Duesenberg Model J Torpedo... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 01-05-2014, 09:04 PM

Going across the block in Central Florida soon. 7 figures expected.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton Upgraded Coachwork by Fran Roxas of Chicago for sale by Mecum Auction

I'd have a hard time choosing between this and a 500k.

Hatterasguy · #2 01-05-2014, 09:14 PM

If I hit the powerball for $630M+ or whatever it was I'd race Jay Leno to see who could buy the most Duesenbergs!

As Jay Leno said the Duesenberg is still the best car in the world.

nate300d · #3 01-06-2014, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

As Jay Leno said the Duesenberg is still the best car in the world.

One thing to consider with any Duesenberg, whether it be a Model A, X, or J, is that Fred was always thinking racing in all of his work. A Model J is really a giant race car, however, the engine build quality is not as good as compared to a Model A or Model X. Realize that the Model J was build after E.L. Cord purchased Duesenberg. Fred Duesenberg was concerned about quality, Cord was concerned about making money. The Model J engine was built by Lycoming. Not that the construction was bad, but not as good as the engines made by Duesenberg.

FYI....the ride of a Duesenberg Model J is VERY intoxicating. The power is commanding. The snob factor is out of this world. They are a bad a** car.

nate300d · #4 01-06-2014, 09:50 PM

I do not know how many exist (I am guessing less than 5) but if you want a non-Duesenberg with a Duesenberg engine look for a ReVere. ReVere is another of the gems of Indiana. Made in Logansport, Indiana the ReVere used a 4 cylinder Duesenberg racing engine for a while to power them. Just don't expect to find much support in maintaining one. The ReVere is one of the makes that are targeted for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum to acquire.

MS Fowler · #5 01-07-2014, 07:23 AM

I saw a bare chassis at Hershey a few years ago, and was surprised to see the same rag joints in the drive shaft as our Mercedes. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised as a good idea is still a good idea.

elchivito · #6 01-07-2014, 07:45 AM

Am I reading the description correctly, the body has been re-done?

Mölyapina · #7 01-07-2014, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Am I reading the description correctly, the body has been re-done?

Looks like it. I suppose that part isn't considered as grave a sin as it sounds since the original body would not have been from Duesenberg either?

t walgamuth · #8 01-07-2014, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Looks like it. I suppose that part isn't considered as grave a sin as it sounds since the original body would not have been from Duesenberg either?

yes. on a car like this where the factory builds only the chassis a correct but non original body does not impact value much.

Hatterasguy · #9 01-07-2014, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Looks like it. I suppose that part isn't considered as grave a sin as it sounds since the original body would not have been from Duesenberg either?

Rebodying a car was pretty normal back in the day. Bentley, Bugatti, etc were all commonly rebodied.

A lot of times limo's were turned into more sport models.

This is actually a Duesenberg, when you wrote your big check to them that's all you got. Than you would take it to Murphy for example to have the body of your choosing fitted.

Idle · #10 01-07-2014, 01:04 PM

A story told to me about fifty years ago by an old guy that worked on high dollar cars:

During that era, if you had that kind of money, you had someone who drove you around and maintained the car or cars you owned. It was common for this person to pick out the chassis and the owner to pick out the body. I don't get into the whole private jet thing but I understand that is the norm today in that market with the pilot picking the aircraft and the owner picking the interior.

Every high dollar car company did this, and there were rumors then that some dealers would offer a kickback to the chassis buyer if that would seal the deal.

Duesenberg was known far and wide to be a company that did not allow this practice. Perhaps that is why so few of them were sold?

Idle · #11 01-07-2014, 01:07 PM

Perhaps two years or so ago there was a four part series on some cable net that went into Leno's search for a Duesenberg in New York that was said to be parked in some downtown garage. He finally found it and had it restored at a cost of, I think, two million.

If that figure is correct then $1.5 million would be a good deal.

t walgamuth · #12 01-07-2014, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle

A story told to me about fifty years ago by an old guy that worked on high dollar cars:

During that era, if you had that kind of money, you had someone who drove you around and maintained the car or cars you owned. It was common for this person to pick out the chassis and the owner to pick out the body. I don't get into the whole private jet thing but I understand that is the norm today in that market with the pilot picking the aircraft and the owner picking the interior.

Every high dollar car company did this, and there were rumors then that some dealers would offer a kickback to the chassis buyer if that would seal the deal.

Duesenberg was known far and wide to be a company that did not allow this practice. Perhaps that is why so few of them were sold?

that and the $15,000 price for a chassis when a ford could be bought for $600.

Hatterasguy · #13 01-07-2014, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idle

Perhaps two years or so ago there was a four part series on some cable net that went into Leno's search for a Duesenberg in New York that was said to be parked in some downtown garage. He finally found it and had it restored at a cost of, I think, two million.

If that figure is correct then $1.5 million would be a good deal.

I think Jay has 8 or 9 of them, probably one of the best Duesenberg collections in the world I would think.

I know one is unrestored and one is a custom super expensive one off that even by 1930's custom car standards was extreme.

Jay has several of the boxy limo's which are more valuable now because everyone cut them up in the 1940's to make speedsters.

Hatterasguy · #14 01-07-2014, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

that and the $15,000 price for a chassis when a ford could be bought for $600.

Jay Leno's streamlined example was rumored to have cost well north of $25k...during the height of the Great Depression...

I guess a modern equivalent would be like a very custom $5m Veyron.

rscurtis · #15 01-07-2014, 03:43 PM

Take a look at this 1/6 scale model. I saw this in the flesh at Cabin Fever in York, PA several years ago. I understand the build time approached 20,000 hours.
Duesenberg SJ Miniature Engine Running by Louis Chenot, 1/6 scale model video - SmokStak