Mormon Meteor

The Duesenberg Special was a one-off speed record car.[4] It was built in 1935 on a supercharged Duesenberg Model J rolling chassis with a standard wheelbase[4] of 142.5 inches (3,620 mm),[6][3] a dropped front axle,[1][3] 18 inches (460 mm) wheels instead of the standard 19 inches (480 mm) wheels, and a non-standard 3:1 rear axle ratio.[1] The engine was highly tuned by August Duesenberg,[4] with the compression ratio raised to 7.5:1 and different engine bearings being used.[1] High performance parts developed for the Special, especially the "ram's horn" twin-carburetor inlet manifold, would be used on later supercharged Js (or "SJ"s as they were called by the public).[4]

Financing for the Duesenberg Special came from sponsorship solicited by Ab Jenkins from oil companies and accessory manufacturers and distributors. Jenkins guaranteed his sponsors that he would break established speed records with the car. He delivered on his guarantee in October 1935, when he set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph (247.79 km/h) and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph (218.18 km/h) at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961.[4]