1930 Duesenberg Model J

On October 26th of 1926, E.L. Cord, the owner of Auburn Automobile (along with other transportation firms) purchased the Duesenberg Motor Corporation. The goal was to produce a car that could rival the luxury, size, and power of the top European brands. After the company takeover, it was renamed 'Duesenberg, Inc.' The Duesenberg Company had been founded in 1913 in Saint Paul, Minnesota by brothers August and Frederick Duesenberg. In 1916, the company moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey, to manufacture engines for World War I. In 1919, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana.

E.L. Cord had been impressed with the brothers' talent and engineering skills. Fred continued on in the new organization, now with the title of vice president in charge of engineering and experimental work. Augie would have no formal connection with Duesenberg, Inc. until later.

The Duesenberg Model J made its debut on December 1st at the New York Car Show of 1928. At the time of its introduction, only one example had been made (J-101), a sweep-panel, dual-cowl phaeton wearing coachwork by LeBaron, and finished in black and silver. By the time the Great Depression hit in October of 1929, around 200 examples had been built. An additional 100 orders were filled in 1930.

Powering the Model J was a straight-eight engine based on the company's racing engines of the 1920s. They were designed by Duesenberg and manufactured by Lycoming, another one of Cord's companies. The naturally aspirated straight-eight offered 265 horsepower with the help of dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The chassis had a cost of $8,500 and rose to $9,500 after 1932. A completed example could cost between $13,000 and $25,000.

The Model J rested on a standard 142.5-inch wheelbase platform or an optional 153.5-inch long-wheelbase version. Two Model SSJs rested on a shortened 125 inches and a couple of cars were given 160-inch wheelbase platforms.

Most of the specifications remained the same until the factory closed in 1937. Changes included the four-speed gearbox being replaced with an unsynchronized three-speed gearbox. Duesenberg switched to a fully synchronized gearbox in the mid-1930s.

Approximately half of the Model Js were given coachwork devised by the company's chief body designer, Gordon Buehrig, and executed under the name La Grande by company branches in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Denver, and Florida, as well as by smaller dealers. Independent US coachbuilders designed the other examples including Murphy, Le Baron, Derham, Holbrook, Judkins, Walker, Weymann, Willoughby, and Rollston (later renamed Rollson). European-based coachbuilders who created designs for the Model J included Franay, Gurney Nutting, Saoutchik, and Fernandez et Darrin.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019