1931 Duesenberg Model J Limousine

After final testing at the Duesenberg factory in the fall of 1930, J-430 was delivered to Willoughby Company of Utica, New York, for coachwork. Willoughby specialized in closed, formal coachwork and over the years, they would create approximately 45 bodies for Duesenberg, divided between five- and seven-passenger sedans and limousines. Most of their work was done on the long-wheelbase Duesenberg chassis.

On May 29 of 1931, J-430 was sold new to Henry Dolfinger. By May of 1935, the Model J Limousines appeared for sale at Hilton Motors, a used car dealership in Brooklyn, New York. From there, the car was sold to Doris Garfinkel. Sometime later, the Model J was sold to Dr. H. Breitenstool, a fellow New York City resident. It is believed that Mr. Breitenstool retained the car throughout the 1940s, during which time he also owned a similar Willoughby Limousine, J-271.

In September of 1955, the car was reportedly given to Dr. J. Lawrence Pool. While in his care, the car was cleaned and repainted. In November 1958, Homer Fitterling of South Bend, Indiana, purchased J-430 for a mere $2,500. In 1959, the car was displayed at the annual ACD meet in Auburn, Indiana, where it earned a First Place Primary award. During Mr. Fitterling's three-decade ownership, the J-430 was pictured in Fred Roe's book, Duesenberg: The Pursuit of Perfection.

Following his death in 1989, the remainder of the Fitterling collection - including J-430 - was sold to Ed Weaver. When Mr. Weaver passed away in 1995, the Willoughby Limousine was sold to the Imperial Palace Collection. Approximately five years later, J-430 joined a museum collection in Chicago, Illinois, only to return to the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, soon after.

The current owner is a Los Angeles, California resident who acquired the car in 2004. Currently, it shows less than 44,500 miles. The inside retains its original gray broadcloth upholstery. It is outfitted with a roll-up divider, folding jump seats, silk curtains, rope pulls, and a Philco radio.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach auction presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $400,000 - $500,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $330,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012