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Posts: 13,371
Registered: April 2008
Location: Woodstock, GA
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1933 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
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1
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855
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June 19, 2009
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Auction Results
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Description:
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1933 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
Worldwide Group Auctions
The Houston Classic Auction
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Website: www.wwgauctions.com
Lot # 57
420 cid twin overhead camshaft inline eight-cylinder rated at 265 horsepower, three-speed transmission, front beam axle, live rear axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, vacuum assisted four-wheel hydraulic brakes; wheelbase: 142.5"
CHASSIS NO: 2355
Coachwork by La Grande, ACD Certified Category One, Multiple Award Winner
In the November 17, 1928, issue of The Saturday Evening Post, Duesenberg, Inc. published a full-page all-text advertisement.
Under the heading "E.L. Cord Announces Plans for Duesenberg" it said in part:
"This interesting announcement has been awaited for more than two years. Even now it would be delayed, if Mr. Cord and his engineers could conceive of any possible way in which to improve upon the new Duesenberg in either kind or degree."
"Suffice it to say Mr. Cord's aim is for America unquestionably to lead Europe in producing the world's finest automobile."
"'this new Duesenberg ' is built to win, through sheer merit, world wide recognition for absolute superiority in every way over every other automobile on earth."
"Such a motor car cannot be measured by ordinary standards."
"Now, the fruition of [Fred Duesenberg's] years of concentration represent an achievement in which every American may justly take pride."
Over eighty years later those words still ring true. The Duesenberg Model J was so powerful, so fast, so magnificently designed, so finely built from the best materials by the most dedicated craftsmen that even the notoriously hyperbolic advertising of the day, even E.L. Cord's famously generous characterizations, did not overstate the attributes of the Duesenberg Model J. The Duesenberg Model J was introduced on December 1, 1928, at the New York Auto Salon. It was the most powerful automobile in America - by a factor of two. Its short chassis wheelbase was longer than all but four other luxury marquesï¾’ long wheelbase models. The long wheelbase Duesenberg J was by far the largest production chassis in the world, exceeding all but the rare Daimler N45 and Ettore Bugatti's fabulous Type 41 Royale, neither of which came close to the Duesenberg's power. Designed by one of the authentic geniuses of the automobile's early history, Fred Duesenberg, the Model J combined Fred's instinctive vision for what was right, original, refined, and efficient with Errett Lobban Cord's genius for the right vehicle, aimed at the right market, offered at the right time.
The next Duesenberg advertising appeared in House & Garden in March 1929. It was headed simply:
"The World's Best Motor Car".
The text was short and to the point:
"The world's finest automobile, the new Duesenberg, has 265 horsepower. Its entire construction is proportionately strong, thereby insuring greatest safety, endurance and absolute dominion. It excels equally in every other respect. Chassis $8,500."
In early 1929, $8,500 would buy the most expensive Cadillac or Packard complete with its most luxurious, opulent, flamboyant catalogue custom coachwork and leave enough change on the table for a very comfortable Buick. The Duesenberg J buyer got the chassis only for that price, and the chance to negotiate with the best coachbuilders for an appropriate - and appropriately expensive - body to complement it. It was an automobile surrounded by superlatives, not only in size and cost but also in its design and concept. E.L. Cord determined that it should be capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph with the largest, most luxurious formal coachwork. He challenged Fred Duesenberg to create an automobile that would accelerate, corner and brake not just better than its most exotic competition, but far better. Fred Duesenberg, to whom competition was a way of life and winning was a habit, more than delivered.
In both aggressive appearance and particularly in the elemental sound of its massive inline eight-cylinder engine, the presence of a Duesenberg was immediate, visceral, and imposing. It was accentuated by the coachwork. Most Duesenbergs were delivered in chassis form to be clothed in custom or semi-custom coachwork by the finest coachbuilders in the United States. Duesenberg depended particularly on Walter M. Murphy in Pasadena. Le Baron, Willoughby, Derham, and Rollston all built multiple bodies for Duesenberg Model Js, producing in the process the most distinctive, beautiful, and creative coachwork that ever graced any chassis. American or foreign, formal, sports, open, or closed. The qualities of the Duesenberg Model J, its proportions and its performance, inspired coachbuilders to new heights of imagination and creativity.
While Duesenberg relied upon Murphy for the coachwork on many of its demonstrators and show cars the firm also had its own designers, notably Gordon Buehrig. As the Model J got into production Duesenberg encountered the same situation which had induced Rolls-Royce to establish its own coachworks upon setting up production in Springfield, Massachusetts, a decade before. Americans, even wealthy Americans it turned out, were impetuous purchasers. When they saw something they liked and they had the resources to buy it they wanted it without waiting. The time it took to design, fabricate, paint, trim, and mount custom bodywork was unacceptable in their fast-paced lifestyles. Waiting until next week, let alone next month, was sufficient to send them looking elsewhere even if it meant settling for something less imposing, powerful, and luxurious than a Duesenberg Model J. In response Duesenberg began to order "bodies in white," completely finished coachwork shells that needed only painting, trimming, and mounting before they could be delivered. The first supplier was Union City Body, an established supplier of Auburn and Cord and subsidiary of the Cord Corporation. Rather than break the pattern of identifying designs by their coachbuilders' names Duesenberg created the name La Grande to identify the bodies in white from Union City. Later the practice expanded to include bodies bought in small batches from other suppliers including Weymann, Walker, and Brunn. The most prolific of them was, naturally, Union City, and the Union City coachwork, along with examples from other coachbuilders, came from the gifted pen of Gordon Buehrig.
The finest examples of La Grande coachwork are the nineteen or so phaetons such as this outstanding example. Certified by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club as a Level One original example, it is one of just fourteen Union City phaetons built for the Duesenberg 142 1/2" wheelbase chassis. This chassis started out with a Rollston Cabriolet body that was swapped a half century ago by a multiple Duesenberg owner who preferred this dual cowl phaeton coachwork to the other. It takes only one look to see why. From the stylized radiator cap mascot (somewhat irreverently known as the "Duesenbird") through the long sweep panel which distinguishes the La Grande design of Gordon Buehrig from similar sweep panels on Murphy phaetons to the elegant tail tucked up between the rear fenders, this is an outstanding, balanced, well-proportioned creation that pleasingly complements the fabulous Duesenberg J chassis, engine, and drivetrain. Attractively outfitted with dual sidemounted spares with metal covers, chromed bands, and rear view mirrors, it has fresh and very attractive cosmetics in red and black, with fresh red leather upholstery, black carpets, and a black cloth top. Six chrome wire wheels carry wide white wall tires. Dual windshields protect the occupants of both the front and rear seats. There are a number of nice details including the curved hood side vents concentric with the sidemounts and the chrome strips that protect the leading edge of the rear fenders from being scuffed by passengers entering or exiting the rear doors. It is a Concours winner, with a class win at Meadow Brook in 2007 and winner of People's Choice, Best in Class, and the Roy Faulkner Award at the ACD Club meet in Auburn, Indiana, in 2008. It has had only sixteen owners from new, all of them known and has been owned by just three museums since 1961.
Very few automobiles in the world are as instantly recognizable as a Duesenberg and few Duesenbergs have coachwork that is as attractive, beautifully presented, and highly desirable as this 1933 Model J La Grande Dual Cowl Phaeton. Ready to go back onto any show field where it will be a contender for top honors, or blow the doors of many modern automobiles on the highway where it can show off its legendary 86 mph speed in second gear, this is a rare and highly desirable opportunity to acquire one of the most honored and respected of all open bodied Duesenberg Js.
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1933 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
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