conceptcarz.com

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

1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe

  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Chassis Number: 2490
  • Engine Number: J-461
J-461 was originally purchased by Siegfried Roebling, the grandson of John Roebling of Brooklyn Bridge fame. The car that Mr. Roebling received in 1931 was a LeGrande Sweep-Panel Dual Cowl Phaeton. A short time later, Mr. Roebling was involved in an accident that damaged the body. The car was returned to the factory, where they fitted a new body, per Mr. Roebling's request, to the car. The Murphy Convertible Coupe body was sourced, either from a local dealer or directly from California, and fitted to the standard-length chassis. The body features a rear-mounted spare in lieu of the side mounts featured on all other bodies. This feature required a special rear bumper that gave the car a unique appearance and character. The honeycomb grille from the LeGrande body was retained and used on the Murphy, along with the twin driving lights.

The work was completed in 1934. Early in its life, it was given a two-tone paint scheme, with the lower half painted in a light color and the upper portions finished in a darker color. Duesenberg re-titled J-461 as a 1934 and treated it as though it was an entirely new product.

When Mr. Roebling passed away in 1936, the car remained on the East Coast, eventually coming into the care of Richard Harris of New Heaven, Connecticut, who purchased it in the early 1940s. A short time later, the car was purchased by Jim Hadley of Washington, D.C. Around that time, the car was given a later-style radiator, and the two-tone livery was changed to a single dark color.

In the 1950s, the care was in the care of James G. Groendyk of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, and even appeared in a Quaker State Advertisement. From there, the car was sold to an owner in Florida before making its way back to the Northeast in 1970 when it was acquired by M.H. Gould of Pennsylvania. Later in the year, the car was sold to Richard Boeshore, also of Pennsylvania.

In the mid-1970s, the car was shown at Hershey where it received an AACA award. Eventually, the car was sold to Chicago resident William Buddig. Mr. Buddig began a complete and show-quality restoration, which was completed in 1985. The car was finished in black and put onto the concours circuit. At the ACD reunion in 1986, J-461 was awarded Best Score, the ACD Fred Duesenberg Award, and Best of Show. In 1986, the car was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it earned a First in Class. It earned Best of Show honors at the Tucson Concours in 1986. The following year, it was put on display at the Gilmore Duesenberg Show in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Out of the 125 Duesenbergs on display, the car was selected as the Best Model J Duesenberg. Later in the year, the car was shown at the Meadow Brook Concours D'Elegance where it was awarded a First Place award. It has earned a 100-point judgment by the CCCA and has since earned Junior, Senior and Premier awards. In 1989, it won Best of Show honors at the Chicago International Concours.

After Mr. Buddig passed away in the 1990s, the car was sold by his family to Jerry J. Moore. After nearly a decade, the car was sold to the present owner.

In 2010, this Duesenberg was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $1,815,000, inclusive of the buyer's reserve.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2012

2010 Gooding and Company - Scottsdale Auction

Sale Price :
USD $1,815,000

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  

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $1,042,167 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
1936 Hispano-Suiza J12 d'Ieteren Frères Cabriolet
Chassis#:13033
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 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
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
2011 Ferrari 599 GTO
Chassis#:ZFF70RCA0B0183377
Sold for $1,039,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 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
1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400
Chassis#:1120018
Sold for $1,032,718
2023 Artcurial : Retromobile
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
Chassis#:WP0CA29885L001160
Sold for $1,033,500
2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by LeBaron
Sold for $1,050,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 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
1965 Shelby 289 Cobra
Chassis#:CSX 2547
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
2020 Ford GT MkII
Chassis#:FPMMMK11012
Sold for $1,045,000
2022 Mecum : Monterey
1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Drophead Coupe by Lancefield
Chassis#:169317
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Lightweight
Chassis#:964018
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1934 Duesenberg Model J vehicle thumbnail image  
1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
Chassis#:CSX 3192
Sold for $1,050,000
2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1934 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

1934 Duesenberg Model J

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

1934 Duesenberg Model J Vehicle Profiles