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1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster

  • Coachwork by Derham
  • Engine Number: J-408
This car featured not only great mechanical engineering but inspired design and quality coachwork as well. This Duesenberg was delivered to Charles Groff on November 20, 1931, in Philadelphia, PA. It is powered by a Straight-8, overhead-valve configuration actuated by dual overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, producing 265 horsepower, and is coupled with a three-speed transmission. Over the years, it passed through several documented owners. Ted Billings was restoring another Derham Tourster and meticulously copied the body, thus creating this near-perfect re-bodied Tourster car. The current owners acquired the Duesenberg in June of 2008 and commissioned the restoration. The car was shown at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours as a chassis only, the way Fred Duesenberg sold it. A year later, at the 2017 edition of the Amelia Island Concours, the restoration had been completed.

This J-408 Phaeton was ordered by Charles Groff on August 24, 1930 and was delivered on November 20, 1931. The Duesenberg Model J was the choice of movie stars, millionaires, magnates, and royalty. It had been bodied by Willoughby of Utica, New York with one of their berline bodies.

Willoughby was a producer of custom bodies built in short series for major American automobile companies. Usually, the bodies were produced in runs of 50 or less with individual specifications allowing purchasers to add special details that set their automobile apart, while still maintaining the financial benefits of series production. These details include upholstery materials and design, and interior and exterior hardware is supplied to the customer's specifications. The main body construction was superbly done and utilized clever processes to speed up production while maintaining quality. An example of this was their use of complicated thin-wall castings to provide excellent body details with minimum handwork.

After an accident in the 1950s, the original Willoughby Berline body was replaced by a copy of the Tourster body designed by Gordon Buehrig, of which eight were built by Derham. This body was created in Ted Billings' restoration facility in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Billings built several Derham Tourster bodies for use on Duesenberg chassis that had missing or deteriorated original coachwork. These bodies are essentially duplicates of the original design and were built of aluminum over wood framing.

This car is powered by a 420 cubic-inch double-overhead-cam, supercharged, straight 8 engine developing 320 horsepower, coupled to a 3-speed manual transmission making it capable of a top speed of 150 mph. This 5,280 lb. vehicle rides on 18-inch wire wheels fitted with 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The chassis alone sold for $9,000 in 1932.

The vehicle was re-bodied using a Derham Phaeton for a pattern and it is coming off a three-year restoration. The long-wheelbase chassis, eight-cylinder double overhead cam engine, and body have been restored by Scott Arnstrom of Lakeland Motors Inc., to the original grandeur and performance the Duesenberg and Derham represented.

No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

1931 Duesenberg Model J Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J

(Data based on Model Year 1931 sales)
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham
Chassis#: 2440
Sold for USD$1,710,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Sold for USD$1,050,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Arlington Sedan
Chassis#: 2187
Sold for USD$857,500
  2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham
Chassis#: 2464
Sold for USD$3,415,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Roadster 'Green Hornet'
Chassis#: 2410
Sold for USD$1,650,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Limousine by Willoughby
Chassis#: 2438
Sold for USD$451,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Custom Berline
Chassis#: 2371
Sold for USD$506,000
  2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, Arizona
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J SWB Sport Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2486
Sold for USD$1,320,000
  2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg II Dual Cowl Phaeton
Sold for USD$134,750
  2016 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham
Chassis#: 2468
Sold for USD$1,320,000
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Phaeton in the Style of Tourster
Sold for USD$265,000
  2015 Auctions America - Auburn Fall
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham
Chassis#: 2456
Sold for USD$825,000
  2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2350
Sold for USD$462,000
  2013 Gooding and Company - The Amelia Island Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham
Chassis#: 2440
Sold for USD$1,320,000
  2013 RM Auctions - Arizona
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Dual Windshield ‘Barrelside' Phaeton by LeBaron
Chassis#: 2318
Sold for USD$1,292,500
  2012 RM Auctions - Hershey, PA
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Limousine
Chassis#: 2438
Sold for USD$330,000
  2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2363
Sold for USD$693,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster
Chassis#: J444
Sold for USD$1,485,000
  2007 RM Auctions - The McMullen Collection
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster
Sold for USD$378,000
  2007 The Florida Collector Car Auction
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J Special Phaeton
Chassis#: 2189
Sold for USD$2,640,000
  2006 The Otis Chandler Collection Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J image  1931 Duesenberg Model J image  

Duesenberg Model Js That Failed To Sell At Auction

1931 Duesenberg Model J's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan Coachwork by Carrosserie Franay24652024 Bonhams : The Scottsdale Auction   
1931 Duesenberg Model J 2009 Automobiles of Arizona$600,000$900,000$1,200,000
1931 Duesenberg Model J 2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company   
1931 Duesenberg Model J ToursterJ2062006 RM Auctions at Meadow Brook$430,000$350,000$500,000
1931 Duesenberg J104 Convertible Victoria 2004 The Florida Collector Car Auction$425,000  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Conv. Victoria 2003 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island$450,000  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Sedan 2003 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island$280,000  
1931 DUESENBERG TORPEDO PHAETON23192001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN$410,000  

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1931 Duesenberg Model J

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