1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy news, pictures, and information

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Clear Vision Sedan
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2209
Engine Num: J187

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Clear Vision Sedan has coachwork courtesy of Murphy, Inc., of Pasadena California. It was outfitted with a 420 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine capable of producing nearly 270 horsepower. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission while vacuum-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided ample stopping power.

The Model J was an exquisite car with a price tag that matched. The rolling chassis would set the buyer back nearly $9000 and a completed versions approaching $20,000. Though this may not seem like a lot in modern times, in 1928 the average car cost $500. In other words, the rolling chassis alone was about 17 times more expense than the typical car.

Each Model J was made specifically for its customers. Murphy bodied many of the Model J's including this one. The 'clear vision' term derived its name from its slim windshield pillars. This not only gave the driver better visibility and eliminated blind spots, it gave the car a sporty appeal.

This car was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auctions in Amelia Island and later brought to the 2009 Gooding & Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. At Gooding, the car was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,300,000.

On September 1st of 1929, a Clear Vision Sedan was delivered to law partners Arnold Lackersby and Noyes Avery of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The next owner, as recorded by the 1982 ACD Certification, was Dr. Woods who purchased the car in 1931 from Duesenberg's Michigan Avenue Showroom in Chicago.

The cars next caretaker may have been R.S. Pruitt of Chicago, Duesenberg's vice president. It was traded in 1935 to the Chicago Factory Branch where he took possession of J297. The car then went through four Illinois owners before being sold in 1953 to Dudley Waters of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Waters sold the Clear Vision to Dr. Sidney N. Buka of Denver, Colorado. It was retained by Mr. Buka until around 1982, at which time it came into the possession of Paul Lapidus, a resident of New York City. It later returned to Indiana where it joined the collection of Joe Folladori. He kept it until June of 1991, at which time the car joined the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas.

While in the Imperial Palace Collection, the car was treated to a restoration. Upon completion, it was featured by Bob McEwan in Olds Car Weekly. In 1999, the car was purchased by Dean Kruse as part of a major deal including numerous other cars. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by a renowned classic car collector. It was sold in 2006 to its current owner.

In 2009, the car was purchased at the Gooding & Company Auction for the sum of $836,000 including buyer's premium.

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Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: J262

When introduced, the Model J was the most expensive car in America. The chassis alone cost a staggering $8500; the typical family car cost around $500. The price came standard with ambiance, style, and perfection. It was matched by its performance which included a 265 horsepower engine (325 hp for the supercharged version) and power hydraulic brakes.

The Duesenberg Model J models were excellent candidates for coachbuilders with Murphy providing some of the most desirable and elegant designs of all. Based in Pasadena, California, the Murphy Company was well known for their work with Packards. Their designs were elegant with their trademark being the 'clear vision' pillar which helped eliminate blind spots and improved visibility.

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan with chassis number J262 has had several owners since its debut. The original color was grey but by the 1980's it was changed to red. A restoration was undertaken; it was sold in 1989 part way through the restoration process. The next owner, Sonny Abagnale, completed the restoration and had the color finished in black. It was shown in a movie with Mick Jagger. Since that time it has passed through a few more owners.

It was auctioned at the 2006 Meadow Brook auction by RM Auctions where it was estimated to fetch between $750,000 - $900,000. It found a new home at the price of $907,500.

This wonderful car has coachwork by Murphy and is powered by a 420 cubic-inch engine that produces 265 horsepower. It has a three-speed manual gearbox and vacuum-assisted four-wheel hydraulic brakes.

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SWB Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2301
Engine Num: J-279

Originally Built For And Owned By Aviation Genius Howard Hughes! The model J was announced in the fall of 1928. But deliveries did not begin until the spring of 1929. This particular car has had a few famous owners including Howard Hughes. It was reported that this roadster was the only one done with an extended windowshield to accommodate the height of Howard Hughes. In the 1960s, Don Williams sold the car to Wayne Newton, but was paid for the car by Bill Harrah, who gave the car to Wayne for performances he had given at the Harrah's Hotel & Casino. Wayne Newton later sold the car to Ralph Engelstad!

SWB Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2198
Engine Num: J179

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe has coachwork by Walter M. Murphy and carries chassis number 2198, engine number J179, and body number 824. It is powered by a 420 cubic-inch Dual Overhead Camshaft engine with Schebler Duplex Dual 1.5-inch Throat Carburetor. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and 265 horsepower available. The vehicle rests on a 142.5-inch wheelbase. It was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction where it was one of the highlights of the auction.

Its first owner was James L. and Olive D. Robers of Schenectady, NY. The vehicle was ordered on July 17th of 1929 making it one of the earlier Model J's to be ordered. The vehicle was ready a month later and the Roberts traveled to Indianapolis to take delivery. The car remained in their possession for twenty years, until 1949 when it passed to its next owner, John W. Howell III. Ownership quickly changed again, passing to Ethan Allen. Mr. Allen had some minor mechanical work done on the vehicle and kept it in his possession for the next thirty-five years.

In 1998 a complete mechanical restoration was commissioned. It is an Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Level 1 car, meaning that is still retains its original chassis, engine, and body.

In the front of the vehicle is a single Pilot-Ray driving light. Behind the light is a black honeycomb radiator without grille bars or slate. There are dual mounted side spare tires with side mirrors mounted on them. The interior has matching blue upholstered seats and blue carpets.

At auction, the car found a new owner, selling for $902,000.

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Dual Cowl Phaeton
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2169
Engine Num: J403

One of this cars owners was Tommy Manville who was 36 years old at the time. Manville was the heir to the Johns Manville asbestos fortune and lived a life of fortune and luxury. He is also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having married 13 times. Part of the reason for so many marriages was a loop hole in his trust which stated he was entitled to a lump sum of one million dollars when he married. There was no limitations set on the number of marriages. In the public's eye, this only cultivated his image as a playboy.

This vehicle is chassis number 2169 and carries engine number J403. J403 was originally fitted in chassis 2425 which had a Derham Tourster body and destined for delivery to Gary Cooper. There was a problem with the engine and it was sent back to the factory and replaced with J431.

After repairs, J403 was placed in chassis 2169 which had a Murphy convertible coupe body. The car had several owners during its early years. The first owner was Miss Gale who took possession on September 12th of 1931. It was purchased by a Pennsylvania resident in 1938 and from there, passed through several more owners in the next two decades. In September of 1951 it was purchased by Dr. J.E. Manning in Saginaw, MI who treated the car to a three year restoration. Later in the 1950s it was in the ownership of Richard Bell of Mohnton, PA who sent the car to the Wendling Brothers, a shop formed by former Fleetwood workers, and was given a Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton body. The extra body was given to the Weldings in payment for their work.

In 1958 Bell sold the car to the Swigart Collection where it would remain for the next 49 years.

Tommy Manville was an owner of the Swigart Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton. He retained the car for about three years before trading it back to Duesenberg in 1935. The car went through several owners before coming into the procession of Dick Bell.

Even though the restoration was done over fifty years ago, the car still shows well in modern times. There are minor chips and cracks and the paint has lost some of its luster, but considering its 50 year old age, it is in excellent condition. The engine bay is clean and fitted with the correct components. It has the correct updraft Schebler carburetor and the 'sewer pipe' exhaust. A few of the parts are modern and incorrect.

It has been awarded both an AACA and CCCA National First Place award badges which may have been earned during the 1950s or possibly the 1960s. Its list of accessories include six chrome wire wheels, dual side mounted spares, two Guide driving lights, and a rear-mounted trunk with canvas cover.

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton was brought to the Vintage Motor Cars sale at Hershey, PA presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $1,200,000 - $1,600,000 and was offered without reserve. The lot was sold for a high bid of $1,650,000 including buyer's premium.

It is one of just three original built Murphy bodied dual cowl phaetons. The other two were J175/2196 and J347/2366. Other coachbuilders offered the DC Phaeton bodystyle but none featured the trademark Murphy styling including the thin pillars and curved body sides. The tonneau is even a marvel, with both the windshield and tonneau split and hinged along the center which allowed either side to fold and lift independently. This improved the entry and exiting of the car.

The list of DC Phaetons produced include 25 by LeBaron, 13 by LaGrande, 11 by Derham and 3 by Murphy. The sale of this Murphy DC Phaeton represented an opportunity not offered in nearly 50 years as the car had been in the same family that entire time.

Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2225
Engine Num: J-355

The Duesenberg Model J was unveiled to the world at the 1928 New York Auto Salon. The engine was a twin-cam straight eight with a very large crankshaft, with sealed cartridges continuing mercury to eliminate vibrations. There was a 'timing box' located on the side of the engine that contained trains of precision gearing. These would automatically operate lights on the instrument panel to warn the driver when an oil change was necessary, and when to service the battery. After every 75 miles the timing box opened a spring loaded valve which forced oil onto all chassis lubrication points. During operation, lights would illuminate on the drivers instrumentation panel informing the driver the lubrication was in process.

The Lycoming built engine displaced 6876cc, had 32-vlaves and produced 265 horsepower in naturally aspirated form. The car was able to achieve 90 mph in second gear, with top speed being achieved at about 110 mph in high gear. 15-inch hydraulically-operated drum brakes on all four corners kept the car in the driver's control.

Every Duesenberg Model J constructed was thoroughly tested for 500 miles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before being sent to the coachbuilder. In June of 1929, they opened an in-house body-design department to create new body styles for individual clients adn work as a liaise between the coachbuilders and the factory. Gordon Buehrig headed this department from 1929 through 1933. Buehrig skill would later be used on the Cord 810/812.

This Murphy Convertible Sedan is chassis number 2225 and rests on a short (142.5-inch) wheelbase. The original engine was J-204 which was later replaced by engine J-355. Engine J-204 was later installed in chassis #2374, the ex-Wanger chassis. Chassis 2374 made an appearance in the James Dean movie Giant.

Murphy bodied more Model J Duesenbergs than any other coachbuilder. Their craft was applied to around 140 examples. The staff of the Murphy Company included such greats as Franklin Q. Hershey and Philip Ogden Wright.

This car was a long-term static display in a European automobile museum. Its recent years have been spent in Southern California. It features external exhaust pipes which were optional at the time, and twin side mounts. It is painted in black with a tan top.

In 2007 the car was brought to the Bonhams Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club auction. The car was estimated to sell for $850,000 - $950,000. As the gavel fell for the final time, the lot was unsold.

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SWB Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2154
Engine Num: J132

The Duesenberg J chassis cost $8,500 which made it the most expensive car in America. This price tag did not include the coachwork (the body), which often drove the price into the neighborhood of $20,000. This was during the era where most family cars sold for $500.

The Duesenberg Model J's were impressive vehicles and were bred from Fred and August Dueseneberg's history of racing. The brothers competed in the Indy 500 on 15 consecutive appearances with their first being in 1913. In total there were 70 Duisenberg's that competed on the legendary Brickyard circuit with 46-percent of them finishing in the top 10. The Indianapolis 500 was a 500 mile endurance race and finishing it was a major accomplishment in its own respect. With so many top ten finishes for Duesenberg, their reliability and speed soon became legendary.

In 1921, Jimmy Murphy drove a Duesenberg to first place at the French Grand Prix at LeMans. For 1922, eight of the top ten cars were Duesenberg-powered machines, including the winning car driven by Jimmy Murphy.

In 1925, the Duesenberg Company was purchased by Errett Lobban Cord and added to his growing list of companies. This acquisition was intended to position the newly purchased Duesenberg Company at the height of luxury and to compete with the greatest automobile producers of the era, such as Rolls-Royce, Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti, Cadillac, and Hispano-Suiza.

The short-wheelbase Duesenberg J, accounting for most of the Model J production, measured nearly 12-feet long. The 420 cubic-inch straight-eight engine produced 265 horsepower which promised over 100 mph top speed.

This particular Model J is chassis number 2154 and engine number J-132. It has Murphy body number 830 and ACD Certification Number D-015. It began life as a much different vehicle than what it is now. It was originally a Derham bodied Sedan and was sold new to William E. Schmidt. The next owner was H. S. Kehn, also from Chicago, who later sold it to Paul S. Johnson. While in Johnson's care, the rear portion body was removed with the intent of making it into a truck for his plumbing business. The conversion was never completed and later sold to Keith Brown of LaPorte, Indiana in October of 1957.

The Convertible Coupe body that this vehicle now carries was originally mounted on J-144. It was originally owned by Frank Gill of New York. Duesenberg re-acquired the car on April 30, 1932 and later sold to David Joyce of Chicago. (Joyce later owned J151, a Derham Tourster.)

Brown purchased the Murphy body in 1957 and had it mounted on J132 between 1957 and 1959. In September of 1959, the car was sold to Homer Fitterling. It would remain in his care until being purchased by Ed Weater of Dalton, Georgia in 1989. In 1994, the car was purchased by RM Classic Cars of Chatham, Ontario, Canada and later sold to Berkeley, Massachusetts collector Jim King. It was later traded back to RM for another car. In 2006, the current owner purchased the car from RM.

In 2008 this 1929 Duesenberg J Convertible Coupe with coachwork by Murphy was brought to RM Auctions' Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook. It was estimated to sell for $750,000-$950,000. Bidding reached $748,000, including buyer's premium, which was just under the estimated value but enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.

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SWB Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Murphy
Chassis Num: 2165
Engine Num: J142

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J wears a Coupe body which was given to it by Walter M Murphy Company of Pasadena, CA. It is chassis number 2165 and is powered by engine J142. It's ACD Category one Certification Number is D-125. There is a known history since new which began with Jarvis Hunt Jr. of Chicago, its first caretaker. The second owner was also an individual from Chicago, a Mr. Joe Neidlinger who took possession of the car on January of 1933. William E. Schmidt became its next owner sometime during the mid-1930s. By 1936, it was owned by Eddie Glatt of Chicago-based Edwards Finance Company fame.

Neidlinger, for a second time, purchased the car but kept it only for a short time, selling it to Mr. Lacey of Oak Park, Illinois. The car was traded to Duesenberg dealer John Troka against the purchased of SJ515. Dr. J. Phister purchased the car in 1938. Soon after, Troka re-purchased the car, only to sell it to Tom L. Grace a short time later. Mr. Grace would be the cars first long-term owner, keeping it for nearly 12 years before selling it to Louis A. Ostendorf of Berwyn, Illinois.

From this point in history onwards, the car was owned by Troka, Nathan R. Swift, John Herriott, James Thorton (kept it for 11 years), and Russel Kenerson (purchased on October 28th of 1968). Kenerson treated the car to its first major concours quality restoration in the early 1970s. For his efforts, the car was awarded a Classic Car Club of America National First Place award in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1974.

The ownership history continued with E. B Jeffries of Carefree, Arizona, Blackhawk Collection, and then to Tenny Natkin of Riverwood, Illinois. Natkin had the car repainted and its interior refurbished. In 1982, the car was awarded a National First Place prize by the Antique Automobile Club of America. It was invited tot he Pebble Beach Concours and was later sold to Jack Denlinger and then to the Imperial Palace collection of Duesenbergs in July of 1990.

J142 was purchased by Charles Cawley in 1999. In September of 2000, the car was sold at RM's New York Auto Salon and Auction to Dale Walksler of Maggie Valley, North Carolina. While in his care, the engine was rebuilt.

This car includes its original TwiLite headlights, Pilot Ray driving lights, scripted sidelamps, chrome wire wheels, and a rear-mounted trunk.

In 2008, the car was again offered for sale by RM Auctions at their 'Sport & Classic Cars of Monterey.' It had an estimated value of $1,400,000 - $1,800,000 and was sold for $1,413,500 including buyer's premium.

SWB Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Murphy

After E.L. Cord bought Duesenberg Motors in 1926, he decided that he wanted to build the ultimate motorcar. Built to the design of Fred and Augie Duesenberg, the Model J surpassed everything on the road in 1928 at its introduction. The car was powered by a Lycoming-built straight-eight of Fred's design, with such innovations as twin overhead camshafts operating four valves per cylinder, true hemispherical combustion chambers, and an estimated 250 horsepower, more than double that of its competition. The car was designed to be the very best in the world, and was capable of almost 90 mph in second gear. The bare chassis listed for a stupendous $8,500 in 1929, with the body costing at least another $2,500. In 1929 money, that was the equivalent of 50 Ford Model As, and in today's money, it's about a million dollars. Only 470 chassis and 480 engines were built between 1929 and 1936.

Background

The Duesenberg Company produced high-end, luxury automobiles and racing cars from 1913 through 1937. It was created by the Duesenberg brothers, Fred and August, who formed the Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa with the intent on building sports cars. Just like many of their time, they were mostly self-taught engineers and had only constructed experimental cars up to this point.

Duesenberg's place in history was officially solidified in 1914 when Eddie Richenbacker drove a Duesenberg to an astonishing 10th place finish at the Indianapolis 500. Duesenberg later went on to win the race, capturing overall victories in 1924, 1925, and 1927. A Duesenberg was used as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 in 1923.

Starting with the companies first appearance at the Indianapolis 500 in 1913 and continuing for a consecutive 15 years, there were a total of 70 Duesenberg racing cars entered in the race. Thirty-two of the cars finished in the top ten. In 1922, eight of the top ten cars were Duesenberg-powered. Many great racing names, such as Eddie Rickenbacker, Rex Mays, Tommy Milton, Peter DePaolo, Albert Guyot, Ralph DePalma, Fred Frame, Stubby Stubblefield, Ab Jenkins, Ralph Mulford, Jimmy Murphy, Joe Russo, and Deacon Litz raced in a Duesenberg.

Duesenberg's racing pedigree was not just reserved for the United States; in 1921, Jimmy Murphy drove a Duesenberg to victory at the French Grand Prix at the LeMans racetrack. This made him the first American to win the French Grand Prix. It also made the Duesenberg the first vehicle to start a grand prix with hydraulic brakes.

The Duesenberg headquarters and factory was relocated in July of 1921 from New Jersey to Indianapolis. Part of the purpose for the move was to focus more on the production of passenger vehicles. The Company had a hard time selling their Model A car. This was a very advanced car with many features not available on other vehicles being offered at the time. The engine had dual overhead cams, four-valve cylinder heads and was the first passenger car to be equipped with hydraulic brakes.

The Duesenberg Company produced 667 examples of the Model A, making it their first mass-produced vehicle. The Model A was powered by a 183-cubic-inch single overhead camshaft inline eight-cylinder engine. The strain of racing, moving, and lack of selling automobiles sent the company into receivership in 1922. After a few years, it's debts had been resolved, thank in-part to an investor group. The company re-opened in 1925 as the Duesenberg Motors Company.

In 1926, Errett Lobban Cord purchased the Duesenberg Company. The company appealed to E.L. Cord, owner of the Cord and Auburn Automobile Company, because of its history, the engineering ingenuity of the products, brand name, and the skill of the Duesenberg Brothers. The purpose was to transform the company into a producer of luxury automobiles.

Duesenberg Model J and Model SJ

Fred Duesenberg was a master of creating engines and was a creative designer. He had a talent for conceiving new ideas and ways of doing things. The engines he constructed were beautiful, mechanically sound, and advanced. E.L. Cord gave him one task: 'Create the best car in the world.' This was a very tall order and came at a very difficult time in history. The onset of the Great Depression and the Stock Market crash was just around the corner. Competition in the luxury car segment was fierce and involved all facets of the automobile. The cylinder wars that began in the 1920s and continued into the 1930s had marque's trying to outdo each other on the bases of their engines output, number of cylinders, and the speed of their ultra-luxury automobiles. Styling continued to be very important and often outsourced to the greatest designers and coachbuilders of the time. Maruqee's such as Cadillac, Packard, Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti, and others were all trying to out-do each other and continue in business during this difficult point in history.

The Duesenberg Model J was first unveiled to the public at the New York Car Show on December 1st of 1928. Only the chassis and engine were shown and it still impressed enough to make front page news. The wheelbase was 142-inches making it nearly 12 feet. The chassis had a six cross-members made it very sturdy and able to accommodate the heaviest of bodies. The engine had dual overhead camshafts and eight-cylinders with four valves per cylinder. It displaced 420 cubic-inches and produced an impressive 265 horsepower in un-supercharged form. The engine had been designed by Fred Duesenberg and constructed by the Lycoming Company, which had been recently acquired by E.L. Cord. There was a brilliant lubrication system which automatically lubricated various mechanical components after sixty to eighty miles. Two lights mounted on the dashboard indicated when the lubrication process was transpiring. After 750 miles, lights mounted on the dashboard would light-up indicating the oil required changing. After 1500 miles, the lights would illuminate indicating the battery should be inspected. Top speed was 119 mph and 94 mph in second gear. With the use of a supercharger, the top speed increased even further, to nearly 140 mph. Zero-to-sixty took around eight seconds with 100 mph being achieved in seventeen seconds.

Each chassis was driven at speed for 100 miles at Indianapolis before being delivered to the customer or coachbuilder.

The coachwork was left to the discretion of the buyer and the talents of the coachbuilders. Prominent coachbuilders from North American and Europe were selected to cloth the Model J and Model SJ in some of the grandest and elegant coachwork ever created.

The cost of a rolling chassis prior to 1932 was $8,00. The rolling chassis usually included all mechanical components, front fenders, radiator grille, bumpers, running boards, dashboard, and sometimes a swiveling spot-light. After 1932, the price was raised to $9,500. After the coachwork was completed, the base price was $13,500 with a top-of-the line model fetching as much as $25,000 or more. To put this in perspective, the entry level Ford Model T in the early 1930s cost around $435 with the most expensive version selling for about $650. Many individuals in very prominent careers, such as doctors, made around $3,000 annually. The Great Depression meant the number of individuals capable of affording an automobile of this caliber soon dwindled. Those who could afford one often bought modest vehicles to avoid public uprising and ridicule. The pool of marques who catered to the upper-class of society did all they could to attract buyers; prices were lowered and incentives were made just to attract another sale. Needless to say, competition was fierce.

After the New York Show, Duesenberg ordered enough components to build 500 Model Js. Specifications and drawings of the chassis had been sent to prominent coachbuilders six months prior to its unveiling at the New York Show. This had been done to guarantee that a wide variety of bodies were available after its launch. Duesenberg ordered bodies in small quantities and offered the completed cars to have on-hand incase the customer wanted to take delivery immediately. The first customer took delivery of their Model J in May of 1929. This was just five weeks before Black Tuesday.

The Model SJ, a supercharged version of the Model J, produced 320 horsepower. The supercharger was located beside the engine with the exhaust pipes beneath through the side panel of the hood through creased tubes. The name 'SJ' was never used by the Duesenberg Company to reference these models.

Even though the Model J had received much attention from the press and promotional material was well circulated, sales were disappointing. The Duesenberg Company had hoped to construct 500 examples per year; this figure was never matched with a total of 481 examples constructed throughout its lifespan. Duesenberg did find customers such as Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and James Cagney. Monarch, kings, queens, and the very wealthy accounted for the rest of the sales.

Production continued until the company ceased production in 1937. Little changed on the Model J over the years. The four-speed gearbox was replaced by a unsynchronized three-speed unit which was better suited to cope with the engines power. The last Model SJ's produced had ram-horn intakes and installed on two short-wheelbase chassis. Horsepower was reported to be as high as 400. These examples are commonly known as 'SSJ' in modern times.

In 1932, Fred Duesenberg was involved in a car accident which claimed his life. Development on the Model J had come to a halt which was not a problem at the time, but within a few years had become antiquated in comparison to the competition. An entirely new design and updated mechanical components were required for the Duesenberg name in 1937 in order to stay competitive. The cost and development time was too much for E.L. Cord to consider, and so he withdrew his financial support and the company dwindled.

August Duesenberg tried, unsuccessfully, to revive the Duesenberg name. Fritz Duesenberg tried again in the mid-1960s but again without success.

The Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc was founded and operated by Fred and August brother's who began their company in 1913. From the start their company has been a US based luxury automobile company with a standard to build the very best hand-built vehicles during the time period. Duesenberg vehicles lived up to this standard until 1937 when the company closed.

Created to build sports cars, the Company began its life in Des Moines, Iowa by two men who were self-taught engineers that produced various experimental vehicles. Unfortunately the brothers did have much selling capability, and due to this the company claimed bankruptcy and closed in 1922.

Purchasing the Duesenberg Company in 1926, Errett Lobban Cord, the owner of Cord Automobile, Auburn Automobile and several other transportation companies acquired the Duesenberg Brothers' engineering skills along with a brand name. Setting out to produce the Model J, Cord hired Fred Duesenberg to design both the engine and the chassis that would eventually be the best in the world.

Displayed at the New York Car Show of 1928, the Model J (Judkins) Duesenberg was indeed impressive. While only the engine and chassis were put on display at the show, the body and interior of the vehicle would be eventually custom-made by an extremely experienced coachbuilder to the owner's specification. Coachbuilders in both Europe and North America were responsible for the extensive bodywork. The finished product was the grandest, largest and most beautiful vehicle ever before created. The base model cost around $13,500, while the top of the line model sold for an extreme $25,000.

With a lack of supercharged form, the Model J was renowned for it incredibly 265 horsepower, straight-8 engine, and dual overhead camshafts. Able to reach an impressive top speed of 119 mph, and 94 mph in 2nd gear, the Model J was a success.

While other top of the line vehicles of the time period could barely reach 100 mph, the Duesenberg models were definitely turning some heads. The 1932 SJ was estimated to reach 104 mph in 2nd gear, a top speed of 135-140 mph in 2rd, and turned around 0-60 in 8 seconds. The supercharged Model J came with 320 HP and the supercharger placed alongside the engine, with creased exhaust pipes to make room it. The SJ models were easily recognizable due to their shiny creased tubes, a trademark by E. L. Cord. Weighing around two and a half tons, due to the large array of custom coachwork available, the Duesenbergs were not any heavier than their fellow competition.

Rapidly becoming of the most popular vehicles in the world, the Duesenberg was a status symbol for the elite. Such famous owners of the Duesenberg were Clark Gable, the Duke of Windsor and Gary Cooper.

Advertised to be the ‘best car in the world', Duesenberg's have held up to their status for numerous years. Following world-beating performance along with high regard and standard for quality, the Duesenberg continued to hold the reputation for opulence.

A total of 481 Model Js and SJs were produced between 1928 and 1937. Following E. L. Cord's financial empire collapsing, Duesenberg ceased production in 1937. It is estimated that approximately 50% of these classic cars are still on the road today. Both Duesenberg Model J's and SJ's are among the most desired collectible classic cars in the world.

Jay Leno owns four Model J Duesenbergs.

Jessica Donaldson

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