1929 Duesenberg Model J Custom Cabriolet

In the 1960s, this Duesenberg only consisted of an original running chassis and J motor. On page 135 of 'Elberts' book on Duesenbergs was a drawing of this body that was never built on a Duesenberg chassis. the owners' grandparents, Bill & Katherine Goodwin of Frankfort, Indiana, had this body built by Ray Jones of Detroit, Michigan. The body, designed by Strother MacMinn, was completed in the late 1960s.

The Duesenberg Model J was introduced in December 1928 to universal applause. It was proclaimed 'the world's finest motor car.' The Duesenberg chassis sold for $8,500, and depending on the coachwork selected could cost up to $25,000, a stupendous sum for this period. The car is powered by a Lycoming, straight-eight 420 cubic-inch engine with an advertised 265 horsepower. The engine was equipped with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, a performance enhancement used to this day. The car was capable of 89 miles per hour in second gear and 112-116 in high gear. The speedometer is calibrated to 150 miles per hour. This made the oversized hydraulic, vacuum-assisted brakes a necessity.