Friday, July 8, 2011

LYON AIR MUSEUM TO HOST EXHIBIT OF RAREST DUESENBERG

LUXURY CARS JULY 9-24, 2011
FROM THE COLLECTION OF GENERAL WILLIAM LYON



Two for the Road USA - Phoenix, Arizona      PRESS RELEASE

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 9, 2011—Lyon Air Museum, a premier Southern California showcase for vintage military aircraft and automobiles, will host an exhibit of ten quintessential Duesenberg automobiles from the collection of General William Lyon. The exhibit of some of the largest, most stylish and beautiful cars ever created will be held July 9-24, 2011, at the facility, located on the west side of the runway at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

“The Duesenberg represents an innovative melding of American elegance, engineering and extravagance,” said Mark Foster, president of Lyon Air Museum. “General Lyon has preserved a great American legacy and with this exhibit he wants to share with visitors to his Museum the unique experience of seeing some of these grand automobiles up close.”

Included in the cars on display will be examples of the legendary Duesenberg Model J series, most notable for their fine design, rich colors, imposing grille, headlights, side-mounted spare tire, hood and fenders:

• 1929 Duesenberg Model J LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton—With coachwork by LeBaron, this automobile, Chassis No. 2125, Engine No. J101, is the First Model J Duesenberg. An irreplaceable piece of American automotive history, it first served as a factory demonstrator car.

• 1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton—Coachwork by Walter M. Murphy Company. First owned by John J. McCarthy, the president of the Cracker Jack Company, this Duesenberg—finished in blue with dark blue fenders and brown leather interior—-made its first public appearance in the 1930s when it transported the Grand Marshal in the Rose Parade. It was later owned by American collector William F. Harrah, who lent it to Columbia/Tristar for its role in the 1982 movie “Annie,” in which the 265hp Duesenberg "straight eight" was used to chase down the bad guys and save Annie.

• 1929 Duesenberg Model J LeBaron Phaeton—Coachwork by LeBaron. This one-off phaeton with radically shaped doors and sculpted lowered door edges had numerous owners over the years, including Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler, who purchased the vehicle in 1999.

• 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Speedster—Originally called a “disappearing top torpedo convertible coupe,” this classic won First in Place and Reserve Best in Show at the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

• 1931 Duesenberg Model J Weymann “Taper Tail” Speedster—Originally owned by Walter Varney, a businessman and pilot from San Francisco who started commercial aviation as we know it. His fledgling air service later became United Airlines.

• 1931 Duesenberg SJ Murphy Convertible Coupe—This “disappearing top” was originally built for Sid Smith, a cartoonist for the famous “Andy Gump” comic strip.

• 1931 Duesenberg Model J Fernandez and Darrin Convertible Victorian—Originally owned by an Indian prince, this car later returned to Paris where it entered into a chain of new ownership.

• 1932 Duesenberg SJ Murphy Town Car—Originally owned by Dolores del Rio, Latina bombshell actress and star of Hollywood films during the silent era and during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Oscar-nominated del Rio, seeking a new car commensurate with her status, chose this one-of-a-kind Duesenberg with coachwork by Pasadena's own coachbuilder-to-the-stars, Walter M. Murphy.

• 1934 Duesenberg Model J Walker-La Grande Convertible Coupe—Coachwork by A.H. Walker Company. Originally sold new to Dr. Frederick Gruneck of Chicago, Ill. The founder of Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Southern California, Gruneck traded a Murphy-bodied Duesenberg convertible coupe for it.

• 1935 Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster—Chassis No. 2614 is the highest serial number Duesenberg. The car was built for the Maharaja of Indore in London. It was supposed to be delivered to India, but after Japan invaded China, there was fear that the country might also invade India—so many wealthy Indians fled their homes. The Maharaja eventually took delivery of this car at his mansion in Santa Ana, Calif. The car disappeared and was considered lost until its rediscovery in 1959. Eventually, it was acquired by General Lyon.

With its distinctive appearance and powerful engine, the Duesenberg automobile was the embodiment of luxury and lavish detail in the first half of the twentieth century. The cars were custom-built by E.L. Cord and Fred Duesenberg during an era when America’s love affair with the automobile was in its infancy.

Duesenberg (often nicknamed "Duesy") was an Indianapolis, Indiana-based luxury automobile company most renowned for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.

Duesenberg cars were considered some of the very best cars of the time, and were built entirely by hand. In 1914, Eddie Rickenbacker drove a "Duesy" to finish in 10th place at the Indianapolis 500, and a Duesenberg won the race in 1924, 1925 and 1927. The company ceased production in 1937, but during its lifetime Duesenberg passenger cars were proudly owned by some of the wealthiest and most famous people the world over.

It is estimated that 378 of the 481 originally manufactured Duesenbergs are still on the road today.

The 30,000-sq.ft. Lyon Air Museum opened in Dec. 2009. The facility represents the fulfillment of a dream of Major General William Lyon, USAF (Ret), who held the position of Chief of the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1975 to 1979. Currently, General Lyon is Chairman of the Board and CEO of William Lyon Homes, Inc., Newport Beach, Calif. His passion for aviation history and youth education is the driving force behind Lyon Air Museum. In establishing the Museum, General Lyon sought to create a world-class facility that would be available to the local community and would offer educational exhibits designed to inspire young people. The Museum has on exhibit some of the world’s rarest operational aircraft and vehicles.

Lyon Air Museum is located at 19300 Ike Jones Road, Santa Ana, CA 92707. P: 714/210-4585. F: 714/210-4588. Email: info@lyonairmuseum.org. Web: www.lyonairmuseum.org.

Hours of operation are daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission rates: General admission--$12; Seniors and Veterans--$9; Ages 5-17--$6; Under age 5—Free. Groups of 10 or more--$1 off each visitor. Pre-arranged school groups—Free.

Media Contact: Ned Madden
Rodheim Marketing Group
949/547-0143

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Two for the Road USA Review 2011 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid for Green Living Magazine

As Seen in Green Living Magazine
Scottsdale, Arizona - August 2011
By:  Bill Zervakos and Cathy Droz

IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR KERMIT THE FROG...

Little did Kermit the frog know that the color of his skin would become a buzz word for products, services and new businesses everywhere? In the automotive industry especially; hybrids are quickly becoming the fashionable vehicle to own. It appears everyone wants to align themselves with green ethics and save the earth. However, we have also grown accustomed to all the space and versatility SUV’s give us. Some lifestyles and hobbies simply aren’t a good match for a tiny hybrid, so why not go green and satisfy your need for space and power with a hybrid SUV?

We’ve chosen the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. This Hybrid was introduced in 2008 and it combines an all purpose, full-size, four-door, family-oriented SUV with the substantial increase in fuel economy so typical of a hybrid vehicle.The Chevy Tahoe is available in 2WD and 4WD models. General Motors’ 2-mode hybrid system conserves energy by using an electrically variable transmission, a 300-volt storage system and a 332-hp 6.0L Vortec V8 engine with active fuel management. The Tahoe Hybrid is able to accelerate using only the electric motor. Chevy added to its efficiency by having the liftgate and hood made of aluminum, thus improving aerodynamics. To complete the package, low-rolling resistance tires and a 0.4-inch lower ride height were added.
For a family SUV, you can’t beat the fact that the Tahoe seats up to eight passengers and can tow up to 6200 pounds with the 2WD model and up to 5900 pounds with the 4WD model. Don’t worry about giving up safety with this lighter SUV as dual stage front airbags, side curtain airbags, four wheel anti lock brakes, stabilitrak stability control system with rollover mitigation, tire pressure monitoring system and OnStar are all standard.

If you are considering buying and driving a hybrid SUV, here are a few of the advantages:

People Moving – You can fit up to 9 people in a SUV. Instead of taking two vehicles, just pile everyone in your hybrid SUV. Save on gas and one less car to pollute the environment.

Means of Transport - Whether it’s a trip to Home Depot for some solar panels, taking you’re first born to college with all his gear, or food shopping for six with your cloth bags, the space of a Hybrid SUV is the same as non-hybrid. The difference is in fuel cost and the footprint on mother earth.

Pulling Passions - No need to give up camping, boating or snowmobiling because you can’t tow it behind a Prius. A Hybrid SUV can get 20-50% better fuel economy than your average SUV and you can fit everything and everyone in it.A Hybrid SUV, what a concept?

 You don’t have to give up anything except all the trips to the gas station and unlike Kermit the frog’s theme song; “It isn’t easy being green,” the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid doesn’t seem to have a problem at all.

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
MPG - 20 City /23 Hwy
MSRP - $48,332 - $50,983
Basic Warranty – 36 month 36,000 miles
Nickel-Metal Battery – 8 year /100,000 mile warranty