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1934 Duesenberg Model J Town Car

Stately Coachwork on a High-Performance Chassis
The Duesenberg brothers, Fred and August, founded Duesenberg Automobiles & Motors Company in 1913. The performance of the Duesenberg-powered cars was impressive; Duesenberg racers won the Indianapolis 500 in 1924, 1925, and 1927. And, in 1921, American driver Jimmy Murphy won the French Grand Prix at LeMans in a Duesenberg.

By 1934, the loss of Fred in a 1932 auto accident and the Depression had taken their toll on the legendary Duesenberg. That year, Duesenberg made the difficult decision to quit motorsports. The last Duesenberg to run the Indy 500, prepared by Augie and driven by Joe Russo, finished fifth in the 1934 race.

Rollston, the New York City coachbuilder that provided the handsome town car body for this Duesenberg, reportedly supplied 57 bodies for the Model J chassis (five of these were replacement bodies). Fifteen Rollston Duesenbergs were town cars, each one finished to individual order. The last Duesenberg to be completed, in 1940, had a body built by Rollson, a spin-off of the by-then-defunct original Rollston operation.

With a body by Rollston, this Model J Town Car combines the stately style of a classic body style with the racing-inspired performance of the legendary Duesenberg chassis. It has skirted fenders and 17-inch wheels typical of the mid-1930s trend toward a more streamlined look. Rollston's design used the length of the chassis to make a perfectly proportioned automobile on both the outside and inside, which features inlaid wood panels.

Once the property of a Chicago 'businessman,' this Duesenberg J led a rather exciting early life before it was sold in 1942 to its next owner, and in 1959 to the current caretaker's family. One can imagine the various 'business meetings' that the car attended during its time in Chicago. It has been cared for by its current owner since 1959 and has been thoughtfully preserved ever since.

A regular attendee at the many Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg events over the years, it has won many awards. The New York City coachbuilder Rollston that supplied this Town Car body was acknowledged as building some of the strongest bodywork of the classic era and used only the best materials and castings. Rollston built 57 bodies for the magnificent Duesenberg Model J and JN, including 15 Town Cars.

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)
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  

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1934 Duesenberg Model J

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