Duesenberg
Mormon Meteor III

Why it matters

Mormon Meteor III was the purpose-built, aircraft-engined Duesenberg record car that Ab Jenkins used after the SJ-based car became too slow for the leading land speed record contenders. It kept setting records at Bonneville until 1950.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

In 1937 Jenkins returned to Bonneville with a completely new car, built by Augie Duesenberg and powered by a Curtiss Conqueror V12. After a series of record exchanges with British rivals, in 1940 Jenkins and Cliff Bergere captured every world and American Class A and unlimited record from 50 km to 24 hours in the Mormon Meteor III.

The earlier Mormon Meteor and Mormon Meteor II were the converted SJ Duesenberg Special with the Conqueror engine, and The Truth About Cars notes the production Model J chassis was not up to the speeds Campbell and others were chasing.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Mormon Meteor III is the third and most streamlined of Ab Jenkins' record cars: Augie Duesenberg built it on a new chassis after the Curtiss V12 proved too heavy for the earlier Duesenberg SJ chassis. The body sits offset about 6 inches on the chassis because the records were run in large circles on the salt. It carries a Curtiss Conqueror aero V12 rated at 750 hp, not the supercharged Duesenberg straight eight of the earlier Mormon Meteor. The car is a unique one-off held in Utah, so identity rests on this construction history.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Deseret News – The Mormon Meteor III finds a new home at the Museum of Utah Level C

   • 1 individual car (identity confirmed: built by Augie Duesenberg 1937, Curtiss Conqueror engine)

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Utah acquires historic hot rod for new state museum Level C KSL.com (Deseret News) · 2025-09-04

   • Utah has acquired Mormon Meteor III in an undisclosed deal

   Accessed 2026-11-13
3. 3
   Duesenberg SJ 'Mormon Meteor' Special Level C Ultimatecarpage.com (Wayback capture)

   • Curtis Conqueror V12 airplane engine

   Accessed 2026-11-13
4. 4
   Jay Leno: Duesy Set Bonneville Records in 1930s that Stand Today Level C Popular Mechanics (Wayback capture)

   • Curtiss Conquerer aircraft engine--a 1570-cu-in. V12 that put out 750 hp
   • 1570-cu-in. V12

   Accessed 2026-11-13
5. 5
   The "Duesenberg Special" / Mormon Meteor, 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster Level B Hot Rod history (Greg Wapling), catalogue text for Gooding & Company

   • powered by a Curtiss Conqueror
   • 1,650 cubic inch Curtiss Conqueror V12

   Accessed 2026-11-12
6. 6
   Ab Jenkins and His Mormon Meteor, Part Two Level B The Truth About Cars · 2015-12-01

   • Curtiss Conqueror V-12 engine with 650 horsepower

   Accessed 2026-11-12