The 1935 Records
Following Cobb's season-opening record runs Jenkins, Augie Duesenberg, and the rest of the Duesenberg Special crew moved onto the salt flats. For the first time Jenkins brought along a relief driver, Tony Gulotta who had driven the Studebaker-powered Rigling entered by Jenkins in the 1931 Indy 500. In the Duesenberg Special's first attempt at the records a bearing failed after 300 miles, but the Special had broken all Cobb's records to that point.
Both engines were expressed back to the Duesenberg plant in Indianapolis where they were fitted with special new bearings from Federal-Mogul. The engines were rushed back to Bonneville and a new record attempt started but it, too, ended prematurely at 1,960 miles when the crankcase split.
The second engine was installed and Jenkins, this time admitting fatigue and accepting relief from Gulotta, started the third attempt. The Duesenberg Special stopped every 400 miles for fuel, tires and a safety check. On August 31, 1935 the run ended and the Duesenberg Special held a succession of new records including the top mark, covering 3,253 miles in 24 hours at 135.47 miles per hour, an amazing accomplishment.
Donald Campbell in Bluebird set the one mile land speed record at 301.13mph only days later on September 3. Then Captain Eyston in Speed of the Wind, powered by an unsupercharged 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Kestrel aircraft engine, raised Jenkins' 24-hour record to 140.52 mph.
It's hard not to think that this is what Ab Jenkins had in mind all along, stimulating interest in record-setting on the Bonneville salt flats by bringing the fastest competition in the world to meet the challenge of the stock Duesenberg-based Special. Setting and breaking records in rotation, each competitor was challenged by the others. Even though the Duesenberg Special's reign as the fastest automobile in the world was short, it was significant both for what it foretold of the future of record-breaking and for the power, handling and durability of the basically standard Duesenberg J chassis and its mildly modified engine.
On February 29, 1936 as part of his original agreement with Duesenberg Jenkins bought the Duesenberg Special along with all its spares for $4,800, but this was far from the end of its record-setting career.
The "Mormon Meteor"
Working with Augie Duesenberg and Lycoming, Jenkins adapted a 1,650 cubic inch Curtiss Conqueror V12 to the Special's Duesenberg chassis and body, re-naming it the Mormon Meteor, the winning name submitted to a contest in Salt Lake City's Deseret News newspaper. The team returned to the salt in 1936 and into easily the most exciting season ever held at Bonneville, or anywhere else, for land speed records. Jenkins was there, and so were Cobb and Eyston.
Eyston set the first records, averaging 149.096 mph for 24 hours and 136.34 mph for an almost unbelievable 48 hours.
Co-driven by Babe Stapp, the Mormon Meteor growled off in early September. Jenkins and Stapp bettered Eyston's average through 12 hours at 152.84 mph but a driveshaft universal joint failed just after 12 hours ending this attempt.
Cobb then took to the course, besting Eyston's 24-hour record with a 150.163 average but not going for the 48-hour mark.
Jenkins and Stapp started again. At 50 miles the Conqueror-powered Mormon Meteor was fastest, and fastest it remained through two full days on the Bonneville salt with averages of 153.823 mph for 24 hours and 148.641 mph for 48 hours. Set with a still essentially stock Duesenberg J chassis against the best purpose-built record-setters from England's specials builders, Jenkins, Stapp and the Mormon Meteor stood at the top of the heap at the end of the 1936 Bonneville season.
Mormon Meteor III
In 1937 Jenkins returned to Bonneville with a completely new car. Mormon Meteor III was built by Augie Duesenberg and powered by a Curtiss Conqueror. Another series of record exchanges ensued but in 1940 Jenkins and Cliff Bergere driving the Mormon Meteor III captured every world and American Class A and unlimited record from 50 km to 24 hours. Jenkins and Mormon Meteor III continued to set speed and endurance records at Bonneville until 1950.
Ab Jenkins had been elected mayor of Salt Lake City in 1939, a race he won without spending a dime or making a speech. His final records were set with a 1956 Pontiac, capturing all American Class C and stock car records up to 24 hours and averaging 118.375 mph for 24 hours. He died on August 9, less than two months later.
The Duesenberg Special's Subsequent History
After concluding that the record-setting days of the Duesenberg Special/Mormon Meteor, were past, in 1938 Ab Jenkins refitted the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special engine J557 built by Augie Duesenberg. Jenkins slightly modified the body by adding doors and a rudimentary top and removing the head fairing. The Mormon Meteor's single headlight remained. The exhaust pipe was dropped below the door to get its heat away from the passenger.
Ab Jenkins and his son Marvin drove the Mormon Meteor some 20,000 miles around Utah in the following years. It is no wonder Ab got elected mayor without campaigning. Driving this thundering speedster around Salt Lake City was advertising beyond price and only added to Jenkins' name-recognition.
It was sold in 1943 to Bob Roberts in Los Angeles. Roberts sold the Mormon Meteor to Tom Troka in Chicago in 1946. Troka drove it from LA to Chicago and sold it two years later to collector Ben Hudson in Georgia.
Hudson had the engine rebuilt by Duesenberg specialist A.J. Hoe who assembled it for break-in without the supercharger or special twin carburetors. It apparently performed so well they were never re-installed during Hudson's ownership which included long trips from Georgia to Indianapolis and to Maine. Eleven years later in 1959 he passed it on to a friend, the father of the present owner, who had it restored by John Griffin. Griffin recalled scraping a cupful of Bonneville salt from inside the cowl. At this time the original supercharger, special dual carburetors and intake manifolding were recovered from A.J. Hoe and re-installed, returning the Mormon Meteor to its 1937 road configuration.
Completed in 1962 in its original cream livery and with red upholstery and wheels, the Mormon Meteor is a CCCA, AACA and A-C-D Club first place winner. After restoration it accumulated another 2,500 miles before it was cosmetically restored again and rewired in 1983-84 for the present owner.
Following its show career the Mormon Meteor has participated in the Colorado Grand four times and competed in numerous other events and tours. On one of its Colorado Grand runs it was selected Best of Show among a field which included pontoon fendered Ferrari 250 Testa Rossas and pre-war Alfa 8Cs.
Its high performance Ed Winfield cams were replaced with stock Duesenberg camshafts while owned by Jenkins. It now has a more usable 3.31:1 rear axle ratio and it has been converted to a 12 volt electrical system, including rewinding the original generator. In the interest of reliability the blower pressure is now regulated to about 1½ pounds boost (having been about 5 psi when running for records in 1935). A safety bar has been added to the passenger's door [the owner calls it "the Mounger Bar" in recognition of the time on the Colorado Grand when Pebble Beach Concours Co-Chairman Glenn Mounger was in the passenger seat during a 1 mile run in 33 seconds (109 mph)]. The engine runs Carillo rods and Forged True pistons but aside from these changes to make it more user friendly and reliable on tours the Mormon Meteor remains as driven by Ab and Marv Jenkins following its Bonneville record runs.
Although the Mormon Meteor is familiar to everyone with a passion for great automobiles, its presence is best experienced in person. It exudes charisma and power. Long and low to the ground, it is the epitome of a prewar speed car. Its giant exhaust pipe emits a roar that is as much tactile as audible, the repeated, balanced pounding of seven liters of Duesenberg inline eight, a sharp and authoritative counterpoint to the smaller eights of prewar Alfas and Maseratis. Driving it is an unforgettable experience and one which the current owner, who has driven it frequently and thousands of miles, describes with fresh enthusiasm even after over 40 years in the family.
Wherever the Mormon Meteor appears it is the center of attention, and its ground-shaking exhaust assures its arrival will not be overlooked.
Conclusion
The Duesenberg Special was the fastest automobile in the world, a modified Duesenberg J with Augie Duesenberg-tuned engine and special bodywork which stood up to aero-engined giants from John Cobb, G.E.T. Eyston and Malcolm Campbell. Then it was again the fastest automobile in the world as the Mormon Meteor.
It is the last genuine Duesenberg race car, the culmination of a long and legendary line of champions, the ultimate creation of Fred and Augie Duesenberg.
Its history is unchallenged; its originality is exceptional. It is Olympian in its presence and performance.
The last time it was sold Dwight David Eisenhower was in the White House. The Mormon Meteor is one of the all-time "keepers" among collector cars, yet it is tuned and prepared for driving in long distance tours and events. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the greatest Duesenberg built: Ab Jenkins' Mormon Meteor.
The ultimate Duesenberg race car, holder of the Land Speed Record up to 24 hours
Known and important history from new, accurately restored as driven by Ab Jenkins
Carefully prepared and driven on the most important and enjoyable events and tours
The fastest, most powerful, most famous Duesenberg SJ: Ab Jenkins' Duesenberg Special/Mormon Meteor.