Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1934 Duesenberg Model J Arlington Sedan

  • Coachwork by Derham
  • Engine Number: J-486
The Duesenberg brothers pioneered many advancements in the automotive industry including the development of the straight-eight engine as well as the single and double overhead camshaft. The brothers built two significant production cars, the Model A, sold from 1921-1926, and the Model J, which sold from, 1927-1937. The Model J was the most powerful and expensive production car of the time.

The Model J was made possible by the financial backing of E. L. Cord. Cord had recently turned around the failing fortunes of the Auburn company and he was looking to build a low-volume luxury car with custom coachwork to compete with Hispano-Suiza and Rolls-Royce. The Model J, designed by Fred Duesenberg, featured a 420 cubic inch straight-eight engine with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts. This engine produced a claimed 265 horsepower and propelled the Model J to over 100 mph.

The Duesenberg Model J was the ideal platform for some of the most stunning custom coachwork of the Classic Era. The Model J, as with other luxury models, was primarily coach-built, with custom bodies built to the request of the buyer. The Derham Body Company, which was founded in Pennsylvania in 1887, built some of the most luxurious and desirable bodies for many of the wealthiest and most important personalities of the era.

As was customary among the luxury car brands, only the chassis and engine were displayed as the interior and body of the car would be custom-made by an experienced coachbuilder to the owner's specifications. This Duesenberg J sedan with coachwork by Derham was purchased on July 11, 1934, by Clarence R. Bitting, president of the United States Sugar Corp. who owned it for 18 years. The sedan body was designed by Derham and is unusual in that it retains its original body, engine, chassis, and accessories. The straight-eight model J motor was based on the company's successful racing engines of the 1920s and though designed by Duesenberg they were manufactured by Lycoming, another company owned by Cord. In normally aspirated form, it produced 265 horsepower from dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It was capable of a top speed of 119 mph and 94 mph in 2nd gear. Other cars featured a bigger engine but none of them surpassed its power. It was also both the fastest and most expensive American automobile on the market.

No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

1934 Duesenberg Model J Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J

(Data based on Model Year 1934 sales)
1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2490
Sold for USD$3,745,000
  2024 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
34 Duesenberg Model J Town Car
Chassis#: 2531
Sold for USD$1,012,000
  2020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton
Chassis#: 2579
Sold for USD$478,000
  2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model J Prince of Wales Berline
Chassis#: 2575
Sold for USD$450,500
  2019 Bonhams : Tupelo Auction
 
1934 DUESENBERG J MURPHY LWB CUSTOM BEVERLY SEDAN
Chassis#: 2489
Sold for USD$1,430,000
  2013 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
 
1934 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Berline
Chassis#: 2457
Sold for USD$495,000
  2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model J Riviera Phaeton by Brunn
Chassis#: 2550
Sold for USD$990,000
  2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model J Boattail Speedster by Bob Gassoway
Chassis#: 2159
Sold for USD$506,000
  2011 RM Auctions - Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Sedan
Sold for USD$962,500
  2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction
 
1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe
Sold for USD$1,815,000
  2010 Gooding and Company - Scottsdale Auction
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg J Supercharged Dual Cowl Phaeton
Sold for USD$407,000
  2007 Worldwide Auctions - Sterling McCall 2007
 
1934 Duesenberg Model J
Sold for USD$1,210,000
  2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  
1934 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: J534
Sold for USD$2,750,000
  2005 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
1934 Duesenberg Model J image  1934 Duesenberg Model J image  

Duesenberg Model Js That Failed To Sell At Auction

1934 Duesenberg Model J's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1934 Duesenberg Model J Town Car by Murphy25312016 RM Sothebys : Arizona$1,025,000$1,200,000$1,400,000
1934 DUESENBERG J482 MURPHY CONVERTIBLE SEDAN 2001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN$490,000  

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $1,250,077 range.
1996 Porsche 911 GT2
Chassis#:WP0ZZZ99ZTS392166
Sold for $1,242,500
2024 Broad Arrow : Monterey
2022 RUF SCR
Chassis#:W09CB0401NPR06002
Sold for $1,251,562
2024 RM Sothebys : The Tegernsee Auction
2017 Ferrari F12tdf
Chassis#:ZFF81BFA3H0221214
Sold for $1,242,500
2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Tubolare Zagato
Chassis#:10511AR 750087
Sold for $1,244,652
2023 RM Sothebys : Paris
2017 Ferrari F12tdf
Chassis#:ZFF81BFA3H0224694
Sold for $1,242,500
2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
Chassis#:WP0CA29815L001372
Sold for $1,242,500
2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
2017 Ferrari F12tdf
Chassis#:ZFF81BHB000226351
Sold for $1,258,394
2022 RM Sothebys : Munich
1993 Bugatti EB110 GT
Chassis#:ZA9AB01E0PCD39040
Sold for $1,250,847
2022 RM Sothebys : London
1976 Porsche 934
Chassis#:9306700172
Sold for $1,248,659
2021 RM Sothebys : London
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta
Chassis#:106.000011
Sold for $1,251,580
2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING
Chassis#:198.040.7500027
Sold for $1,254,000
2020 Gooding : Geared Online
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S
Chassis#:3787
Sold for $1,242,500
2020 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona
2017 Ford GT
Chassis#:2FAGP9CW9HH200063
Sold for $1,242,500
2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Chassis#:WP0ZZZ91ZFS800394
Sold for $1,253,827
2019 RM Sothebys : Paris
1990 Ferrari F40
Chassis#:87144
Sold for $1,242,500
2017 RM Sotheby's : Icons
1963 Porsche 356 B Carrera 2 Cabriolet
Chassis#:157116
Sold for $1,250,000
2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
2017 Ferrari F12tdf
Chassis#:ZFF81BFA8H0222794
Sold for $1,250,000
2017 Mecum : Monterey
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Cabriolet by Franay
Chassis#:110121
Sold for $1,252,240
2017 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1953 Lancia Aurelia B52 PF2001953 Lancia Aurelia PF200 C Spider by Pinin Farina
Chassis#:B52-1052
Sold for $1,248,500
2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1990 Ferrari F40
Chassis#:ZFFGJ34B000089028
Sold for $1,238,160
2016 RM Sotheby's : London Sale

1934 Duesenberg Model J

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Duesenberg Model J model years

1934 Duesenberg Model J Vehicle Profiles

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.