Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
The 'Duesie', 'doozie', or 'doozy' was coined in the 1930s as a convenient metaphor for anything so grand or formidable as to defy the usual Webster offerings. Its derivation was the Duesenberg Model J.
The J idea belonged to automotive empire builder Errett Lobban cord and its execution to engineer Fred Duesenberg. Although successful as a race car producer, Duesenberg's Indianapolis Company was headed for financial disaster when Cord acquired it in 1926. Cord told Fred to design a car the likes of which America had never seen, cost no object.
Introduced in December of 1928, the J Duesenberg was unabashed overkill - massive, weighty, and of heroic proportion everywhere. The race-inspired straight-eight engine boasted twice the horsepower of its nearest American competitor. In 1932, when the 265 HP J was supercharged into the SJ, horsepower jumped to 320, the factory advertising 129 mph in top gear. The eight-cylinder 448 cubic-inch engine with the ram's head manifold produces approximately 400 horsepower at 5,000 RPM.
Only two examples of the 'super-short' 125-inch SSJ chassis were produced.
Used as a promotional venture by Duesenberg, this SJ with chassis number 2594 and engine J-563, was sold at cost to actor Gary Cooper, and it quickly became a treasured toy, which he kept until after the war. The car was later owned and modified by the auto enthusiast, Briggs Cunningham. The car remains in Cunningham form. Just two Short Wheelbase SJ Speedsters were built, the other was intended for Clark Gable, and they are often called SSJs, for short supercharged J, although that was not a formal factory term.
The J idea belonged to automotive empire builder Errett Lobban cord and its execution to engineer Fred Duesenberg. Although successful as a race car producer, Duesenberg's Indianapolis Company was headed for financial disaster when Cord acquired it in 1926. Cord told Fred to design a car the likes of which America had never seen, cost no object.
Introduced in December of 1928, the J Duesenberg was unabashed overkill - massive, weighty, and of heroic proportion everywhere. The race-inspired straight-eight engine boasted twice the horsepower of its nearest American competitor. In 1932, when the 265 HP J was supercharged into the SJ, horsepower jumped to 320, the factory advertising 129 mph in top gear. The eight-cylinder 448 cubic-inch engine with the ram's head manifold produces approximately 400 horsepower at 5,000 RPM.
Only two examples of the 'super-short' 125-inch SSJ chassis were produced.
Used as a promotional venture by Duesenberg, this SJ with chassis number 2594 and engine J-563, was sold at cost to actor Gary Cooper, and it quickly became a treasured toy, which he kept until after the war. The car was later owned and modified by the auto enthusiast, Briggs Cunningham. The car remains in Cunningham form. Just two Short Wheelbase SJ Speedsters were built, the other was intended for Clark Gable, and they are often called SSJs, for short supercharged J, although that was not a formal factory term.
2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Sale Price :
USD $22,000,000
Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model SSJ
(Data based on Model Year 1935 sales)
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Chassis#: 2594 Sold for USD$22,000,000 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach |
Duesenberg Model SSJs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $22,000,000 range.
1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti Chassis#:0598 CM Sold for $22,005,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1995 McLaren F1 Chassis#:SA9AB5AC9S1048029 Sold for $20,465,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | |
1994 McLaren F1 'LM-Specification' Chassis#:SA9AB5AC1R1048018 Sold for $19,805,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1956 Ferrari 290 MM by Scaglietti Chassis#:0628 Sold for $22,005,000 2018 RM Sothebys : The Petersen Automotive Museum | |
1963 Aston Martin DP215 Grand Touring Competition Prototype Chassis#:DP215 Sold for $21,455,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Chassis#:DBR1/1 Sold for $22,500,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Jaguar D-Type Chassis#:XKD 501 Sold for $21,780,000 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | |
1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Chassis#:0592CM Sold for $23,000,000 2014 Rick Cole Auctions : Monterey |
1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Duesenberg Model SSJ model years