# ID This Car From the 1920s/1930s **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960 "2005-11-27T22:02:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/1 "2005-11-27T22:02:57Z")
I was watching _The Phantom Creeps_ and most of the cars in the serial are easily identified Chevys, but [this one](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/tuckerfan/phantomcar.jpg) has me stumped. Anybody have any idea of what it might be? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/2 "2005-11-27T22:11:51Z")
[Duesenberg?](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=duesenberg&spell=1&sa=N&tab=wi) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/3 "2005-11-27T22:12:01Z")
Is it a [Stutz-Bearcat?](http://info.detnews.com/joyrides/story/index.cfm?id=147)? Scroll down to the third picture. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/4 "2005-11-27T22:16:30Z")
Definately _not_ a Duesey, since there were no external pipes, and not the Stutz, either, because the radiator cowl is curved on this, and flat on the Stutz. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/5 "2005-11-27T22:39:47Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Definately _not_ a Duesey, since there were no external pipes Are you sure? Looking at the various pics of Deusenbergs, it doesn’t appear they all have external pipes: [![](http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640213-M-1.jpg) ](http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640213-M-1.jpg) [http://www.speedygrl.com/Racer/wallpapers/1931\_duesenberg\_j\_weymann\_speedster.jpg](http://www.speedygrl.com/Racer/wallpapers/1931_duesenberg_j_weymann_speedster.jpg) Perhaps they did during their time? I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know jack about cars. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/6 "2005-11-27T22:42:34Z")
Tuck: It looks like a Mercedes Benz, approx. 1938. Your picture is small, but [this car](http://img.prewarcar.com/prewar/cars/Mercedes-Benz_1938_ID9528_400.jpg) looks very similar. It’s a 1938 Model 320 Cabriolet D. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/7 "2005-11-27T22:49:11Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > Are you sure? Looking at the various pics of Deusenbergs, it doesn’t appear they all have external pipes: > > [http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640213-M-1.jpg](http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640213-M-1.jpg) > > [http://www.speedygrl.com/Racer/wallpapers/1931\_duesenberg\_j\_weymann\_speedster.jpg](http://www.speedygrl.com/Racer/wallpapers/1931_duesenberg_j_weymann_speedster.jpg) > > Perhaps they did during their time? I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know jack about cars. The photos don’t show the pipes because of the angles, but trust me, the Deuseys _all_ had big chrome exhaust pipes coming out of one side or the other of the engine cowl, along with a plate on the dash saying that the car was certified to do in excess of 120 MPH. **Rico** , that’s certainly close, but the car’s a two door, not a four door like you linked to, and it didn’t have a hood ornament. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/8 "2005-11-27T22:50:55Z")
Your small picture makes it hard to be definitive, but how about the Auburn 8-105: [http://bimbo.fjfi.cvut.cz/~sivak/obr/tapety/0908.jpg](http://bimbo.fjfi.cvut.cz/~sivak/obr/tapety/0908.jpg) [http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/aubr3301.htm](http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/aubr3301.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/9 "2005-11-27T22:55:29Z")
The second Auburn looks close, but the bumper’s wrong. It’s not visible (and may not be on the car in the photo, they had the annoying habit of swapping cars during shooting, one moment they’re in a dark car, the next moment they’re in a light car, and then they’re back to the dark car), but when they climbed into the car, there were vent windows attached to the side of the front windshield. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/10 "2005-11-27T22:56:07Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > **Rico** , that’s certainly close, but the car’s a two door, not a four door like you linked to, and it didn’t have a hood ornament. Are you sure? When I blow the photo up, it appears to have a two-pronged hood ornament of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/11 "2005-11-27T23:41:13Z")
The Mercedes also has a split windshield with more rake to it than your picture appears to have, and the chrome at the top of the grill goes straight across, whereas the Mercedes appears tapered. Maybe a Marmon? [![](http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640211-M-1.jpg) ](http://concours.smugmug.com/photos/640211-M-1.jpg) That’s a 1931 Marmon. I know, I no vent windows … ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/12 "2005-11-27T23:46:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Are you sure? When I blow the photo up, it appears to have a two-pronged hood ornament of some sort. I zoomed the original capture image, and there _might_ be an ornament (looks like it could be an animal), but it could just be an artifact. **yabob** , it might be a Marmon, but the one you linkd to is certainly the wrong year/model. ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/13 "2005-11-28T00:29:30Z")
Tuckerfan said: “The photos don’t show the pipes because of the angles, but trust me, the Deuseys all had big chrome exhaust pipes coming out of one side or the other of the engine cowl, along with a plate on the dash saying that the car was certified to do in excess of 120 MPH.” Actually, Tuck, it was only the supercharged SJ Deusies that had external pipes, although some J model owners installed them so that people would think they had an SJ. Here’s a J and an SJ side by side ( [www.campbellriversales.com/vintage\_cars\_4.htm](http://www.campbellriversales.com/vintage_cars_4.htm)) - scroll down to row 13, second from the left. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/14 "2005-11-28T00:41:55Z")
> [@Mapache](#): > > Tuckerfan said: “The photos don’t show the pipes because of the angles, but trust me, the Deuseys all had big chrome exhaust pipes coming out of one side or the other of the engine cowl, along with a plate on the dash saying that the car was certified to do in excess of 120 MPH.” > Actually, Tuck, it was only the supercharged SJ Deusies that had external pipes, although some J model owners installed them so that people would think they had an SJ. Here’s a J and an SJ side by side ( [www.campbellriversales.com/vintage\_cars\_4.htm](http://www.campbellriversales.com/vintage_cars_4.htm)) - scroll down to row 13, second from the left. Well, color me corrected then. What’s the car 15th row 2nd one in, kind of pinkish in color? Other than some of the chrome and the grill, that could be it. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/15 "2005-11-28T01:38:12Z")
You’re all wrong. [1931 Chrysler](http://trombinoscar.ifrance.com/chrysler/cl310303.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/16 "2005-11-28T01:40:24Z")
That’s another J model Duesenberg; those things are HUGE and the mystery car doesn’t look much bigger than a Ford. I only get one picture from your site, and it’s pretty blurry. Maybe it’s some kind of small Mercedes with maybe British special body work. In the 1930’s all sorts of cars, even Ford Model A’s, were sometimes sold as bare chassis to be bodied to the customer’s taste at one of a large number of coachbuilding companies. ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/17 "2005-11-28T01:42:16Z")
Message was for Tuckerfan, looks like Beware has nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/18 "2005-11-28T01:49:58Z")
Yeah, I think **Doug** ’s got it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/19 "2005-11-28T02:14:54Z")
See, I went with this crazy hunch I had that back in the day, they probably made cars for all different markets. Not just Model As and Duesenbergs, but boring old Buicks and Pontiacs and stuff too. A 1931 Chrysler roadster is probably worth $100,000 today, even though nobody either wants one or knows such a thing exists. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960/20 "2005-11-28T02:16:36Z")
Next question…who were The Phantom Creeps? (Band name!) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-car-from-the-1920s-1930s/332960.md?page=2)