The Mormon Meteor I and III were two race cars built in the 1930s by American driver Ab Jenkins. They were customized Duesenberg cars, and set several land speed records.
Duesenberg Special
The Duesenberg Special was a one-off speed record car. It was built in 1935 on a supercharged Duesenberg Model J rolling chassis with a standard wheelbase of 142.5 in, a dropped front axle, 18 in wheels instead of the standard 19 in wheels, and a non-standard 3:1 rear axle ratio. The engine was highly tuned by August Duesenberg, with the compression ratio raised to 7.5:1 and different engine bearings being used. High performance parts developed for the Special, especially the "ram's horn" twin-carburetor inlet manifold, would be used on later supercharged Js (or "SJ"s as they were called by the public).
Financing for the Duesenberg Special came from sponsorship solicited by Ab Jenkins from oil companies and accessory manufacturers and distributors. Jenkins guaranteed his sponsors that he would break established speed records with the car. He delivered on his guarantee in October 1935, when he set a one-hour record of 153.97 mph and a twenty-four-hour record of 135.57 mph at a circuit on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 24-hour record would be held until 1961.
Mormon Meteor
In search of higher speed records, Jenkins had the Duesenberg Special modified by replacing the Duesenberg engine with a