Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatterasguy
I think they are the best cars in the world, still to this day.
A guess a modern equivalent would be a Veyron?
The super charged Duesenberg straight 8 was the most powerful production engine for what 25 years?
I think its hard today for people to understand how much of a leap they were, since nothing comparable really exists today.
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Consider this, the J engine is 265HP from 420cu. in. (6.9L). Not impressive by today's standards, but that was done with only a 5:1 compression ratio!!! The SJ was simply bolt-on super charger for 8:1 compression ratio to boost the power to 325HP. Last year at the festival some of the J owners went to a local drag strip and raced. Many people could not believe that anyone would do that. I would tell them 'that engine is not even working itself for its power'.
The Model A Duesenberg was an 88HP engine from a 251 cu. in. (4.1L) block. That was unheard of power from displacement off of the race track in its day.