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W.H. Brown, Jr. of New York City collected his new Duesenberg Model J on September 19th of 1929. His car was chassis numb er2217 with engine J-197 and wore LeBaron 'Sweep-Panel' Dual Cowl Phaeton coachwork. Just two months later, his stately automobile was involved in an accident and returned to Duesenberg for repairs. The chassis was badly damaged so Duesenberg removed the LeBaron body, refinished it as required, and placed it on a brand-new chassis, 2292, with engine number J-270. The work was completed by the close of November of 1929 and Mr. Brown received - in essence - his brand-new Duesenberg.
Sometime between late 1933 and early 1934, Mr. Brown returned J-270 to the New York factory branch for resale. On January 25th of 1934, the Model J was sold to Belgian banker Jean Cattier of New York. It is believed that while in his care, the car was shipped to Belgium and used to tour the continent before returning stateside.
In August of 1935, the car was offered for sale at Hilton Motors in Brooklyn, New York. Franklin d'Olier, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA purchased the car in September. Mr. & Mrs. d'Olier spent the Summer of 1936 touring the country, accruing some 20,000 miles on their journey.
In 1937, Mr. d'Olier commissioned Derham Custom Body Co. of Rosemont to update the LeBaron coachwork with modern features. It was given skirted fenders, drop-center wheels, bullet headlamps, external exhaust pipes, and a ford three-spoke 'banjo' steering wheel. It also received a raked and Vee'd windscreen complete with tear drop-style wind wings.
After the updates were completed, it was sent back to Mitchell, who rebuilt the engine and fabricated a new intake manifold that allowed the use of twin-downdraft Winfield carburetors.
After driving over 100,000 miles in four years, Mr. d'Olier sold the car in the winter of 1940 in order to purchase a supercharged Cord. The Duesenberg was purchased by T. Chalfield Taylor and then re-acquired by Mitchell less than a year later. In 1941, the Duesenberg was sold to Alexander Georg Rudolf Bauer.
Bauer had put an order in for a long-wheelbase supercharged Duesenberg early in 1937. The scarcity of superchargers meant the car was delayed by more than a year. The car was intended to be clothed by Erdmann & Rossi. However, before the chassis was even completed, a series of complications placed the car on hold. His long-awaited SJ, chassis J-397, was given a fully convertible, all-weather cabriolet by Rollson, Inc. He took delivery in April of 1940. Soon after, he acquired two additional Duesenbergs: J-436, a La Grande Dual Cowl Phaeton; and J-270.
When Bauer passed away in November 1953, his Duesenberg collection went to the care of his widow, whom he had married in 1944.
In the Summer of 1954, the Pettit family attended the CCCA Grand Classic in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While there, Mr. Pettit learned of a Rollston-bodied Duesenberg along with a Dual Cowl Phaeton Duesenberg.
A year later, the Pettits were able to purchase the three Bauer Duesenbergs - J-270, J-397, and J-436 (reportedly for $7,000 for all three). For nearly six decades, J-270 has been part of the Pettit Collection.
The original LeBaron body is finished in a two-tone blue livery. It has Marchal Trilux headlamps (presumably installed by Mr. Cattier) and the special intake Winfield carburetor, installed by Mitchell.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach auction presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $2,000,000 - $2,750,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $1,980,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
Sometime between late 1933 and early 1934, Mr. Brown returned J-270 to the New York factory branch for resale. On January 25th of 1934, the Model J was sold to Belgian banker Jean Cattier of New York. It is believed that while in his care, the car was shipped to Belgium and used to tour the continent before returning stateside.
In August of 1935, the car was offered for sale at Hilton Motors in Brooklyn, New York. Franklin d'Olier, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA purchased the car in September. Mr. & Mrs. d'Olier spent the Summer of 1936 touring the country, accruing some 20,000 miles on their journey.
In 1937, Mr. d'Olier commissioned Derham Custom Body Co. of Rosemont to update the LeBaron coachwork with modern features. It was given skirted fenders, drop-center wheels, bullet headlamps, external exhaust pipes, and a ford three-spoke 'banjo' steering wheel. It also received a raked and Vee'd windscreen complete with tear drop-style wind wings.
After the updates were completed, it was sent back to Mitchell, who rebuilt the engine and fabricated a new intake manifold that allowed the use of twin-downdraft Winfield carburetors.
After driving over 100,000 miles in four years, Mr. d'Olier sold the car in the winter of 1940 in order to purchase a supercharged Cord. The Duesenberg was purchased by T. Chalfield Taylor and then re-acquired by Mitchell less than a year later. In 1941, the Duesenberg was sold to Alexander Georg Rudolf Bauer.
Bauer had put an order in for a long-wheelbase supercharged Duesenberg early in 1937. The scarcity of superchargers meant the car was delayed by more than a year. The car was intended to be clothed by Erdmann & Rossi. However, before the chassis was even completed, a series of complications placed the car on hold. His long-awaited SJ, chassis J-397, was given a fully convertible, all-weather cabriolet by Rollson, Inc. He took delivery in April of 1940. Soon after, he acquired two additional Duesenbergs: J-436, a La Grande Dual Cowl Phaeton; and J-270.
When Bauer passed away in November 1953, his Duesenberg collection went to the care of his widow, whom he had married in 1944.
In the Summer of 1954, the Pettit family attended the CCCA Grand Classic in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While there, Mr. Pettit learned of a Rollston-bodied Duesenberg along with a Dual Cowl Phaeton Duesenberg.
A year later, the Pettits were able to purchase the three Bauer Duesenbergs - J-270, J-397, and J-436 (reportedly for $7,000 for all three). For nearly six decades, J-270 has been part of the Pettit Collection.
The original LeBaron body is finished in a two-tone blue livery. It has Marchal Trilux headlamps (presumably installed by Mr. Cattier) and the special intake Winfield carburetor, installed by Mitchell.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach auction presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $2,000,000 - $2,750,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $1,980,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $2,000,000-USD $2,750,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,980,000
1929 Duesenberg Model J Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J
(Data based on Model Year 1929 sales)
1929 Duesenberg Model J Town Car Coachwork by Derham Chassis#: 2137 Sold for USD$1,077,500 2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Berline Chassis#: 2143 Sold for USD$2,260,000 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sedan by Derham/Bohman & Schwartz Chassis#: 2143 Sold for USD$737,000 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan Chassis#: J262 Sold for USD$1,155,000 2018 Mecum : Monterey | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Fleetwood Chassis#: 2157 Sold for USD$990,000 2017 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis#: 2151 Sold for USD$2,420,000 2016 Gooding & Company : The Scottsdale Auction | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy Chassis#: 2168 Sold for USD$1,402,500 2015 Auctions America - Auburn Fall | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis#: 2151 Sold for USD$2,090,000 2014 Gooding & Company - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan Chassis#: 2163 Sold for USD$962,500 2013 Auctions America - Auburn Fall | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan Chassis#: 2132 Sold for USD$990,000 2012 RM Auctions - Monterey | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton 'Blue J' Chassis#: 2292 Sold for USD$1,980,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline Chassis#: 2127 Sold for USD$803,000 2012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis#: 2136 / J116 Sold for USD$1,237,500 2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J 7-Passenger Sedan Sold for USD$357,500 2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan Chassis#: J262 Sold for USD$825,000 2010 RM Auctions - Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sold for USD$858,000 2009 Automobiles of Arizona | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sold for USD$1,375,000 2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company | |
1929 DUESENBERG DERHAM CONVERTIBLE COUPE Sold for USD$742,500 2008 Worldwide Auctions - The Auburn Auction 2008 | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis#: 2174 Sold for USD$1,760,000 2008 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J by Barker Sold for USD$616,000 2007 Gooding & Company |
Duesenberg Model Js That Failed To Sell At Auction
1929 Duesenberg Model J's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1929 Duesenberg Model J LaGrande Blind Quarter Brougham | 2210 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $800,000 | ||
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron | 2177 | 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami | $2,650,000 | $2,850,000 | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J LaGrande Blind Quarter Brougham | 2210 | 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | $800,000 | $800,000 | $1,000,000 |
1929 Duesenberg Model J LaGrande Blind Quarter Brougham | 2210 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $850,000 | $1,250,000 | $1,500,000 |
1929 Duesenberg Model J1929 Duesenberg Model J LaGrande Blind Quarter Brougham | 2210 | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | $900,000 | ||
1929 Duesenberg Model J LaGrande Blind Quarter Brougham | 2210 | 2022 Mecum : Monterey | $1,100,000 | ||
1929 Duesenberg Model J Berline | 2143 | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction | |||
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron | 2174 | 2010 Worldwide Auctions The Auburn Auction | $1,700,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1929 Duesenberg Phaeton | 2009 Leake Auctions Dallas 37th Annual Leake Auto Auction Market Hall | $600,000 | |||
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupé | 2239 | 2009 Bonhams Automobiles d'Exception à Retromobile | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Derham Convertible Coupe | 2008 Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale | $640,000 | |||
1929 Duesenberg J Sedanca De Ville | 2006 Worldwide Auctions Houston Classic 2006 | ||||
1929 DUESENBERG DERHAM PHAETON KNOWN AS THE ELVIS DUESENBERG | 2001 Kruse Auction Santa Clara, CA | $880,000 | |||
1929 DUESENBERG MODEL J TORPEDO CONVERTIBLE COUPE | 2221 | 2001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $850,000 |
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1929 Duesenberg Model J
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