That source is the almostretiring Robert "Bob" Sbarge who, for the past 12 years, has been president of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum located in the city of Auburn, northeast of Indiana, United States.
It is the only classic car museum in America accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Here 17 Duesenberg cars – considered a legend in American heritage – occupy the center of attention.
There are 16,000 museums of all types in the US and only 700 of those are considered "very exceptional."
The classic car museum in Auburn is in that exclusive club. And that makes our story really interesting and informative.
Now who has heard of a Duesenberg car, to begin with?
In the Philippines just a few local vintage-car fanciers and, of course, motoring editors.
Established in 1902 in Auburn – then a small town of 5,000 in – Indiana, the Auburn Automobile Co. crafted with painstaking attention to detail those Duesenberg cars.
Automotive leaders today concede the firm pioneered in the development of the automobile industry in the United States.
"A Duesenberg was custommade. There were only 481 of those luxurious limousines created by AAC during its productive years from 1929 to 1937, costing $20,000 each," says Bob Sbarge. That amount in those days could already buy three houses in America.
It is worth mentioning that AAC was a participant in what America called its revered Classic Era – 1920 to 1930 – producing immortal creations like cars, designs in fashion, songs, movies, and art works.
In an era when all cars made by other companies were colored black, Duesenberg cars came in a variety of colors, as specified by their customers. And they were very powerful sedans, each propelled by a 265 horsepower engine (Chrysler’s most powerful model when was 166 HP).
There are still 379 Duesenbergs in excellent running condition today in the US and in Europe. Righthand-drive versions were sold to some countries outside America. Bob, however, does not believe there is a Duesenberg anywhere in Asia.
Today a classic Duesenberg is valued at $1 million.
In 1924, E. L. Cord, then only 29 years old, joined AAC. With him at the helm, the company produced two other models — the Auburn car and the Cord car in 1929. The latter was America’s first frontwheel drive car.
Bob Sbarge told this columnist that AAC introduced five major technological innovations in the 1930s that have been adopted by various car manufacturers all over the world today. These are: 1) hydraulic brakes; 2) frontwheel drive; 3) supercharged 4) unibody construction; and 5) retractable headlights.
Incidentally, the famous Indy 400 speed-track car race in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the biggest sporting event in the US. The yearly car marathon attracts some 400,000 spectators to . Entry cars have chassis and engine that are patterned after Duesenbergs.
Only US classic car museum
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum – the only accredited classic car museum in America – was founded in 1974.
"A museum is an educational institution. It teaches heritage, science, history, art, and life-style to the present generation," explains Bob who has been with the ACDM for the past 12 years.
Tourists, visitors, and institutions agree with that assertion. That’s why by patronizing the museum they help in its maintenance and its valuable contribution to the American heritage.
For the curious: The old factory-office building of AAC is the same site of the present museum.
The city of Auburn today has a population of only 12,000. But it attracts some 70,000 visitors annually because of the museum.
Of the 140 classic automobiles – American and European – 17 are Duesenbergs. The edifice has three floors providing some 120,000 square feet of exhibition area.
Bob said the museum has 14 full-time professional staff, 20 part-time personnel, and 100 volunteers, many of whom serve as guides.
Operational and maintenance costs are shouldered by four sources of income, namely: 1) entrance ticket sales; 2) dues from members – 300 life and 1,200 regular; 3) proceeds from a souvenir and gift store; and, 4) rentals from functions like trade exhibits and business meetings.
One of the prominent life members is TV talk show host Jay Leno who has five Duesenbergs in his private collection of 50 classic cars housed in an airport hangar in Burbank, California.
Another museum patron and well-known collector is fashion entrepreneur Ralph Lauren.
Group Study Exchange
Bob Sbarge and four other Rotarians from District 6540 of Indiana are in town as aGroup Study Exchange (GSE) team. Hosting them is the Rotary Club of Sta. MesaQuezon City (RCSMQC)of District 3780, led by President Wilson K. Lim.
With the museum administrator as team leader, the visiting Rotarians are Chad Crabtree, Nancy Marzalek, Sanjay Shah, and Michael Tullis.
Last Wednesday, March 10, they enjoyed a firsthand experience in a native coconut plantation resort, Villa Escudero, in Tiaong, Quezon.
I was invited to join them by the host club officers led by Wilson, Butch Isleta, and Rudy del Moral. Another guest was Balikbayan engineer Dario Casanova.
One has to take his hats off to RCSMQC for going out of its way to present to the visiting American Rotarians many things that are truly Filipino – in business, culture, education, and history.
Plus, of course, a sprinkling of politics, thus being our election year, and contemporary life-style.
Hosting a visiting GSE team is mutually fulfilling, as every Rotarian knows.
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