@alsancle
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Duesenbergs are identified by their "J" number which unfortunately is stamped in the bell housing which often got swapped to another car over the years.
Here is one of my favorites, even in its current horrible color. J365.
J496 with Brunn Torpedo body. Unfortunately wrecked.
There were no production Duesenberg bodies. All were coachbuilt although many were done in series. For example, Murphy built a bunch of convertible sedans which I believe was the most inexpensive model you could buy at around 12k. Bare chassis was 8500. A complete custom V16 Caddy would run you about 2k less.
Incredibly handsome guy standing in front of a Murphy disappearing top convertible coupe. These came in two varieties, with the disappearing top and non disappearing top. The premium for the deck lid is around 100% these days.
With the top up there is no way to tell. At least I can't.
A.J.:
Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them. Thanks for correcting this oversight.
We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...
Steve
Oct 22, 2023A.J.:
Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them. Thanks for correcting this oversight.
We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...
Steve
The JN series is the ultimate Duesenberg in my mind. It has the drop center wheels, drop sill bodies with super low windshield, down draft carburation, and the improved steering box. There is no cowl band to interrupt the hood line.
Also, the later cars got the swept needle instruments which were a huge improvement over the barrel ones.
Oct 22, 2023A.J.:
Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them. Thanks for correcting this oversight.
We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...
Steve
This car was parked right next to me at Hershey and I was struck by how small it is. Duesenbergs are known for being massive and having 140+ wheelbases, but this one appeared smaller than my 136-inch Lincoln. And yes, it was lovely.
Oct 22, 2023This car was parked right next to me at Hershey and I was struck by how small it is. Duesenbergs are known for being massive and having 140+ wheelbases, but this one appeared smaller than my 136-inch Lincoln. And yes, it was lovely.
Matt, the car has 142 inch wheelbase. The long wheelbase cars are 153. What is massive is the length of the hood.
Gentlemen:
Sized by comparison to the 1934 Nash Ambassador Eight Brougham Model 1297 which also has a 142" wheelbase, the SJN didn't look as large as it is. In fact, both cars are nearly identical length, their bumpers aligned. Body/chassis proportioning was significantly different, as A.J. notes, approximately 55% of the Duesenberg is taken up through the A-pillar, while the Nash was perhaps 33%. The latter does deserve the "Kenosha Duesenberg" monicker, it is one imposing, impressive automobile.
Steve
Oct 22, 2023Gentlemen:
Sized by comparison to the 1934 Nash Ambassador Eight Brougham Model 1297 which also has a 142" wheelbase, the SJN didn't look as large as it is. In fact, both cars are nearly identical length, their bumpers aligned. Body/chassis proportioning was significantly different, as A.J. notes, approximately 55% of the Duesenberg is taken up through the A-pillar, while the Nash was perhaps 33%. The latter does deserve the "Kenosha Duesenberg" monicker, it is one imposing, impressive automobile.
Steve
Steve, to date I have not found any hood on an American car (or any car for that matter) as long as the Model J Duesenberg. Anything 6' or longer is big and the Duesenberg is much longer than that.
Check that, I forgot about my Stutz.
My buddy Jim owned the tapertail for a while back in the 1960’s. He purchased it off a local estate for $20,000. He put down $4,000 and the estate held paper and financed the balance. He told me he had a lot of sleepless nights owing that much money on a car since the car cost a lot more than his brand new house did a few years earlier. The 20k was a huge sum of money back in the day for a collector car.
Jim said a bunch of people were lined up waiting to buy that car from the estate and they couldn’t believe a young punk could come with that kind of scratch to buy it, not knowing the deal that he worked out with the estate. Luckily as time went on he found some sucker to buy the car for $40,000 in cash, was able to pay off the estate and go back to having good night sleeps…. “ I thought I won the lottery selling that car!”
Also a cool Delage in the background.
Oct 24, 2023My buddy Jim owned the tapertail for a while back in the 1960’s. He purchased it off a local estate for $20,000. He put down $4,000 and the estate held paper and financed the balance. He told me he had a lot of sleepless nights owing that much money on a car since the car cost a lot more than his brand new house did a few years earlier. The 20k was a huge sum of money back in the day for a collector car.
Jim said a bunch of people were lined up waiting to buy that car from the estate and they couldn’t believe a young punk could come with that kind of scratch to buy it, not knowing the deal that he worked out with the estate. Luckily as time went on he found some sucker to buy the car for $40,000 in cash, was able to pay off the estate and go back to having good night sleeps…. “ I thought I won the lottery selling that car!”
Also a cool Delage in the background.
I'd vote this one to be the ultimate Duesenberg.
Oct 24, 2023I'd vote this one to be the ultimate Duesenberg.
I sure wish I was the sucker who paid 40k. It’s a 25+ car today……that’s M
Oct 24, 2023How would a 1936 Buick Century compare? Maybe it was too contemporary for a side-by-side comparison.
My guess is that the Duesenberg is at least 12 inches longer.
Oct 24, 2023Longer than an Individual Custom Packard from 1934? Or your 1935 Packard 12? How long is the '35 Packard 12 hood?
Much longer than all of the above. The 35 Packard 12 and my Stearns are both 72" if I recall correctly. I believe my Royale is 74" with the setback body.
The Dietrich is not as long as you think, although the V on the sides gives the impression of length. Even along the sides the Duesenberg is longer.
George sent these to me of the Gurney Nutting Speedster. AKA Maharajah Duesenberg. I actually paid a fortune for a period print of the top up picture years ago. Interesting to me because my dad always liked to brag that he beat it the first time it was shown at an ACD show back in 1963.
Oct 25, 2023Interesting as I think the hoods on 500, 540K MB present longer. Must be an illusion combined with that long, low look.
If I’m remembering correctly around 68 inches, but a setback radiator car will look like 73.