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Thunderbird performing aerobatics. Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
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Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum/ThunderbirdsTake a journey through the "Home of the Classics"—the Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum in Auburn, Ind. More than 100 of America’s most innovative and prestigious cars of their time are showcased in the former national headquarters of the Auburn Automobile Company. Two floors with eight exhibit galleries reveal a delicious taste of the past, through the work of 1920s auto legend E.L. Cord.
The US Air Force Demo Squadron, the Thunderbirds, have been thrilling spectators since 1953. Basing their maneuvers on standard military training, the Thunderbirds take flying to a death-defying level. At the same time, the goodwill group focuses on the importance of crowd safety—and critical timing. They have drawn record crowds over the years, including the 2.25 million who came to see the Thunderbird perform in Coney Island, NY on July 4, 1987.
Auburn 851 Speedster Facts
- The Speedster could go from 0 to 60 mph in a remarkable 15 seconds. A supercharged "Lycoming straight eight" powers the car, reaching speeds of 100 mph.
- The compact passenger compartment and tapering boattail rear between massive fenders give it the impression of an open-cockpit fighter.
- A 1935 Boattail costs an estimated $130,000 - $160,000. Recently, a beautifully restored Auburn Boattail Speedster sold for $314,000.
- Only 146 supercharged Speedsters were produced. Each Speedster carried a dash plaque indicating the speed at which the car had been tested.
- Breaking the American class speed record, Ab Jenkins drove a stock Auburn on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum Facts
- Two self-taught transportation engineers, Fred and August Duesenberg, built their namesake car. And at $20,000, the Duesenberg was the most luxurious and expensive car ever created.
- The Duesenburg was the first American car to win the LeMans, France in 1921.
- Known as the "Home of the Classics," the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is also home to Packards, Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces. Over a million people from all over the US and from 60 foreign countries have visited the museum.
- More than 75 percent of Duesenbergs exist today, with 50 percent of these still operable. A 1931 Model J Duesenberg is currently estimated at $1-1.5 million.
- The Auburn Museum is an interpretive museum presenting the cars in an historical context. It is the only auto museum housed in the original factory showroom.
Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum Resources
The Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum
1600 South Wayne Street (P.O. Box 271), Auburn, IN 46706
260-925-1444, 260-925-6266 (fax)
www.acdmuseum.org
Errett Lobban Cord, His Empire, His Motor Cars: Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg by Griffith Borgeson
Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg by Don Butler
The Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum—more information www.clearlake.com/auburn/acd.htm
Thunderbird Facts:
- The Thunderbirds is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (six for demonstration), four support officers, three civilians and 130 enlisted personnel. Their objective includes recruitment, international goodwill and the demonstration of professional competence.
- The Thunderbirds perform an average of 90 demos per season. The air demonstration is a mix of solo and formation flying routines. They run for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and are performed from March through November.
- The F16 is one of the world's best precision bombers and a highly maneuverable aircraft in air-to-air combat. The smoke-generating system of a performance F16 is installed in the space usually reserved for a 20 mm cannon.
- The Thunderbirds’ first aircraft was the straight-winged combat fighter F84G Thunderjet. The F84G Thunderjet had seen action in Korea.
- In 1984, the Thunderbirds returned to Europe for the first time in 13 years. And drew 3.2 million spectators in 11 countries.
- In July 1996, an estimated 3.5 billion spectators saw the Thunderbirds during the opening ceremonies at the Atlanta Olympics.
Thunderbird Resources:
The Thunderbirds by George E. Sullivan
The Air Force by James P. McCarthy (Editor), et al
Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft by Enzo Angelucci
Thunderbirds Data
www.highgallery.com/thunderbirds-links.html
Thunderbirds Photographs
www.sky-flash.com/thun.htm
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