conceptcarz.com

Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster

  • Coachwork by Derham
  • Chassis Number: 2468
  • Engine Number: J-451
  • Body Number: 2323
The Duesenberg Model J was available on either a long wheelbase of 153.5 inches for 7-passenger coachwork or a standard chassis of 142.5 inches. This Duesenberg J with Tourster coachwork by Derham is built on the longer chassis. The Tourster style was designed by Gordon Buehrig and, unlike other Dual Cowl Phaetons, it features a second windshield that slides up and down behind the front seat by means of a crank handle. The Tourster was Buehrig's favorite design and he chose the Derham Body Company of Rosemont, Pennsylvania, to be the exclusive builder of this coachwork. This Duesenberg is one of eight original Tourster models. It was sold new to David G. Joyce of Chicago. Today it is one of the very few remaining original examples of what many consider to be Derham's most beautiful coachwork.
This Duesenberg is one of the eight original Toursters. It was built on March 23rd of 1931 and given Derham body number 2323. The first owner was David G. Joyce of Chicago. In 1935, Gerald Morava of Chicago acquired the car and subsequently traded it in on a Cadillac in 1942. It was acquired from the Cadillac Motor Car Company of Chicago by D. Cameron Peck, for the sum of $325. Mr. Peck sold his Tourster in 1948 to A.C. Baker of Michigan, who passed it a decade later to Ernest R. Mills of Indiana. Mr. Mills began a restoration, and worked on it for about fifteen years, sourcing pieces of original equipment and hardware, and rebuilding it mechanically. The body was finished in pale green with white trim, a tan interior, and a tan top.

The restored car was sold in the mid-1970s to Johnnie Basset of Arkansas. Two years later it was acquired by the Jerry J. Moore Museum in Houston, Texas, and subsequently through the Blackhawk Collection into Dr. Joseph Murphy's collection in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

The current owner acquired the car in 2001 and it has been maintained in his European collection since.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016

2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,300,000-USD $1,600,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,320,000

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  

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $1,045,602 range.
1998 RUF BTR
Chassis#:W09TD0364WPR06013
Sold for $1,050,000
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S Coachwork by Bertone
Chassis#:4124
Sold for $1,037,077
2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris
2021 Ford GT Carbon Series
Sold for $1,055,500
2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
1937 LAGONDA LG45 RAPIDE
Chassis#:12245/G10S
Sold for $1,055,500
2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
2011 Ferrari 599 GTO
Chassis#:ZFF70RCA0B0183377
Sold for $1,039,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1936 Hispano-Suiza J12 d'Ieteren Frères Cabriolet
Chassis#:13033
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:189.010.7500563
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.8500277
Sold for $1,040,093
2023 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba
2021 Ford GT
Chassis#:2FAGP9DW4MH200013
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island
2020 Ford GT Carbon Series
Chassis#:2FAGP9DW8LH100186
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Sold for $1,045,000
2023 Mecum : Kissimmee
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.7500570
Sold for $1,039,000
2022 Bonhams : The Quail Auction
2020 Ford GT MkII
Chassis#:FPMMMK11012
Sold for $1,045,000
2022 Mecum : Monterey
1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
Chassis#:CSX 2547
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Drophead Coupe by Lancefield
Chassis#:169317
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Lightweight
Chassis#:964018
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
Chassis#:CSX 3192
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.8500137
Sold for $1,035,821
2022 RM Sothebys : Paris
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.10.002899
Sold for $1,043,753
2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland

1931 Duesenberg Model J

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Duesenberg Model J model years

1931 Duesenberg Model J Vehicle Profiles