1934 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe

The Duesenberg was designed to be 'the world's finest motor car.' Arguably, by every barometer, it achieved this goal. It more than doubled the horsepower of the highest-producing American motor car at the time, and it's 'short' wheelbase model was essentially the same as its competitors' long-wheelbase offerings. The coachwork was created by the best coachbuilders in America and Europe, including Murphy, Judkins, Holbrook, LeBaron, Willoughby, Rollston and Derham (among others). Most Duesenbergs were handcrafted to clients' orders, often with intimate client involvement during design, construction and trimming.

Catering to customers who wanted something immediate, Duesenberg developed an in-house line of bodies from the A-C-D design department. The list of talented staff who assisted in the A-C-D Body & Art Studio, including Al Leamy and Gordon Buehrig. Styled La Grande, Duesenberg's proprietary designs were built by several coachbuilders and supplied to the Duesenberg factory in Indianapolis. From there, the Duesenbergs were trimmed and finished to clients' order or for stock. Most of these examples were built by the Union City Body Company; others were built by Brunn, Weymann, and A.H. Walker.

This particular convertible coupe example (J534) is a La Grande design that was built by A. H. Walker Company; a total of three examples were constructed (J530, J531, and J534). Unique styling elements of this design include a raked and low-height windshield, a sweeping tail, the beltline molding that dips down from the cowl, ending partway down the rear fender's leading edge. The long hood, which extends across the cowl area to the base of the windshield, combines the cowl and body into a single graceful entity.

J534 was sold new to Dr. Frederick Gruneck of Chicago, Illinois, who traded a Murphy-bodied Duesenberg convertible coupe for it. Col. J. W. Dessette of Chicago, the car's second owner, sold it to Verne L. Stone of LaGrange, Illinois, in May of 1941. In 1950, it was sold to Fred Gifford of Chicago, who commenced a comprehensive restoration of the car, completed almost ten years later, in 1959. Shortly thereafter, it was sold to David Stewart of Chicago and Florida, who kept it until September of 1971, selling it to William Goodwin of Frankfort, Indiana. While in Mr. Goodwin, the car was restored for a second time. The Duesenberg remained with Mr. Goodwin until his death in the late 1990s. Dr. Joseph Murphy of Dovestown, Pennsylvania, became the car's next caretaker. In 2001, the car was offered for sale at RM Auction's Meadow Brook Hall sale, and at the time, it wore a two-tone red paint scheme and was in correct overall condition. Judge Joseph Cassini III was the winning bidder and he later traded J534 to the previous owner as part of a deal to acquire another particularly rare automobile. The new owner gave the car another restoration - to concours standards - by Mr. Fran Roxas. The work took three years to complete, and upon completion in 2004, it won Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2005, the car returned to RM Auctions - this time at their Arizona sale held at the Biltmore. It crossed the auction block wearing a midnight blue exterior with a red leather interior. As the gavel fell, the car had been sold into new ownership.

The inline eight-cylinder has dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, displaces 420 cubic inches, and produces 265 horsepower. The wheelbase measures 142 inches and is suspended by a front front beam axle with a live rear axle. There are four-wheel vacuum-assisted hydraulic brakes and a three-speed manual transmission.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024