WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Historic
Vehicle Association (HVA) announces the 27th and
28th vehicles to be added to the National Historic
Vehicle Register:
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8804251-historic-vehicle-register-2020-inductees/
No.
27
|
1921 Duesenberg
Straight Eight (the "Castle Duesenberg")
|
|
Courtesy of the
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum (Auburn,
Indiana)
|
No.
28
|
1970 Dodge Challenger
R/T SE (the "Qualls Challenger")
|
|
Courtesy of the
Qualls family
|
Link to Video:
2020 National Historic Vehicle
Register Inductees
Link to Photos:
1921 Duesenberg
Straight Eight
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE
Follow along on our HVA YouTube channel for upcoming driving
footage and documentaries featuring each of these historic
automobiles:
November
11
|
Documentary video -
1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight
|
November
18
|
Driving experience
video - 1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight
|
|
|
December
16
|
Documentary video -
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE
|
December
23
|
Driving experience
video - 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE
|
1921 DUESENBERG STRAIGHT EIGHT – Castle Duesenberg
2020 marks the 100th
anniversary of the famed Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company,
Inc. Engineers and race car builders, August and Fred Duesenberg launched the company
with their Straight Eight – later known as the Model A. Built in
Indianapolis, IN, the Duesenberg
brand would become synonymous with absolute automotive excellence,
opulence, and engineering.
The company's first ever production car was custom ordered by
the Hawaiian industrialist Samuel Northrup
Castle in 1919. After delayed production, he took
possession in 1921 and would become the first owner of a Duesenberg
passenger car.
Featuring custom coachwork by the Bender Body Company of
Cleveland, Ohio this vehicle's
ultra-spacious interior was produced specifically for Mr. Castle's
seven-foot-tall stature. A host of mechanical advances for the time
included four-wheel hydraulic brakes and the industry's first
overhead cam straight-eight-cylinder passenger car engine.
The Castle Duesenberg remained in Samuel
Castle's possession until his death in 1959 when ownership
was transferred to his nephew, James
Christian Castle, and the car was transported to
San Francisco and placed into
storage. James C. Castle Jr.
(Chris), and his wife CyrAnn became owners of the car in 1994. In
2010 the couple commissioned an intensive 10,000-hour frame-off
restoration of the car to its 1920s splendor. The 1921 Duesenberg
Straight Eight remained in the Castle family for virtually 100
years until the decision was made in to entrust the Auburn Cord
Duesenberg Automobile Museum with its future stewardship.
"This gift to the museum is one of the most significant
donations to the collection in the 46-year history of the museum,"
states Brandon J. Anderson,
Executive Director & CEO of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg
Automobile Museum. "To have the Castle Duesenberg placed on
the HVA's National Historic Vehicle Register means the story of
this iconic vehicle will continue to be shared for hundreds of
years to come."
1970 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T SE
Completely unrestored, save a few maintenance items, this
Challenger has just over 45K original
miles. Combined with its unique preserved state, fascinating
Detroit story and desirable option
configuration, it is among the most coveted cars from the era of
horsepower and muscle.
In 1969, 27-year-old, combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient and
Detroit Police Officer,
Godfrey Qualls special ordered this
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE. Qualls checked virtually every option
when configuring his ultimate muscle car; 426 HEMI engine, the
"Super Track Pak" featuring a four-speed manual transmission with a
floor mounted Hurst pistol grip shifter, Dana 60 rear-end with 4.10
gears and Sure-Grip differential, the SE or "Special Edition" trim
and interior package, "bumble bee" white stripe on the tail, hood
pins, houndstooth interior and a gator grain black vinyl top.
It is one of just 23 four-speed Hemi R/T SE Challengers built
in the model's debut year and is likely the only Challenger with
this unique configuration of performance and trim options.
Qualls took delivery of the high-performance one of a kind
Challenger in December 1969 and used
it as his daily driver. When Qualls wasn't on duty riding his
police Harley-Davidson, he put the HEMI to the test street racing
in Detroit. Rarely bested, the
traffic cop by day maintained a low profile and would seemingly
disappear for months at a time between unsanctioned drag runs down
Woodward or Telegraph. Due to his elusive antics, fellow Detroit
street racers dubbed the sinister and mysterious Challenger the
"black ghost."
Towards the end of the '70s though, busy serving his country,
community and family, the Challenger found rest in the family
garage for over two decades. In 2016, after Godfrey Qualls' passing, his son Gregory worked
with friends and family to bring the car back to life as a tribute
to his father.
"My father would be thrilled that not only is the car is in
running condition but also going on the National Historic Vehicle
Register," said Gregory Qualls. "One
day I hope to pass it on to my son to continue to share and
enjoy."
"We believe the history of the automobile is worth saving, and
the human-interest stories behind the horsepower are worth
telling," said Diane Parker, Vice
President of the Historic Vehicle Association. "In addition to
cultural and historical impact, these one-owner examples tell a
rich family legacy."
About the Historic Vehicle Association
The HVA is dedicated to preserving and sharing America's
automotive heritage for future generations. The HVA established the
National Historic Vehicle Register in partnership with the
U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Documentation Programs
and Library of Congress, respectively, to document historically
significant automobiles in America's past. Please visit:
www.historicvehicle.org.
The HVA's National Historic Vehicle Register program is made
possible through its parent company, Hagerty. In part, Hagerty is
geared toward enabling and enhancing the experience of automotive
enthusiasts and making sure that the vehicles we love – and the
lifestyles that revolve around them – don't just survive but thrive
well into the future.
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SOURCE Historic Vehicle Association