DUESENBERG
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Cars 1920s Cars 1930s Cars 1930-33 Cars 1934-35. Cars in movies
Chronology : 1931 1935
See also : Cars 1920s Cars 1930s Cars 1930-33 Cars 1934-35. Cars in movies
Chronology : 1931 1935
Special Report
Coachbuilders
Duesenberg Model J (and SJ/JN/SSJ) chassis were sold primarily as rolling chassis, with bodies commissioned from a wide range of independent American and European coachbuilders or executed under the in-house “LaGrande” label. Roughly half the approximately 480–481 cars produced (1928–1937) carried designs by chief body designer Gordon Buehrig (or later J. Herbert Newport) built under the LaGrande name or by authorized external firms; the rest were fully custom or semi-custom work by independents.
No two cars were identical. Below is an overview of the principal coachbuilders beyond Rollston (which supplied 57 bodies for Model J/JN chassis, including all ten JNs).
LaGrande (in-house / catalog customs, ~1930–1936)LaGrande was essentially a fictitious or “house” brand created by Duesenberg president Harold T. Ames to offer more affordable, catalog-style customs while retaining the prestige of a named coachbuilder. Designs were by Gordon Buehrig (and later Newport). Bodies were typically supplied “in the white” (untrimmed) by production shops such as:
Walter M. Murphy Company (Pasadena, California)
The most prolific independent coachbuilder on the Model J chassis. Murphy produced roughly 100–150+ bodies (sources vary; often cited as the highest volume, with one estimate near 200 including variants) before the firm closed amid the Depression in 1932.
Signature styles: Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupes (the iconic “Murphy Convertible Coupe”), Convertible Sedans/Berlines, Town Cars/Cabriolets, Dual-Cowl Phaetons, and Beverly Sedans. Murphy bodies are renowned for elegant proportions, light construction, and clean lines; many of the most desirable open Duesenbergs wear Murphy coachwork.
Derham Body Company (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)
A long-established Philadelphia-area firm favored by East Coast aristocracy. Derham is particularly associated with the Tourster (a distinctive dual-cowl phaeton/touring design of which eight originals are documented) and other formal or sporting open bodies, Convertible Sedans, and closed cars. Philip Derham also acted as Duesenberg’s official coachbuilders’ representative, helping ensure adherence to factory design standards.
J.B. Judkins Company (Merrimac, Massachusetts)
Specialized almost exclusively in formal closed coachwork. Judkins bodied about 25 Model J chassis (1929–1936), all limousines, berlines, or coupes. These elegant, conservative bodies appealed to clients wanting chauffeur-driven formality rather than sporting open cars.
LeBaron (New York / Detroit)
Produced around 38 bodies for the Model J, including some of the most dramatic Dual-Cowl Phaetons and other sporting designs. LeBaron’s work was highly prestigious; the firm later objected when Duesenberg’s LaGrande name and certain Sweep-Panel designs appeared to echo its own.
Bohman & Schwartz (Pasadena, California)
Formed by two former Murphy employees (Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz) after Murphy’s closure. They became the leading California specialist for Duesenberg work in the mid-to-late 1930s, often modifying or completely rebodying existing chassis for Hollywood clients.
Notable commissions include extensive restyling of the Clark Gable JN Convertible Coupe, the famous “Throne Car” for Father Divine, and various dramatic Art Deco one-offs (sloped radiators, custom fenders, etc.). Many of their Duesenbergs started life with earlier bodies that were later altered or replaced.
Other significant American coachbuilders
A smaller number of chassis (especially those exported) received bodies from firms such as Fernandez et Darrin, Franay, Gurney Nutting, Saoutchik, Hibbard & Darrin, Barker, Kellner, and others. These are rarer and often highly individual.
Summary of the landscape
Murphy dominated open sporting bodies, Rollston and Judkins were strong in both open and formal work (with Rollston especially important late in production), Derham and LeBaron contributed distinctive high-style designs, LaGrande offered factory-controlled catalog options, and Bohman & Schwartz specialized in late-period customization for celebrity clients. The result was extraordinary diversity: from formal town cars and limousines to flamboyant dual-cowl phaetons, disappearing-top convertibles, and unique Hollywood specials.
This coachbuilding ecosystem is a major reason surviving Duesenbergs remain so individual and highly valued today.
No two cars were identical. Below is an overview of the principal coachbuilders beyond Rollston (which supplied 57 bodies for Model J/JN chassis, including all ten JNs).
LaGrande (in-house / catalog customs, ~1930–1936)LaGrande was essentially a fictitious or “house” brand created by Duesenberg president Harold T. Ames to offer more affordable, catalog-style customs while retaining the prestige of a named coachbuilder. Designs were by Gordon Buehrig (and later Newport). Bodies were typically supplied “in the white” (untrimmed) by production shops such as:
- Union City Body Company (Indiana)
- Central Manufacturing Company (Connersville, Indiana—an Auburn/Cord subsidiary; also built the two SSJ roadster bodies)
- A.H. Walker Company (Indianapolis; later Walker-LaGrande)
Walter M. Murphy Company (Pasadena, California)
The most prolific independent coachbuilder on the Model J chassis. Murphy produced roughly 100–150+ bodies (sources vary; often cited as the highest volume, with one estimate near 200 including variants) before the firm closed amid the Depression in 1932.
Signature styles: Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupes (the iconic “Murphy Convertible Coupe”), Convertible Sedans/Berlines, Town Cars/Cabriolets, Dual-Cowl Phaetons, and Beverly Sedans. Murphy bodies are renowned for elegant proportions, light construction, and clean lines; many of the most desirable open Duesenbergs wear Murphy coachwork.
Derham Body Company (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)
A long-established Philadelphia-area firm favored by East Coast aristocracy. Derham is particularly associated with the Tourster (a distinctive dual-cowl phaeton/touring design of which eight originals are documented) and other formal or sporting open bodies, Convertible Sedans, and closed cars. Philip Derham also acted as Duesenberg’s official coachbuilders’ representative, helping ensure adherence to factory design standards.
J.B. Judkins Company (Merrimac, Massachusetts)
Specialized almost exclusively in formal closed coachwork. Judkins bodied about 25 Model J chassis (1929–1936), all limousines, berlines, or coupes. These elegant, conservative bodies appealed to clients wanting chauffeur-driven formality rather than sporting open cars.
LeBaron (New York / Detroit)
Produced around 38 bodies for the Model J, including some of the most dramatic Dual-Cowl Phaetons and other sporting designs. LeBaron’s work was highly prestigious; the firm later objected when Duesenberg’s LaGrande name and certain Sweep-Panel designs appeared to echo its own.
Bohman & Schwartz (Pasadena, California)
Formed by two former Murphy employees (Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz) after Murphy’s closure. They became the leading California specialist for Duesenberg work in the mid-to-late 1930s, often modifying or completely rebodying existing chassis for Hollywood clients.
Notable commissions include extensive restyling of the Clark Gable JN Convertible Coupe, the famous “Throne Car” for Father Divine, and various dramatic Art Deco one-offs (sloped radiators, custom fenders, etc.). Many of their Duesenbergs started life with earlier bodies that were later altered or replaced.
Other significant American coachbuilders
- Holbrook (Hudson, New York) — Early supplier; closed ~1930; some staff (including salesman Hjalmar Holm) moved to Rollston and helped secure Duesenberg orders.
- Walker / Walker-LaGrande — See LaGrande above; also independent work.
- Willoughby, Weymann (fabric bodies), Brunn, Locke, and others supplied smaller numbers of closed or specialized bodies.
- Central Manufacturing / Union City — Primarily for the LaGrande/SSJ program.
A smaller number of chassis (especially those exported) received bodies from firms such as Fernandez et Darrin, Franay, Gurney Nutting, Saoutchik, Hibbard & Darrin, Barker, Kellner, and others. These are rarer and often highly individual.
Summary of the landscape
Murphy dominated open sporting bodies, Rollston and Judkins were strong in both open and formal work (with Rollston especially important late in production), Derham and LeBaron contributed distinctive high-style designs, LaGrande offered factory-controlled catalog options, and Bohman & Schwartz specialized in late-period customization for celebrity clients. The result was extraordinary diversity: from formal town cars and limousines to flamboyant dual-cowl phaetons, disappearing-top convertibles, and unique Hollywood specials.
This coachbuilding ecosystem is a major reason surviving Duesenbergs remain so individual and highly valued today.
1929 Model J Lightweight by Murphy
2021 SOLD for $ 5.7M by RM Sotheby's
In 1926 Duesenberg became a subsidiary of Auburn, owned by Cord. During the next ten years, the three brands manage a concerted effort to master the full range of American luxury cars. In this association, Duesenberg targets the rich and famous.
1929 is a breakthrough year for many reasons. The creation of Cord Corporation streamlines the legal structure of the group. Released in December 1928, the Duesenberg Model J chassis emerges as the best in its class. The Lycoming 420 cubic inch straight-eight engine is producing 265 hp at 4,200 rpm.
The Model J rolling chassis was based on a sturdy ladder frame in alloy steel designed for top performance. Conceived as a competitor to Rolls Royce and Isotta Fraschini, it targeted the wealthy US customers from Hollywood and elsewhere.
Various leading coach builders including Murphy in California, LeBaron in New York and Derham in Philadelphia prepared open bodied Duesenberg cars suitable for enjoying the roads under the American sun and for being better visible by the public.
The pinnacle of the 1929 Model J by Murphy is the Disappearing top torpedo convertible coupe, different from the basic coupe by its tapered speedster boattail. Only two were fitted with a lightweight coachwork in polished bare aluminum.
One of them is in beautiful condition, featuring much of the original aluminum carefully restored for a maximum saving. Its chassis is original but the engine has been replaced by a period correct Duesenberg engine. It was sold for $ 5.7M from a lower estimate of $ 3.5M by RM Sotheby's on May 22, 2021, lot 156. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1929 is a breakthrough year for many reasons. The creation of Cord Corporation streamlines the legal structure of the group. Released in December 1928, the Duesenberg Model J chassis emerges as the best in its class. The Lycoming 420 cubic inch straight-eight engine is producing 265 hp at 4,200 rpm.
The Model J rolling chassis was based on a sturdy ladder frame in alloy steel designed for top performance. Conceived as a competitor to Rolls Royce and Isotta Fraschini, it targeted the wealthy US customers from Hollywood and elsewhere.
Various leading coach builders including Murphy in California, LeBaron in New York and Derham in Philadelphia prepared open bodied Duesenberg cars suitable for enjoying the roads under the American sun and for being better visible by the public.
The pinnacle of the 1929 Model J by Murphy is the Disappearing top torpedo convertible coupe, different from the basic coupe by its tapered speedster boattail. Only two were fitted with a lightweight coachwork in polished bare aluminum.
One of them is in beautiful condition, featuring much of the original aluminum carefully restored for a maximum saving. Its chassis is original but the engine has been replaced by a period correct Duesenberg engine. It was sold for $ 5.7M from a lower estimate of $ 3.5M by RM Sotheby's on May 22, 2021, lot 156. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
1930-(1933) Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy
2021 SOLD for $ 4M by Gooding
Various body types were offered by the Murphy Coach Works company of Walter M. Murphy located in Pasadena in the vicinity of Hollywood. The bodies were handcrafted and no two were exactly alike.
The most luxurious body produced by Murphy for the Duesenberg Model J was the two passenger convertible coupe of which about 60 were made between 1929 and 1932.
A 1929 Duesenberg Model J coachworked by Murphy as a convertible coupe was sold for $ 3.3M on September 3, 2022 by Worldwide Auctioneers, lot 620. It keeps its original engine, body, chassis and firewall.
A basic Convertible coupe from 1929 was sold for $ 2.53M by Morphy on October 11, 2015, lot 37 here linked on the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers. This unrestored car in all original condition is only 33,000 miles from new.
From the same year and maker, a Disappearing top convertible coupe was sold for $ 1.9M by RM Auctions on August 18, 2012, lot 229 and a Cabriolet for € 1.04M by Artcurial on February 8, 2013, lot 381.
A 1930 convertible sedan by Murphy was sold for $ 3.5M by RM Sotheby's on March 5, 2022, lot 154. A 1931 tourster by Derham was sold for $ 3.4M by RM Sotheby's on January 27, 2022, lot 152.
25 convertible coupes made by Murphy on the Duesenberg Model J had from special orders the disappearing top folding down into a low pile behind the seats. This variant is somehow the counterpart of the phaeton designed by LeBaron for the same chassis. With its disappearing side windows, this sleek machine looked like a roadster.
A 1930 Model J bodied as a disappearing top convertible coupe by Murphy had been ordered by the granddaughter of a department store chain. She requested the relocating of the dual spare wheels from the side mounts to the rear, a lovely option that highlights the elegance of the fenders. Only two similar cars had this feature, with one of them still extant. The car was recently reunited with its original rear hub supporting the spare wheels, a piece that had waited such a matching for three decades.
A replacement engine had been fitted after 1953. A specialist of the marque rebuilt it in 2017 in exacting standards meeting the tolerances defined in the factory blueprints. The car won a prestigious 100 point score and a first in Duesenberg class at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
It was sold for $ 4M by Gooding on August 14, 2021, lot 122, and is illustrated in first position in the pre sale press release. It was sold for $ 3.86M on March 2, 2024 by RM Sotheby's, lot 241. The car is titled as a 1933.
The most luxurious body produced by Murphy for the Duesenberg Model J was the two passenger convertible coupe of which about 60 were made between 1929 and 1932.
A 1929 Duesenberg Model J coachworked by Murphy as a convertible coupe was sold for $ 3.3M on September 3, 2022 by Worldwide Auctioneers, lot 620. It keeps its original engine, body, chassis and firewall.
A basic Convertible coupe from 1929 was sold for $ 2.53M by Morphy on October 11, 2015, lot 37 here linked on the bidding platform LiveAuctioneers. This unrestored car in all original condition is only 33,000 miles from new.
From the same year and maker, a Disappearing top convertible coupe was sold for $ 1.9M by RM Auctions on August 18, 2012, lot 229 and a Cabriolet for € 1.04M by Artcurial on February 8, 2013, lot 381.
A 1930 convertible sedan by Murphy was sold for $ 3.5M by RM Sotheby's on March 5, 2022, lot 154. A 1931 tourster by Derham was sold for $ 3.4M by RM Sotheby's on January 27, 2022, lot 152.
25 convertible coupes made by Murphy on the Duesenberg Model J had from special orders the disappearing top folding down into a low pile behind the seats. This variant is somehow the counterpart of the phaeton designed by LeBaron for the same chassis. With its disappearing side windows, this sleek machine looked like a roadster.
A 1930 Model J bodied as a disappearing top convertible coupe by Murphy had been ordered by the granddaughter of a department store chain. She requested the relocating of the dual spare wheels from the side mounts to the rear, a lovely option that highlights the elegance of the fenders. Only two similar cars had this feature, with one of them still extant. The car was recently reunited with its original rear hub supporting the spare wheels, a piece that had waited such a matching for three decades.
A replacement engine had been fitted after 1953. A specialist of the marque rebuilt it in 2017 in exacting standards meeting the tolerances defined in the factory blueprints. The car won a prestigious 100 point score and a first in Duesenberg class at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
It was sold for $ 4M by Gooding on August 14, 2021, lot 122, and is illustrated in first position in the pre sale press release. It was sold for $ 3.86M on March 2, 2024 by RM Sotheby's, lot 241. The car is titled as a 1933.
A Model J was delivered new in 1931 to a grandson of John Roebling of Brooklyn Bridge fame.
Its original body, a LaGrande Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton, was badly damaged in an accident. It was replaced in 1934 by a Murphy Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe and the car was re-titled from that year. Walter M. Murphy had terminated their business in 1932. The plate is nevertheless referring to MURPHY / COACH BUILDERS / PASADENA.
The car is believed to retain its original engine, chassis, and firewall. After a show quality restoration, it had been awarded the Best of show at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club annual meeting in 1986.
It was sold by Gooding for $ 3.75M on August 16, 2024, lot 25. It is illustrated in top position in a 2024 pre sale press release. Back to auction after the death of its new owner, it was sold for $ 3.1M by Gooding Christie's on September 20, 2025, lot 71. It is illustrated on the second photo in a 2025 pre sale press release.
That Murphy is one of two remaining convertible coupes with dual rear mounted spares, the other one being the 1930 example sold for $ 4M by Gooding on August 14, 2021, lot 122.
Its original body, a LaGrande Sweep Panel Dual-Cowl Phaeton, was badly damaged in an accident. It was replaced in 1934 by a Murphy Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe and the car was re-titled from that year. Walter M. Murphy had terminated their business in 1932. The plate is nevertheless referring to MURPHY / COACH BUILDERS / PASADENA.
The car is believed to retain its original engine, chassis, and firewall. After a show quality restoration, it had been awarded the Best of show at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club annual meeting in 1986.
It was sold by Gooding for $ 3.75M on August 16, 2024, lot 25. It is illustrated in top position in a 2024 pre sale press release. Back to auction after the death of its new owner, it was sold for $ 3.1M by Gooding Christie's on September 20, 2025, lot 71. It is illustrated on the second photo in a 2025 pre sale press release.
That Murphy is one of two remaining convertible coupes with dual rear mounted spares, the other one being the 1930 example sold for $ 4M by Gooding on August 14, 2021, lot 122.
One of only two created with rear spares, this comprehensively restored and authenticated 1930 #Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe represents the zenith of West Coast coachbuilding. #PebbleBeachAuctions
— Gooding & Company (@goodingandco) July 10, 2021
-
Register to Bid: https://t.co/cYeef63uUa pic.twitter.com/fikKzK4lgh
1930-(1931) Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe by Murphy
2023 SOLD for $ 4.3M by RM Sotheby's
Murphy did not offer his disappearing top for the Duesenberg factory stock coupes but only as a custom bespoke option.
In a first phase, the top folded down into a pile behind the driver's seat, as for most convertibles of the time. By 1931 the top folded down into a low well behind the seat and was covered by a leather tonneau and later by a metal lid. The folded top associated with the disappearing windows provided the best sporting look to the car, much enjoyed in Hollywood.
A Duesenberg Model J Disappearing top coupe by Murphy made in 1930 but titled 1931 was originally or slightly later finished in a primrose yellow with apple green fenders.
Still in that livery, this eccentric car of the 1930s had a later career in movies and in television series, beginning in 1962 with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane ?, the thriller film that narrated the long term consequences of a car accident in 1935.
The car retains its original chassis, engine and body, and even its matching number crankshaft. After a painstaking three year restoration that earned it a lot of best in class awards, it was sold by RM Sothebys for $ 3.5M on May 2, 2015, lot 244, and for $ 4.3M on March 4, 2023, lot 135. It passed at the same auction house on February 28, 2025, lot 250.
In a first phase, the top folded down into a pile behind the driver's seat, as for most convertibles of the time. By 1931 the top folded down into a low well behind the seat and was covered by a leather tonneau and later by a metal lid. The folded top associated with the disappearing windows provided the best sporting look to the car, much enjoyed in Hollywood.
A Duesenberg Model J Disappearing top coupe by Murphy made in 1930 but titled 1931 was originally or slightly later finished in a primrose yellow with apple green fenders.
Still in that livery, this eccentric car of the 1930s had a later career in movies and in television series, beginning in 1962 with What Ever Happened to Baby Jane ?, the thriller film that narrated the long term consequences of a car accident in 1935.
The car retains its original chassis, engine and body, and even its matching number crankshaft. After a painstaking three year restoration that earned it a lot of best in class awards, it was sold by RM Sothebys for $ 3.5M on May 2, 2015, lot 244, and for $ 4.3M on March 4, 2023, lot 135. It passed at the same auction house on February 28, 2025, lot 250.
The 1931 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy is one of the most iconic and elegant body styles built on the legendary Model J chassis. https://t.co/SmTY2srosg pic.twitter.com/kEMA3qbDM1
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) February 20, 2025
Simply the best of the best. The top surviving Murphy “Disappearing Top” Convertible Coupe headlines the Private Collection offered at Amelia Island. https://t.co/yL0d9eD6Qa pic.twitter.com/w7jPet3mGC
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) February 4, 2023
Undoubtedly one of the best known and most beautiful Duesenbergs was the “Disappearing Top” Convertible Coupe. https://t.co/yL0d9eD6Qa pic.twitter.com/F9MRw7UPCe
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) February 22, 2023
1931 Model J LWB
2011 SOLD for $ 10.3M by Gooding
Captain Whittell was an exuberant American who had preserved his immense fortune by selling his shares just a few days before the financial crash of 1929. Such a character would have some Duesenbergs: he owned no less than six model J's.
At that time, customers bought the chassis and selected the body shop. The choice was great, which gives an infinite variety to Duesenberg vehicles.
The high end was the lengthened Model J chassis (long wheelbase). This huge machine 3.90 m long exceeded by 30 cm the standard (short wheelbase) Model J.
Whittell bought a long wheelbase in 1931 and made it equipped as a coupe by the stylist Franklin Hershey. The result is a surprising example of American Art Deco, including a folding roof that makes this car look like a convertible. The general shape is aerodynamic, anticipating the trend of the automotive design of the later 1930s.
It was sold for $ 10.3M on 20-21 August 2011 by Gooding. Totaling less than 20,000 km, it is in perfect working order.
At that time, customers bought the chassis and selected the body shop. The choice was great, which gives an infinite variety to Duesenberg vehicles.
The high end was the lengthened Model J chassis (long wheelbase). This huge machine 3.90 m long exceeded by 30 cm the standard (short wheelbase) Model J.
Whittell bought a long wheelbase in 1931 and made it equipped as a coupe by the stylist Franklin Hershey. The result is a surprising example of American Art Deco, including a folding roof that makes this car look like a convertible. The general shape is aerodynamic, anticipating the trend of the automotive design of the later 1930s.
It was sold for $ 10.3M on 20-21 August 2011 by Gooding. Totaling less than 20,000 km, it is in perfect working order.
1935
Special Report
Rollston
Rollston was an independent New York coachbuilder that developed a strong commercial relationship with the Cord group’s luxury marques—particularly Duesenberg—without any formal ownership, exclusive contract, or corporate partnership.
BackgroundThe Rollston Company (founded 1921 in Manhattan by Harry Lonschein and partners, later including designer Rudy Creteur) specialized in high-quality custom bodies. Like other independent coachbuilders of the era (Murphy, Derham, LeBaron, etc.), it worked on chassis from many makers. The Cord Corporation (E.L. Cord’s holding company that controlled Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg from the late 1920s) typically sold Model J/SJ chassis as rolling chassis; the buyer (or sometimes the factory/dealer) then commissioned a body from a preferred coachbuilder.
Work with Duesenberg
Rollston became one of the most important external body suppliers for the Model J and JN. According to detailed records, the firm built 57 bodies for Duesenberg Model J and JN chassis. Of these:
A key factor in the volume of Duesenberg work was Hjalmar Holm. After the Holbrook coachbuilding firm entered receivership in 1930, Lonschein hired Holm (Holbrook’s sales manager), who already had established connections with Duesenberg. Holm is credited with securing a significant number of Duesenberg orders for Rollston between 1930 and 1932.
Work with Cord
Rollston also constructed bodies on Cord chassis (listed among the marques it served, alongside Packard—which was its largest overall customer—Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and others). Specific volumes for Cord are lower and less documented than for Duesenberg; the relationship appears to have been opportunistic rather than preferential.
Nature of the co-operationThere was no joint venture, shared ownership, or exclusive arrangement. The relationship followed the classic American luxury-car pattern of the period:
In short, Rollston’s co-operation with the Cord group was a high-volume, high-quality commercial partnership centered on Duesenberg coachwork—making it one of the most significant external body suppliers to the Model J/JN series—rather than any formal corporate alliance.
BackgroundThe Rollston Company (founded 1921 in Manhattan by Harry Lonschein and partners, later including designer Rudy Creteur) specialized in high-quality custom bodies. Like other independent coachbuilders of the era (Murphy, Derham, LeBaron, etc.), it worked on chassis from many makers. The Cord Corporation (E.L. Cord’s holding company that controlled Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg from the late 1920s) typically sold Model J/SJ chassis as rolling chassis; the buyer (or sometimes the factory/dealer) then commissioned a body from a preferred coachbuilder.
Work with Duesenberg
Rollston became one of the most important external body suppliers for the Model J and JN. According to detailed records, the firm built 57 bodies for Duesenberg Model J and JN chassis. Of these:
- 16 Convertible Victorias
- 15 Cabriolets (Town Cars / Landaulets)
- 5 Convertible Coupes
- 4 Convertible Sedans
- 4 Sedans
- 4 Limousines
- plus smaller numbers of other styles (Beverlys, Convertible Berlines, etc.)
A key factor in the volume of Duesenberg work was Hjalmar Holm. After the Holbrook coachbuilding firm entered receivership in 1930, Lonschein hired Holm (Holbrook’s sales manager), who already had established connections with Duesenberg. Holm is credited with securing a significant number of Duesenberg orders for Rollston between 1930 and 1932.
Work with Cord
Rollston also constructed bodies on Cord chassis (listed among the marques it served, alongside Packard—which was its largest overall customer—Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and others). Specific volumes for Cord are lower and less documented than for Duesenberg; the relationship appears to have been opportunistic rather than preferential.
Nature of the co-operationThere was no joint venture, shared ownership, or exclusive arrangement. The relationship followed the classic American luxury-car pattern of the period:
- Cord/Duesenberg supplied the engineered chassis and powertrain.
- Independent New York or California coachbuilders such as Rollston executed custom or semi-custom bodywork to client or factory order.
- Quality and reputation drove repeat business. Rollston’s bodies were noted for robust construction (sometimes described as over-engineered in the carriage-building tradition) and fine finish.
In short, Rollston’s co-operation with the Cord group was a high-volume, high-quality commercial partnership centered on Duesenberg coachwork—making it one of the most significant external body suppliers to the Model J/JN series—rather than any formal corporate alliance.
JN
2026 SOLD for $ 9M by RM Sotheby's
It was logical that the king of Hollywood looked for the king of cars, especially when it happened at the time of the first paparazzi of the cinema. In 1935, Clark Gable bought a Duesenberg JN.
JN is the unofficial name given to ten Duesenberg high-end cars produced in the final year of the brand, all bodied by Rollston but with significant variations: three of them were equipped with the very prestigious Long Wheel Base chassis, and four others were assembled as convertible coupés—the last two-seater open cars delivered by Duesenberg. These late-series refinements of the Model J featured smaller 17-inch wheels, skirted fenders, bullet-shaped taillights, and bodies mounted low on the frame rails for a more modern stance, while retaining the 420-cubic-inch Lycoming dual-overhead-cam straight-eight of 265 horsepower.
To be visible from his admirers and leaving nothing in hide from his romantic affair with Carole Lombard, Gable chose the convertible. This celebrity couple used this car extensively on California coastal roads and trips as far as Vancouver. Gable even commissioned some improvements to another coachworker: the car was shipped from Rollston in New York directly to Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, where he collaborated with designer W. Everett Miller, sketching the changes himself. The hood was extended over the cowl, biplane-style ventilators were added, the windshield was further raked with a matching lower top, the radiator shell was painted body color, and rear fender skirts with dual rear spares completed the bespoke transformation. In 1938, it will star in the movie Merrily We Live (temporarily finished in dark water-soluble paint).
After Lombard’s death in 1942 the car was sold outside California at Gable’s request. Later restored under the care of Sam and Emily Mann to its original Gable-delivery specification, it earned Best of Show at Amelia Island and Meadowbrook, the Gwenn Graham Trophy at Pebble Beach, and further concours honors while remaining fully driveable.
The Duesy of Gable and Lombard passed on August 19, 2012 at Gooding in Pebble Beach, where bidding reached $6.4 million but the car did not sell against a reserve (estimate in excess of $9 million). It is in very good working condition, as seen in the video shared by the auction house. It is driven therein by David Gooding.
Sold for $ 9,080,000 as Lot 122 from The Sam and Emily Mann Collection at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction on 13 August 2026 (estimate $5,750,000–$8,000,000), this 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe by Rollston and Bohman & Schwartz—engine J-560, chassis 2585—remains among the most beautiful, historic, and romantic of all Duesenbergs.
The Duesenberg Model JN (unofficial designation) represents a late-production refinement of the Model J, with only 10 examples built in 1935, all carrying Rollston coachwork.
These were among the final cars of the brand (production of the Model J series ran 1928–1937, totaling roughly 480–481 units including SJs). The JN was an attempt to modernize the aging design with a lower, more contemporary stance while retaining the core Model J mechanicals: the 420 cu in (6.9 L) Lycoming DOHC straight-eight (four valves per cylinder) producing 265 hp, three-speed manual, hydraulic brakes, etc.
Key JN features and breakthrough relative to the standard Model J
Auction market context for JNsRealized prices vary widely by body style, provenance, and condition. Examples include:
Focus: The ex-Clark Gable 1935 Model JN Convertible Coupe (Engine J-560 / Firewall/Chassis 2585)
This is one of the four Rollston convertible coupes in the JN series.
History and Bohman & Schwartz preparation
Gable ordered the car as a Rollston convertible coupe—the last of the two-seater open Duesenbergs. It was shipped from Rollston in New York directly to Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, the preferred coachbuilder of the Hollywood colony. Gable worked hands-on with their designer W. Everett Miller, sketching changes himself. These were translated into paper drawings and a clay model.
Modifications included:
Use by Gable and Lombard, and movie appearance
The car became central to Gable’s public image; numerous studio promotional photographs show him with it. He and Lombard used it extensively for coastal drives in California and trips as far as Vancouver (Lansdowne Park racetrack). They married in 1939.
In 1938 it appeared (temporarily painted a dark water-soluble color) in the Hal Roach film Merrily We Live with Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett.
After Lombard’s death in a 1942 plane crash, the car was stored at Lansdowne Park. Gable never wanted to see it again and had it sold outside California. Subsequent owners included enthusiasts and dealers; the engine of J-521 was later installed while the original J-560 numbered bell-housing was retained. It passed through various hands (including periods in the Blackhawk Collection) before Sam and Emily Mann acquired it in 2005.
Restoration, awards, and recent history
The Manns commissioned a full restoration by Stone Barn (Vienna, NJ) to original Gable-delivery specification, aided by original upholstery samples from restorer Joe Kaufmann and deep historical research. Debuted at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Duesenberg featured marque), it won the Gwenn Graham Trophy for Most Elegant Convertible. Further honors include Best of Show at Meadowbrook and Amelia Island (both 2008), participation in the 2010 ACD Club National Reunion, class award at Pebble Beach 2018, and display at the Concours d’Elegance of America (2018, when the Manns were Collectors of the Year). It has also been driven on multiple Duesenberg Tours organized by Sam Mann and was featured in “The Art of the Automobile” at the High Museum in Atlanta.
It retains its original numbered J-560 bell-housing; the Manns have also acquired the original numbered crankshaft (to accompany the car). Condition is excellent, prepared for both showing and driving.
JN is the unofficial name given to ten Duesenberg high-end cars produced in the final year of the brand, all bodied by Rollston but with significant variations: three of them were equipped with the very prestigious Long Wheel Base chassis, and four others were assembled as convertible coupés—the last two-seater open cars delivered by Duesenberg. These late-series refinements of the Model J featured smaller 17-inch wheels, skirted fenders, bullet-shaped taillights, and bodies mounted low on the frame rails for a more modern stance, while retaining the 420-cubic-inch Lycoming dual-overhead-cam straight-eight of 265 horsepower.
To be visible from his admirers and leaving nothing in hide from his romantic affair with Carole Lombard, Gable chose the convertible. This celebrity couple used this car extensively on California coastal roads and trips as far as Vancouver. Gable even commissioned some improvements to another coachworker: the car was shipped from Rollston in New York directly to Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, where he collaborated with designer W. Everett Miller, sketching the changes himself. The hood was extended over the cowl, biplane-style ventilators were added, the windshield was further raked with a matching lower top, the radiator shell was painted body color, and rear fender skirts with dual rear spares completed the bespoke transformation. In 1938, it will star in the movie Merrily We Live (temporarily finished in dark water-soluble paint).
After Lombard’s death in 1942 the car was sold outside California at Gable’s request. Later restored under the care of Sam and Emily Mann to its original Gable-delivery specification, it earned Best of Show at Amelia Island and Meadowbrook, the Gwenn Graham Trophy at Pebble Beach, and further concours honors while remaining fully driveable.
The Duesy of Gable and Lombard passed on August 19, 2012 at Gooding in Pebble Beach, where bidding reached $6.4 million but the car did not sell against a reserve (estimate in excess of $9 million). It is in very good working condition, as seen in the video shared by the auction house. It is driven therein by David Gooding.
Sold for $ 9,080,000 as Lot 122 from The Sam and Emily Mann Collection at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction on 13 August 2026 (estimate $5,750,000–$8,000,000), this 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe by Rollston and Bohman & Schwartz—engine J-560, chassis 2585—remains among the most beautiful, historic, and romantic of all Duesenbergs.
The Duesenberg Model JN (unofficial designation) represents a late-production refinement of the Model J, with only 10 examples built in 1935, all carrying Rollston coachwork.
These were among the final cars of the brand (production of the Model J series ran 1928–1937, totaling roughly 480–481 units including SJs). The JN was an attempt to modernize the aging design with a lower, more contemporary stance while retaining the core Model J mechanicals: the 420 cu in (6.9 L) Lycoming DOHC straight-eight (four valves per cylinder) producing 265 hp, three-speed manual, hydraulic brakes, etc.
Key JN features and breakthrough relative to the standard Model J
- Smaller 17-inch wheels (vs. the earlier 19-inch).
- Skirted fenders.
- Bullet-shaped taillights.
- Bodies mounted lower, directly on the frame rails (eliminating the raised appearance and the earlier external battery/tool boxes so doors could close over the frame).
- Redesigned running gear/fenders/running boards to accept wider, lower bodies.
Auction market context for JNsRealized prices vary widely by body style, provenance, and condition. Examples include:
- A 1935 JN Convertible Sedan by Rollston sold for $1,346,000 (including buyer’s premium) on Bring a Trailer in 2021—then a record for the model and the highest price on that platform.
- Prior JN record around $962,500 (RM Sotheby’s Auburn 2010).
- A 1935 JN Long-Wheelbase Berline sold for $594,000 (Gooding Amelia Island 2013).
Focus: The ex-Clark Gable 1935 Model JN Convertible Coupe (Engine J-560 / Firewall/Chassis 2585)
This is one of the four Rollston convertible coupes in the JN series.
History and Bohman & Schwartz preparation
Gable ordered the car as a Rollston convertible coupe—the last of the two-seater open Duesenbergs. It was shipped from Rollston in New York directly to Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, the preferred coachbuilder of the Hollywood colony. Gable worked hands-on with their designer W. Everett Miller, sketching changes himself. These were translated into paper drawings and a clay model.
Modifications included:
- Extending the hoodline over the cowl (in the manner of Dietrich Individual Custom Packards).
- Installing cowl ventilators (inspired by early biplanes).
- Aggressively further raking the windshield a few degrees and designing a new, lower disappearing top to match (in a transitional color that blended with the body).
- Painting the radiator shell body color for an elongated look.
- Adding rear fender skirts, dual rear-mounted spares, and body-color wheel covers.
Use by Gable and Lombard, and movie appearance
The car became central to Gable’s public image; numerous studio promotional photographs show him with it. He and Lombard used it extensively for coastal drives in California and trips as far as Vancouver (Lansdowne Park racetrack). They married in 1939.
In 1938 it appeared (temporarily painted a dark water-soluble color) in the Hal Roach film Merrily We Live with Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett.
After Lombard’s death in a 1942 plane crash, the car was stored at Lansdowne Park. Gable never wanted to see it again and had it sold outside California. Subsequent owners included enthusiasts and dealers; the engine of J-521 was later installed while the original J-560 numbered bell-housing was retained. It passed through various hands (including periods in the Blackhawk Collection) before Sam and Emily Mann acquired it in 2005.
Restoration, awards, and recent history
The Manns commissioned a full restoration by Stone Barn (Vienna, NJ) to original Gable-delivery specification, aided by original upholstery samples from restorer Joe Kaufmann and deep historical research. Debuted at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Duesenberg featured marque), it won the Gwenn Graham Trophy for Most Elegant Convertible. Further honors include Best of Show at Meadowbrook and Amelia Island (both 2008), participation in the 2010 ACD Club National Reunion, class award at Pebble Beach 2018, and display at the Concours d’Elegance of America (2018, when the Manns were Collectors of the Year). It has also been driven on multiple Duesenberg Tours organized by Sam Mann and was featured in “The Art of the Automobile” at the High Museum in Atlanta.
It retains its original numbered J-560 bell-housing; the Manns have also acquired the original numbered crankshaft (to accompany the car). Condition is excellent, prepared for both showing and driving.
Built for Clark Gable and restyled to his own sketches by Bohman & Schwartz, this Duesenberg Model JN was a truly bespoke expression of “The King of Hollywood.”
— RM Sotheby's (@rmsothebys) August 8, 2026
Gable and Carole Lombard used the car extensively, and it became inseparable from their life together. Meticulously… pic.twitter.com/Bx2SHOPMH4
SSJ
2018 SOLD for $ 22M by Gooding
In May 1935 the management of Duesenberg recognizes the commercial failure of their high-end chassis, the Model J released in 1928. EL Cord, boss of the group that owns Duesenberg, launches a project that could save the brand : create the best car in two units to be entrusted respectively to Gary Cooper and Clark Gable. This Duesenberg Special Speedster will be identified from 1951 with the reference SSJ.
The brand's chief designer, J. Herbert Newport, plans to use on a shortened chassis the powerful Duesenberg Special 400 hp eight-cylinder in-line engine under development. The stars give their opinion. An enthusiast about luxury cars, Gary Cooper is appealed by the unprecedented performance of the future model but prefers that this roadster looks like a classic Duesenberg. Newport gives up the idea of a modernist body.
The two cars are provided to the actors in December 1935 for a long-term loan. Cooper's wife, Sandra Shaw, immediately has sent their car back to the factory for changing the color.
Six months later the two stars receive a proposal to buy their car at one-third the price of an ordinary Model J. Cooper accepts. Gable is not interested : he already owns one of the ten units of the Duesenberg JN also produced in 1935.
Cooper and Gable did not make the spectacular use that Cord was waiting for. We do not know when Cooper sold his car. Cord could have anticipated that it is not so easy to use the capricious Hollywood celebrities as advertising agents for luxury cars. Already in 1934 Mae West had refused the project of a SJ Town Car designed especially for her by Duesenberg.
There will be no other SSJ. Its supercharged engine was only used on these two cars and temporarily on the one-off Special ordered by Ab Jenkins to race the land speed record in Bonneville.
Little used, Gary Cooper's SSJ has only 20,000 miles on the clock. It had only two owners since 1949, Briggs Cunningham and Miles Collier. Historian of automotive technology and tall ships, Collier wisely prefers to preserve the old cars rather than to restore them. This SSJ has kept intact its original chassis, engine and body and even has the canvas of its folding roof. It was sold for $ 22M from a lower estimate of $ 10M by Gooding on August 24, 2018, lot 35.
The car is driven and narrated by David Gooding in the video shared by the auction house.
The brand's chief designer, J. Herbert Newport, plans to use on a shortened chassis the powerful Duesenberg Special 400 hp eight-cylinder in-line engine under development. The stars give their opinion. An enthusiast about luxury cars, Gary Cooper is appealed by the unprecedented performance of the future model but prefers that this roadster looks like a classic Duesenberg. Newport gives up the idea of a modernist body.
The two cars are provided to the actors in December 1935 for a long-term loan. Cooper's wife, Sandra Shaw, immediately has sent their car back to the factory for changing the color.
Six months later the two stars receive a proposal to buy their car at one-third the price of an ordinary Model J. Cooper accepts. Gable is not interested : he already owns one of the ten units of the Duesenberg JN also produced in 1935.
Cooper and Gable did not make the spectacular use that Cord was waiting for. We do not know when Cooper sold his car. Cord could have anticipated that it is not so easy to use the capricious Hollywood celebrities as advertising agents for luxury cars. Already in 1934 Mae West had refused the project of a SJ Town Car designed especially for her by Duesenberg.
There will be no other SSJ. Its supercharged engine was only used on these two cars and temporarily on the one-off Special ordered by Ab Jenkins to race the land speed record in Bonneville.
Little used, Gary Cooper's SSJ has only 20,000 miles on the clock. It had only two owners since 1949, Briggs Cunningham and Miles Collier. Historian of automotive technology and tall ships, Collier wisely prefers to preserve the old cars rather than to restore them. This SSJ has kept intact its original chassis, engine and body and even has the canvas of its folding roof. It was sold for $ 22M from a lower estimate of $ 10M by Gooding on August 24, 2018, lot 35.
The car is driven and narrated by David Gooding in the video shared by the auction house.
Model J Convertible Coupe by Rollston
2022 SOLD for $ 4.7M by RM Sotheby's
In the last phase before the collapse of the Cord group, Rollston had become a major supplier of luxury automobile bodies for the Duesies, including the 10 cars unofficially referred as variant JN with which the brand tried in 1935 to revive the interest of the celebrities. This coachbuilder operated in New York.
A Duesenberg long wheelbase Model J made in 1935 was fitted with an earlier Rollston two passenger convertible coupe body. That bodywork had been was made in 1933 for an SJ. Its owner was not comfortable driving her supercharged Duesy and had it transferred to that Model J where it still remains.
The car was still in her ownership when the German occupants stole the wheels and tires. She sold it a few years later to a Frenchman who took it to Cuba but died just after his arrival. It was from 1967 a flagship of the Adderley collection.
Its disappearing top is a one of a kind from Rollston, although they also later made four convertible coupes in the JN series. Its highly elegant lines are nevertheless in the continuation of the convertible coupes made by Murphy for the Model J.
It was sold for $ 4.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2022, lot 252. Its chassis, engine and firewall are also in matching numbers.
The last car that Duesenberg commissioned to Rollston was a long 153.5 inch wheelbase Model J prepared as an opulent convertible berline for the 1936 New York Auto Show. It had the highest price tag in the show, at $ 17,000, and was purchased by the president of Coca-Cola. It was later owned by a jazz musician for nearly half a century. This 487th and last Model J was sold for $ 2.7M by Mecum on August 20, 2020, lot S37.
A victim in its turn of the financial crisis, Rollston went bankrupt in 1938.
A Duesenberg long wheelbase Model J made in 1935 was fitted with an earlier Rollston two passenger convertible coupe body. That bodywork had been was made in 1933 for an SJ. Its owner was not comfortable driving her supercharged Duesy and had it transferred to that Model J where it still remains.
The car was still in her ownership when the German occupants stole the wheels and tires. She sold it a few years later to a Frenchman who took it to Cuba but died just after his arrival. It was from 1967 a flagship of the Adderley collection.
Its disappearing top is a one of a kind from Rollston, although they also later made four convertible coupes in the JN series. Its highly elegant lines are nevertheless in the continuation of the convertible coupes made by Murphy for the Model J.
It was sold for $ 4.7M from a lower estimate of $ 4M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2022, lot 252. Its chassis, engine and firewall are also in matching numbers.
The last car that Duesenberg commissioned to Rollston was a long 153.5 inch wheelbase Model J prepared as an opulent convertible berline for the 1936 New York Auto Show. It had the highest price tag in the show, at $ 17,000, and was purchased by the president of Coca-Cola. It was later owned by a jazz musician for nearly half a century. This 487th and last Model J was sold for $ 2.7M by Mecum on August 20, 2020, lot S37.
A victim in its turn of the financial crisis, Rollston went bankrupt in 1938.
SJ Convertible Coupe by Walker-LaGrande
2013 SOLD for $ 4.5M by RM Auctions
Both from a technical and aesthetic point of view, cars are constantly changing throughout the 1930s. A brand that targets the absolute upscale must evolve its models continuously. By 1932 the SJ is a Model J fitted with a supercharged engine, with a top speed at 220 km/h.
J. Herbert Newport is entrusted by Duesenberg to fit a modernized body on the model J chassis. His masterpiece is a convertible coupe with the top of the doors in alignment with the front and back covers.
Three cars were coachworked on this model by a workshop of Indianapolis, AH Walker Body Company, which seems to have worked primarily, or even exclusively, for the Cord group during its short period of activity. Walker was one of the craftsmen to whom Cord granted the LaGrande label as a mark for their bodywork.
One of these three cars was mounted on the Duesenberg SJ variant. This specimen made in 1935 is thus representing the culmination of this prestigious brand. This car was sold for $ 4.5M on March 9, 2013 by RM Auctions, lot 137. Here is the link to the release shared by Sports Car Digest.
This unique Duesenberg SJ Walker-LaGrande convertible coupe must be placed in its historical chronology.
Duesenberg soon loses the game, not because of the design but by failing to change in due time the specifications of the chassis.
The market is caught by Mercedes-Benz with their new model 540K, offering of course a wide range of bodies. The masterpiece of Hermann Ahrens, the 540K Spezial Roadster, has the same styling as the Walker-LaGrande convertible coupe.
Which one had imitated the other? Note that the 540K Spezial Roadster of the Baroness von Krieger, sold for $ 11.8M by Gooding in 2012, is dated 1936, one year after the Duesenberg Walker-LaGrande.
J. Herbert Newport is entrusted by Duesenberg to fit a modernized body on the model J chassis. His masterpiece is a convertible coupe with the top of the doors in alignment with the front and back covers.
Three cars were coachworked on this model by a workshop of Indianapolis, AH Walker Body Company, which seems to have worked primarily, or even exclusively, for the Cord group during its short period of activity. Walker was one of the craftsmen to whom Cord granted the LaGrande label as a mark for their bodywork.
One of these three cars was mounted on the Duesenberg SJ variant. This specimen made in 1935 is thus representing the culmination of this prestigious brand. This car was sold for $ 4.5M on March 9, 2013 by RM Auctions, lot 137. Here is the link to the release shared by Sports Car Digest.
This unique Duesenberg SJ Walker-LaGrande convertible coupe must be placed in its historical chronology.
Duesenberg soon loses the game, not because of the design but by failing to change in due time the specifications of the chassis.
The market is caught by Mercedes-Benz with their new model 540K, offering of course a wide range of bodies. The masterpiece of Hermann Ahrens, the 540K Spezial Roadster, has the same styling as the Walker-LaGrande convertible coupe.
Which one had imitated the other? Note that the 540K Spezial Roadster of the Baroness von Krieger, sold for $ 11.8M by Gooding in 2012, is dated 1936, one year after the Duesenberg Walker-LaGrande.
Model J Torpedo Phaeton by Walker-LaGrande
2025 SOLD for $ 4.4M by RM Sotheby's
In 1935 while Duesenberg was looking for new ideas for modernizing their models, a young gentleman with great wealth stated in a detailed letter his desire for a car to match his own ideas : a body mingling luxury and sport with a convertible sedan’s features and the lines of a dual cowl phaeton, with roll-up windows and a folding top.
The project of a torpedo phaeton was executed by the in house designer Gordon Buehrig. The young man immediately accepted the very expensive quote.
Five cars were built, the original by Brunn for the young patron, then a pair by Weymann and another pair by AH Walker with the label Walker-LaGrande.
One of the Walker-LaGrande Model J torpedo phaetons,was immediately featured in a comedy film titled $ 1,000 a Minute. Retaining its original chassis, engine, firewall and coachwork, it was sold for $ 4.4M by RM Sotheby's on August 15, 2025, lot 157.
The project of a torpedo phaeton was executed by the in house designer Gordon Buehrig. The young man immediately accepted the very expensive quote.
Five cars were built, the original by Brunn for the young patron, then a pair by Weymann and another pair by AH Walker with the label Walker-LaGrande.
One of the Walker-LaGrande Model J torpedo phaetons,was immediately featured in a comedy film titled $ 1,000 a Minute. Retaining its original chassis, engine, firewall and coachwork, it was sold for $ 4.4M by RM Sotheby's on August 15, 2025, lot 157.
SJ Speedster, the Mormon Meteor
2004 SOLD for $ 4.25M by Gooding
In 1935 Duesenberg appreciated the risk to loose the market of the high end US car. Their innovations were unprecedented, including the SSJ designed for Hollywood stars, the modernized body by Newport and the ultimate racing car.
The latter example was a supercharged long wheelbase SJ racer without doors designed by Herbert Newport with a special care for aerodynamics including unusual curves. The rear has a tapered tail and the tires are covered with fenders. It was fitted with a 420 cubic inch inline eight cylinder engine producing 400 hp, to be compared with the 320 hp of a basic SJ.
This special was the fastest and most powerful Duesenberg car. It was driven to a 24 hour land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, covering 3,253 miles at the third attempt, which is 217 km/h. 'Captain' Eyston broke this record the day after with his custom designed Speed of the Wind.
The SJ was purchased by Ab Jenkins who was the manager and top driver of the Bonneville endurance trials. It was fitted for Jenkins with a mammoth Curtiss Conqueror V12 aircraft engine. It soon retrieved the 12 hour and 24 hour records, adding to them the 48 hour record.
Jenkins was an exceptional safety driver who amassed nearly 3 million miles without an accident in 50 years of driving.
The car was nicknamed the Mormon Meteor in a contest by a local newspaper. It was retired in 1938 and the V12 was replaced by its original V8 Special which was later rebuilt.
The Mormon Meteor was sold for $ 4.25M by Gooding in August 2004, lot 37. It is described and illustrated by ConceptCarz. Its image at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shared by Wikimedia with attribution Simon Davison from Los Gatos, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>
The latter example was a supercharged long wheelbase SJ racer without doors designed by Herbert Newport with a special care for aerodynamics including unusual curves. The rear has a tapered tail and the tires are covered with fenders. It was fitted with a 420 cubic inch inline eight cylinder engine producing 400 hp, to be compared with the 320 hp of a basic SJ.
This special was the fastest and most powerful Duesenberg car. It was driven to a 24 hour land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, covering 3,253 miles at the third attempt, which is 217 km/h. 'Captain' Eyston broke this record the day after with his custom designed Speed of the Wind.
The SJ was purchased by Ab Jenkins who was the manager and top driver of the Bonneville endurance trials. It was fitted for Jenkins with a mammoth Curtiss Conqueror V12 aircraft engine. It soon retrieved the 12 hour and 24 hour records, adding to them the 48 hour record.
Jenkins was an exceptional safety driver who amassed nearly 3 million miles without an accident in 50 years of driving.
The car was nicknamed the Mormon Meteor in a contest by a local newspaper. It was retired in 1938 and the V12 was replaced by its original V8 Special which was later rebuilt.
The Mormon Meteor was sold for $ 4.25M by Gooding in August 2004, lot 37. It is described and illustrated by ConceptCarz. Its image at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is shared by Wikimedia with attribution Simon Davison from Los Gatos, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>
