving skim coat.

Rear boat tail section displaying the final skim coat application.

Worker applying the final skim coat to the rear boat tail section.

This photo displays the perfectly fitted left side door with final skim coating.

A very rare complete ignition switch has been located and fitted to the freshly painted dash.

Front view of the rare ignition switch with Duesenberg emblem.

Rear view of the complete Duesenberg dash.

It was a major task to locate and assemble a complete dash for this project. Seen here are the amp, brake pressure,and oil pressure gauges along with the extremely rare Elgin clock and Warner speedometer. All were fitted to the dash housing with the beveled oval glass and new dash surround holder.

The completed dash instrument cluster was meticulously fitted to the dash housing.

The complete painted dash with ignition switch, instrument cluster and map lights in place. I am very happy with the finished product.

Close up of the ignition switch, instrument cluster and map lights.

Left side view of completed boat tail roadster body in the paint shop and finally ready for color. Note how finely aligned the doors are.

Front view of the boat tail roadster body as it sits in the paint booth finally ready for color.

First coat of red paint being applied to the boat tail roadster body.

Roadster body after the third and final coat of paint has been applied.

The completed roadster body being returned to the shop.

Right side view of the beautifully finished body.

View of finished boat tail rear section.

Cast aluminum firewall in its original unpolished state.

Cast aluminum firewall after being highly polished.

The body tag displaying Chassis #1156 and Engine #1549 has been attached to the restored firewall.

A period correct Bosch horn has been located and fitted to the firewall.

A period correct Bosch horn has been located and fitted to the firewall.

The rotisserie had to be restored in order to make it possible to allow a complete revolution of the chassis.

It is now possible to easily prepare the underside of the chassis before the primer, seal coat, and paint is applied.

Brock is filling and sanding imperfections on the underside of the chassis.

Brock continues to fill pits and prepare the inverted chassis.

It is very slow going in the hard to get at areas that need final prep before paint.

We hope this is final prep on the (inverted) chassis before sealing and paint.

After many hours of preparation, the chassis is finally ready for paint and is being loaded into the trailer for the trip to the paint shop.

After many hours of preparation, the chassis is finally ready for paint and is being loaded into the trailer for the trip to the paint shop.

The chassis and other related parts arrive back at our shop after the final coat of paint has been applied.

Even Moses is excited as the chassis is brought back into our shop on the rotisserie.

Right rear view of the finished chassis with the rotisserie still attached.

The many hours of preparation have paid off as the beautiful finish paint shows in this view from the left front side.

Ed will be helping Brock dismantle the bulky rotisserie.

Brock lowering the rotisserie onto the jack stands where it will remain in place while the rest of the chassis parts are assembled.

The rear rotisserie is removed.

The chassis now sits on jackstands as the front half of the rotisserie is removed.

Now that the chassis is in place on the jackstands, assembly can begin.

Left front view of the chassis as it sits on the jack stands.

The front leaf springs are the first items to be placed onto the chassis.

The front axle is also ready to be added to the chassis.

The rearend and rear springs are ready to be attached to the chassis.

Left front view of leaf springs and front axle in place.

Right front view of leaf springs and front axle in place.

New rear leaf springs in place.

Complete seat base and back has been fabricated with access to the rear compartment.

All surfaces have been modified to accept the new panels for upholstery.

The completely rebuilt rear end, drive shaft, and torque tube are in place.

Many hard to find parts have been located and placed here.

The steering box is installed.

All new brake parts, shoes, and drums with hubs in place.

Complete rear end in place with left and right rear drums and hubs.

The under steering wheel hub had to be reproduced by our in-house machinist in order to attach the restored steering wheel.

Many parts had to be located in order to attach a complete steering box, steering column hub, and wheel. The resurrection continues.

New restored kingpins are attached to the front end.

Drag link is in place completing the steering mechanism.

The pitman arm and all the steering parts were located and put into place after many hours of defining and locating critical parts.

Ed and Brock jockey the completely rebuilt straight eight engine in place.

John and Colby join in to help put the enormous engine in place.

It proved to be a tight fit without removing the steering column and wheel but the boys were successful in installing the engine and transmission.

It proved to be a close fit but all went well. We were able to fit the engine and transmission to the chassis without any damage or problems.

The lifting chains were removed and the polished aluminum cylinder cover was added after the engine and transmission were completely bolted to the chassis. This was a good day.

Worker honing the wheel cylinder to accept the kingpin.

Wheel cylinder was repaired and sleeved with new sleeving and rubber insert and piston added (right side).

Left side wheel cylinder kingpin inserted after being rebuilt.

Hubs are attached to the drums.

The correct wide whitewall tires and tubes finally arrived and are mounted on the restored Houk wire wheels.

Left rear wheel is mounted on the finished chassis.

The front bumper is mounted on the chassis.

Double nickel plated bumpers and back bars with period correct bolts and brackets all came together to display a beautiful presentation.

New ash seat base in place with finished leather side panels and seat back.

Completed leather seat cushion, seat back, and side panels.

Brock placing the polished radiator shell and radiator on the finished chassis.

Artist Ray Delaney posing after working his magic on the rearend bell housing.

Rearend bell housing with painted Duesenberg logo.

Winged Duesenberg mascot and motometer is fitted to the radiator.

The completely restored dash with all correct and restored instruments is fitted to the inner cowl.

A custom master cylinder was located and was attached to the side of the tranny.

A custom bracket was added to securely attach the master cylinder.

The right front fender is being fitted to the chassis. This will allow headlights, fender lights, and wiring to be added.

Kick panels and upper dash leather covered dash molding in place. Also note correct polished oval head countersunk screws holding the dash.

The boattail roadster body is returned to us from the upholstery shop and is ready to be put onto the chassis. The exhaust system, brake lines, and wiring must be completed on the chassis prior to the body being mounted.

Workers lifting the finished roadster body onto the chassis.

Workers lifting the finished roadster body onto the chassis.

Finished roadster body is fitted to the roadster chassis.

Finished roadster body is fitted to the roadster chassis.

The completely restored gas tank is mounted onto the chassis.

Rear view of the restored gas tank.

A very rare accessory gas tank locking mechanism was located and installed onto the gas tank filler tube.

The gas tank locking mechanism secures and locks the gas cap.

Right front fender fitted to the chassis in alignment with the rear fender.

A custom inner bracket had to be fabricated to attach the fender to the chassis.

Right and left fenders in place and formally attached to the chassis.

Left side view showing front fenders in place with headlight bar attached for stability.

Right side view showing side mount spare wheel in place and headlight bar attached to front fenders.

New reproduction Duesenberg hubcap medallions finally arrived.

All four wheels now display new hubcaps with the new hubcap medallions.

A very rare and beautifully restored pair of Woodlites was located and placed on our Duesenberg. (Right side view)

William G. Wood produced these lights in the early 1920s. They were standard equipment on models such as Ruxton etc. and are commonly seen today on Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Packard, Stutz, and many other high end vehicles.

It is clear to see why these lights are so highly sought after as they add so much flair and beauty to any restoration project. A set of these lights recently sold on eBay for $20,000.

The original Duesenberg hood had to be modified to conform with this custom body boat tail roadster (right side) .

Left side upper hood panel being custom fitted to the boat tail roadster body.

Brock eyeing the correct placement of the very rare Woodlite parking lights on the front fender. The headlights that were designed by William G Wood are very rare and the Woodlite parking lights that match are even rarer.

The fender light and white rubber grommet are properly attached to the top center of the left front fender.

The fender light and white rubber grommet are properly attached to the top center of the right front fender.

Front view of car displaying all four lights properly attached.

There is so much bling without the hood. It is a shame to hide it.

All four hood panels (upper and lower) are fitted and ready for paint.

Side view of tail light stanchion and correct tail light.

Rear view of tail light mounted in place.

This 1925 Indiana license plate in great original condition was acquired through eBay and will be restored and placed on this project. We selected this plate due to the year and place of origin.

Restored 1925 Indiana License plate. Thank you Ray Delaney.