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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.
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.
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1934 Duesenberg Model J Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J
(Data based on Model Year 1934 sales)
34 Duesenberg Model J Town Car Chassis#: 2531 Sold for USD$1,012,000 2020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online | |
1934 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton Chassis#: 2579 Sold for USD$478,000 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction | |
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 Riviera Phaeton by Brunn Chassis#: 2550 Sold for USD$990,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
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 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 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 Convertible Coupe Chassis#: J534 Sold for USD$2,750,000 2005 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona |
Duesenberg Model Js That Failed To Sell At Auction
1934 Duesenberg Model J's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1934 Duesenberg Model J Town Car by Murphy | 2531 | 2016 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 |
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1934 Duesenberg Model J
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