1934 Duesenberg Model SJ Continental Touring Berline

Founded in 1919 on the engineering and racing experience of Fred and August Duesenberg, the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company was eventually bought by E.L. Cord. Cord's challenge to Fred was to build an American luxury car that could compete with the best that Europe had to offer.

The result was the iconic Model J, which boasted a 420 cubic-inch double overhead-cam engine with four valves per cylinder that produced 265 horsepower. The supercharged, dual-carburetor SJ form produced up to 400 horsepower and had a top speed of around 135 miles per hour.

This example is one of only thirty-five produced that were produced from the factory with the supercharger, and one of only five to be built with a closed body. The original owner, socialite Mrs. Henry Evans, was a Duesenberg enthusiast: J-514 was her third Duesenberg. She traded in J-315, a Rollston limousine, for this example from dealer J.S. Inskip, which had a price of $18,000. The roof-mounted luggage rack had an 800 lb. capacity. Mrs. Evans used this car on several European trips. It is believed that the supercharger may have been removed from the car at an early stage, perhaps while being used abroad to increase reliability.

She special-ordered the car with this unique Continental Touring Berline body by Rollston, who produced a total of 57 bodies for the J and JN chassis. Mrs. Evans paid $18,000 (around $300,000 today) for this exceptional car and took it with her aboard the Queen Mary to go on several tours of Europe.

In October of 1944, Mrs. Evans took J-514 back to Inskip, where it was later sold to Herbert Waller, whose widow sold it to Charles Kyner in June of 1948. The car remained with Mr. Kyner until his passing. In 1987, his widow sold it to Jim Hoe in partnership with Judge John C. North II. A short time later, they sold it to Robert McGowan.

The current caretaker purchased the unrestored Duesenberg in mid-2013 and then commissioned a highly detailed, concours-quality restoration. Part of the work included a color change from two-tone brown to a two-tone maroon color scheme. A Zapon fabric-covered roof was also installed as originally specified. A proper Brian Joseph-built supercharger was also fitted, returning the car to its original mechanical specification.

This Duesenberg has a rare mesh heat-shielding underhood and could be the only Model J to have this feature.

After the restoration was completed, the car was shown at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and participated in the Pebble Beach Tour. It was then shown at the St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance where it won the 2014 Honorary Chairman's Award.

With its matching numbers, low mileage, and status as the last un-restored Model SJ, this Duesenberg is a rare look into the era of truly luxurious classic cars.