The Duesenberg Model J stands among the most important American automobiles ever built. Introduced at the end of 1928 as a 1929 model, it was conceived without meaningful regard for cost and intended to compete with—and surpass—the finest automobiles produced by Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz, Isotta Fraschini and other elite manufacturers. Its combination of a massive 420-cubic-inch dual-overhead-camshaft straight-eight, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic brakes and individually coachbuilt bodies made it technically extraordinary for the late 1920s and established a level of American performance and prestige that few cars have matched since.
The Model J was also unusual because Duesenberg generally sold the automobile as a chassis rather than a standardized finished car. Wealthy buyers selected a coachbuilder to create a body suited to their tastes, resulting in sedans, phaetons, convertible coupes, roadsters, speedsters and formal limousines from many of the finest American and European body designers. Consequently, two Model Js can differ enormously in appearance, history and value even though they share essentially the same underlying mechanical architecture.
The later supercharged Model SJ pushed performance into territory almost unimaginable for a luxury automobile of the early 1930s, while the two short-wheelbase SSJ cars became among the most famous American performance cars ever constructed. Today, Model J values depend not merely on mechanical specification but on a complicated combination of chassis identity, engine identity, coachbuilder, original body, design, ownership history, restoration quality and provenance.
The Duesenberg Brothers and the Model J
Brothers Fred and August Duesenberg had already established formidable engineering credentials before the Model J appeared. Their racing engines and cars achieved major successes, including victory at the Indianapolis 500, and Duesenberg became known for advanced engine design at a time when much of the American automobile industry remained mechanically conservative.
In 1926, E.L. Cord acquired Duesenberg and gave Fred Duesenberg the resources to create an automobile intended to sit at the very top of the American luxury market. Cord already controlled Auburn and later Cord automobiles, but Duesenberg was to occupy an entirely different position. The Model J was not supposed to compete primarily on price or production volume; it was intended to demonstrate what American engineering could accomplish when cost was secondary.
The Model J was unveiled publicly in late 1928, just months before the American economy began its descent toward the Great Depression. Its timing could hardly have been worse for an automobile aimed at the extremely wealthy, yet production continued through much of the 1930s. The car consequently became an even more conspicuous symbol of wealth during an era of widespread economic hardship.
The 420-Cubic-Inch Straight-Eight
At the heart of the Model J was its remarkable 420-cubic-inch, or approximately 6.9-liter, inline eight-cylinder engine. The engine used dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, giving it 32 valves at a time when even overhead-valve engines were far from universal. The cylinder head was detachable, and the engine’s design reflected Duesenberg’s extensive competition experience.
The engine was manufactured by Lycoming to Duesenberg specifications and then assembled and developed for installation in the Model J. In naturally aspirated form, Duesenberg advertised approximately 265 horsepower, an extraordinary figure for 1929. Although period horsepower claims should not be compared too literally with modern ratings, there is no question that the Model J possessed enormous power relative to contemporary luxury cars.
More important than the peak figure was the engine’s combination of torque and high-speed breathing. The large displacement provided effortless low-speed pulling power, while the twin-cam, four-valve cylinder head allowed the engine to breathe efficiently at engine speeds that would have been ambitious for many contemporary designs. The result was a luxury automobile capable of acceleration and sustained speed more commonly associated with competition machinery.
Three-Speed Transmission
Power was delivered through a three-speed manual transmission. Three forward ratios may sound primitive today, but the enormous torque of the 420-cu-in engine made a large number of gears unnecessary. Once underway, a Model J could remain in top gear across a broad range of road speeds.
The clutch and gearbox are substantial pieces of machinery and require deliberate operation. A correctly adjusted Model J should not be confused with a modern synchronized manual, however. Driving one properly requires familiarity with the technique expected of a large high-performance automobile built around 1930.
Chassis and Wheelbase
The Model J used a massive conventional frame constructed to handle the weight and performance of the engine as well as the wide variety of custom bodies customers might specify. Two principal wheelbases were used, with the longer chassis particularly suited to formal sedans and limousines and the shorter configuration lending itself to sporting open bodies.
The long wheelbase and substantial chassis contributed to excellent straight-line stability. Despite its imposing dimensions, a sporting-bodied Model J could be remarkably fast and responsive by contemporary standards. Body choice has an enormous effect on driving character because a lightweight roadster and a heavily equipped formal limousine place very different loads on the same basic chassis.
Suspension
The suspension was conventional in layout but carefully engineered for the Model J’s performance. Solid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs were used rather than independent suspension, reflecting both contemporary practice and the need for durability under a very large automobile.
The sophistication came from the quality of the components, careful chassis tuning and the car’s substantial dimensions. A properly restored Model J rides with the controlled, deliberate motion expected of a great prewar luxury car, while still possessing far more speed than its size initially suggests.
Hydraulic Brakes
One of Duesenberg’s important technical advantages was its use of hydraulic four-wheel brakes. The Duesenberg brothers had been early proponents of hydraulic braking, and the system gave the Model J stopping performance appropriate to its extraordinary speed.
The brakes were drums rather than discs, but large braking surfaces and hydraulic operation made them sophisticated for the era. Proper adjustment is critical because a Model J is both heavy and capable of substantial speed. Unevenly adjusted or poorly maintained brakes can dramatically change the car’s road manners.
Centralized Chassis Lubrication
The Model J incorporated sophisticated features intended to make maintaining such a complex automobile more manageable. Among them was a centralized chassis lubrication system, allowing the driver to lubricate numerous chassis points rather than manually greasing each fitting individually at frequent intervals.
Features such as this illustrate the Model J philosophy. Duesenberg did not merely install an enormous engine in a conventional luxury chassis; the company attempted to engineer an entire automobile appropriate to owners who expected the best technology available.
Instrumentation and Service Indicators
The Model J dashboard was unusually comprehensive. Instruments monitored numerous mechanical functions, and the car incorporated service reminders for items such as oil changes, chassis lubrication and battery maintenance.
This level of instrumentation reinforced the aircraft-like and competition-derived character of the car. The dashboard was not simply decorative luxury trim; it communicated that the Model J was a serious piece of machinery requiring informed maintenance.
Coachbuilt Rather Than Mass-Produced
Understanding the Model J requires understanding the coachbuilding system. Duesenberg built the chassis, engine, drivetrain and other mechanical components, but customers could commission a separate coachbuilder to construct the body. This practice was common among the world’s most expensive automobiles, but the extraordinary variety of Model J bodies makes coachbuilder identity particularly important today.
The factory also offered catalog designs, but even cars based on catalog styles could vary in detail. Wealthy customers requested changes to windshields, doors, tops, trim, interiors and other features. Consequently, apparently minor differences can be historically significant rather than evidence of later modification.
Murphy
Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California, is perhaps the coachbuilder most closely associated with sporting Duesenbergs. Murphy bodies were known for elegant proportions, relatively light construction and exceptionally thin windshield pillars, giving the cars a clean and athletic appearance.
Murphy-built convertible coupes and roadsters are particularly prized. The company’s famous disappearing-top designs allowed the folded convertible top to be concealed within the body, creating an exceptionally clean profile when open. Genuine Murphy-bodied Model Js rank among the most desirable examples of the marque.
LeBaron
LeBaron created several important Model J designs, including sporting and formal bodies. The firm was known for sophisticated proportions and an ability to create large automobiles that remained visually balanced.
LeBaron designs can range from imposing sedans to highly sporting open cars. As with all Model Js, the exact body style and history matter greatly; the coachbuilder name alone does not determine value.
Derham
Derham Body Company produced numerous formal bodies for wealthy clients, including sedans, limousines and convertible designs. Derham workmanship was highly regarded, and its bodies often emphasized luxury and passenger accommodation rather than minimum weight.
A formal Derham-bodied Model J provides a very different experience from a Murphy roadster, but both reflect the extraordinary range of customers Duesenberg served. Historically significant ownership can make a formal-bodied car especially important.
Rollston
Rollston was another important American coachbuilder associated with the Model J. Its work was known for exceptional craftsmanship and often conservative but beautifully proportioned styling.
Rollston later evolved into Rollson, and cars associated with the company include some particularly sophisticated closed and convertible bodies. Correct identification of the coachbuilder and individual design is important because many Model J bodies have been modified or replaced over the decades.
Other Coachbuilders
Model J chassis also received bodies from firms including Willoughby, Judkins and Weymann, along with other American and European coachbuilders. Some emphasized formal luxury, while others produced sporting open bodies or highly individual one-off designs.
This diversity means there is no single definitive Model J shape. The famous long-hood roadsters may dominate modern imagery, but formal sedans and limousines were an important part of the original market and often carried some of the most elaborate interiors.
Model J Performance
A naturally aspirated Model J was extraordinarily fast for its time. Depending on body style and gearing, cars were capable of speeds well above 100 mph, and lightweight sporting examples could go substantially faster. At a time when many ordinary automobiles struggled to maintain modern highway speeds, the Duesenberg could cruise at velocities that were exceptional even among luxury cars.
Acceleration was equally impressive because of the engine’s enormous torque. Duesenberg’s advertising made extravagant performance claims, but contemporary experience confirmed that the Model J belonged in an entirely different category from most American automobiles of the era.
The Supercharged Model SJ
The Model SJ added a centrifugal supercharger to the 420-cu-in straight-eight. The supercharger installation substantially increased airflow and raised advertised output to approximately 320 horsepower, although individual engines and competition-oriented configurations could vary.
Externally, the most recognizable feature of many SJs is the set of four flexible external exhaust pipes emerging through the right side of the hood. These pipes became such a powerful visual symbol of the supercharged Duesenberg that similar exhaust arrangements were later fitted to some naturally aspirated cars.
Consequently, external exhaust pipes do not by themselves prove that a Model J is a genuine SJ. Factory documentation and mechanical inspection are essential.
SJ Performance
The supercharged engine transformed an already extraordinary automobile. Depending on body weight and gearing, SJs were capable of extremely high speeds for the early 1930s, and their acceleration rivaled dedicated sports and racing cars.
The SJ’s combination of a huge straight-eight and forced induction also gave it a unique personality. The engine retained the effortless torque of the standard J but added substantially greater performance as speed and engine rpm increased.
Genuine factory-supercharged cars are considerably rarer than naturally aspirated Model Js and occupy a higher level in the collector hierarchy. As always, however, individual chassis history and body design can outweigh a simple J-versus-SJ distinction.
The SSJ
The SSJ represents the most extreme factory development of the Model J concept. Only two were built, both on unusually short-wheelbase chassis and fitted with lightweight open roadster bodies. The cars were associated with Hollywood stars Gary Cooper and Clark Gable, although the exact ownership and loan arrangements surrounding them are an important part of their individual histories.
The SSJ used a highly developed supercharged engine commonly credited with approximately 400 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful road cars of the prewar era. The combination of enormous power, reduced weight and shorter wheelbase produced a dramatically different machine from a formal Model J sedan.
The two SSJs occupy a category of their own. One of them has sold publicly for a price placing it among the most valuable American automobiles ever auctioned, reflecting the combination of extreme rarity, celebrity association, performance and historical significance.
J Versus SJ Versus SSJ
The distinctions between these versions are fundamental. A standard Model J uses the naturally aspirated 420-cu-in straight-eight. An SJ is a genuine factory-supercharged Model J, while the SSJ designation is associated specifically with the two short-wheelbase high-performance cars.
Over the decades, naturally aspirated cars have sometimes acquired superchargers or external exhaust pipes. Such modifications can produce exciting automobiles, but they do not convert a standard Model J into an original factory SJ from a collector standpoint.
External Exhaust Pipes
The four external exhaust pipes are among the most recognizable Duesenberg styling elements. On supercharged cars, they serve a genuine mechanical purpose by routing exhaust from the engine through the hood side before joining the exhaust system below.
Because the pipes became associated with the most powerful Duesenbergs, they were desirable even when the cars were new. Some naturally aspirated cars received them later for appearance, and additional cars acquired them during restoration. Collectors therefore rely on chassis and engine histories rather than simply counting exhaust pipes.
Engine Number and Chassis Number
Model J identity is more complicated than on many later collector cars because engine and chassis numbers are separate identifiers and the bodies were frequently supplied independently. Engines could be replaced during the cars’ working lives, while bodies could be moved from one chassis to another.
For high-value cars, researchers reconstruct histories using factory records, engine numbers, frame numbers, body numbers, period photographs, ownership records and correspondence. A Model J may have a completely legitimate history while no longer carrying every component with which it originally left the factory.
This makes provenance research unusually important. The question is often not simply whether a component is “matching numbers,” but when and why a change occurred and whether it forms part of the car’s documented history.
Original Bodies and Rebodies
Body originality is one of the largest factors affecting Model J value. Because the chassis itself became valuable relatively early, some formal sedans and limousines were later rebodied with more desirable roadster, phaeton or convertible-coupe bodies.
Some rebodies are beautifully constructed and may replicate authentic period designs. They can provide much of the appearance and driving experience of a famous sporting Model J, but they are not equivalent to cars retaining important original coachwork.
A genuine period Murphy roadster, for example, occupies a fundamentally different collector category from a sedan chassis rebodied decades later in Murphy roadster style.
Body Swaps
The situation becomes more complicated when a genuine period Duesenberg body has been transferred from one chassis to another. Such swaps occurred for various reasons, including accident damage, mechanical failure and later collector preference.
Determining the significance of such a car requires understanding both the body and chassis histories. The market tends to reward continuous, documented combinations, particularly when the car retains the body fitted early in its life.
Famous Owners
Duesenberg deliberately cultivated wealthy and famous customers, and the Model J became associated with industrialists, entertainers, royalty and social elites. Owners included prominent Hollywood figures and some of the richest families of the period.
Celebrity ownership can add substantial value when properly documented, but the importance depends on the individual owner and the strength of the connection. A car ordered new by a famous personality and extensively photographed during that ownership carries more historical significance than one briefly owned decades later by a celebrity collector.
Hollywood and the Duesenberg Image
The Model J became deeply associated with Hollywood during the 1930s. Its enormous hood, dramatic open bodies and polished exhaust pipes made it a natural symbol of wealth and glamour.
This association helped the Duesenberg transcend the automobile market and become part of American popular culture. The phrase “It’s a Duesy” became associated with something exceptional, though the exact linguistic relationship between the expression and the automobile has been debated.
The Depression Era
The Model J’s production life overlapped almost perfectly with the Great Depression, creating an extraordinary contrast. While millions of Americans faced unemployment and financial hardship, Duesenberg continued producing some of the most expensive automobiles in the world.
The economic environment severely limited the available customer base, but it also contributed to the car’s legendary status. A Model J was not merely expensive; it represented almost unimaginable extravagance.
Fred Duesenberg’s Death
Fred Duesenberg died in 1932 following complications from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. His death deprived the company of its principal engineering visionary during an already difficult economic period.
Development continued, and August Duesenberg remained involved with the marque, but the loss of Fred and the financial difficulties of the Cord business empire made the Model J’s long-term future increasingly uncertain.
End of Production
Duesenberg production effectively ended as the Cord Corporation collapsed in 1937. Model J chassis and components were completed in very small numbers toward the end, and individual cars could receive bodies or be delivered considerably later than their chassis construction dates.
Because of this, assigning a simple model year to every Model J can be misleading. Specialists often identify cars primarily by chassis and engine number rather than by conventional annual model-year distinctions.
Restoration Challenges
Restoring a Model J is an enormous undertaking. The engine alone is a complex twin-cam, 32-valve unit requiring specialized knowledge, and many replacement components must be manufactured or restored individually.
The coachbuilt body creates additional challenges because many pieces were made specifically for one car. Doors, trim, windshield frames, interior fittings and hardware cannot simply be ordered from a mass-production parts catalog.
A restoration that appears visually impressive may still contain historically incorrect components. At the highest level of the market, accuracy in materials, finishes, hardware and mechanical specification matters enormously.
Engine Maintenance
The 420-cu-in straight-eight is robust when properly maintained, but rebuilding one is highly specialized and expensive. Camshafts, valves, bearings, oiling systems and timing components all require careful inspection and correct setup.
Long periods of storage can be particularly harmful. Internal corrosion, deteriorated seals and contaminated fuel or oil systems can create problems even when a car has accumulated very little mileage since restoration.
Supercharger Maintenance
SJ superchargers add another layer of complexity. Correct clearances, lubrication and drive components are critical, and improper rebuilding can damage both the supercharger and engine.
Because genuine SJ components are rare and valuable, work should be entrusted to specialists familiar with Duesenberg machinery rather than treated like a conventional aftermarket supercharger installation.
Cooling System
A 6.9-liter engine produces substantial heat, and cooling-system condition is essential. Radiator efficiency, water circulation, hoses and ignition timing all affect operating temperature.
Cars that participate in tours face conditions very different from those for which they were originally designed, particularly slow modern traffic. Many owners make discreet reliability improvements while attempting to preserve the car’s historical appearance.
Steering and Driving Effort
The Model J has no modern power-assisted steering, and steering effort at parking speeds can be considerable, especially with a heavy formal body. Once moving, the steering becomes much more manageable.
The enormous wheelbase and long hood require anticipation, but the car does not feel crude. Properly restored steering and suspension give the driver a clear sense of what the front axle is doing, and the car becomes surprisingly comfortable at speed.
Driving a Model J
A Model J initially feels enormous. The hood stretches far ahead, the steering wheel is large and every major control communicates the scale of the machinery. The clutch and gearbox require deliberate inputs, and the driver must always remember that the car combines substantial weight with performance far beyond that of most automobiles from its era.
Once underway, the engine dominates the experience. The straight-eight produces tremendous torque, allowing the car to accelerate without frequent shifting. A standard J feels powerful and effortless, while an SJ adds a level of acceleration that seems almost anachronistic for a car designed around 1930.
The chassis is happiest on open roads. The long wheelbase provides exceptional stability, and the engine allows sustained speeds that would have been extraordinary when the car was new. A lightweight sporting body makes the car feel considerably more responsive, while a formal sedan emphasizes smoothness and presence.
The Model J therefore occupies a unique position between luxury automobile and performance machine. It has the size and craftsmanship of the finest formal cars of its era but possesses an engine derived from engineers whose instincts were shaped heavily by racing.
Understanding the Major Duesenberg Model J Variants
The principal Model J configurations can be summarized as follows:
- Model J: Naturally aspirated 420-cu-in twin-cam, 32-valve straight-eight producing an advertised approximately 265 horsepower.
- Model SJ: Factory-supercharged version with output commonly advertised around 320 horsepower and frequently identified by external exhaust pipes.
- SSJ: Two exceptionally short-wheelbase, lightweight supercharged roadsters associated with Gary Cooper and Clark Gable and commonly credited with roughly 400 horsepower.
- Short-Wheelbase Model J: Chassis particularly well suited to sporting roadster, convertible coupe and phaeton bodies.
- Long-Wheelbase Model J: Frequently used for formal sedans, limousines and other large coachbuilt bodies.
- Murphy-Bodied Cars: Particularly desirable sporting Model Js, including roadsters, convertible coupes and disappearing-top designs.
- LeBaron-Bodied Cars: Coachbuilt examples ranging from formal designs to highly sporting open bodies.
- Derham-Bodied Cars: Often luxurious formal sedans, limousines and convertible styles.
- Rollston-Bodied Cars: High-quality custom bodies known for exceptional craftsmanship and elegant proportions.
- Other Period Coachbuilt Cars: Bodies by Willoughby, Judkins, Weymann and other specialist firms, with desirability depending heavily on individual design and history.
- Period-Rebodied Cars: Model J chassis that received replacement coachwork while still relatively new; significance depends heavily on when, why and by whom the work was performed.
- Modern Rebodied Cars: Genuine Model J chassis fitted later with newly constructed sporting bodies, often reproducing desirable period designs but valued differently from original-bodied cars.
What Matters to Collectors
For a Duesenberg Model J, identity and provenance are fundamental. Engine number, chassis number, body number and historical documentation should be researched together because components may have moved between cars during nearly a century of use. A simplistic matching-numbers approach does not always capture the legitimacy or importance of a particular Model J.
Original coachwork is one of the largest determinants of value. A genuine Murphy roadster retaining its historically documented body can be worth dramatically more than a mechanically similar chassis carrying a modern reproduction of the same design. Coachbuilder, body style and design quality therefore matter almost as much as the mechanical specification.
Factory supercharging is equally important. External exhaust pipes alone do not establish SJ status, and naturally aspirated cars have been converted to supercharged specification. A genuine SJ requires documentary and mechanical evidence supporting its history.
Provenance can elevate an already important car considerably. Major concours history, prominent original owners, period photographs and documented appearances can establish a continuity that cannot be recreated during restoration.
Restoration quality matters, but historical authenticity matters more. The best restoration should reveal what the particular automobile actually was rather than turning it into the specification that happens to be most valuable today.
Collector Hierarchy
At the very top are the two SSJs, important factory SJs with exceptional sporting coachwork, and Model Js with major historical provenance or exceptionally significant one-off bodies. Cars combining original coachwork, factory supercharging, famous ownership and documented history occupy the highest tier of American collector automobiles.
Original sporting bodies by Murphy and other premier coachbuilders are especially coveted. Roadsters, disappearing-top convertibles and sporting phaetons generally attract stronger demand than formal sedans, although a unique formal car with important design or ownership history can transcend the normal hierarchy.
Standard naturally aspirated Model Js remain extremely significant automobiles. Their 265-horsepower twin-cam straight-eight was already extraordinary without supercharging, and a beautifully preserved or accurately restored original-bodied J represents one of the highest achievements of the American classic era.
Rebodied cars generally occupy a lower tier, although quality and history matter greatly. A beautifully executed rebodied Model J remains a genuine Duesenberg chassis and can provide an extraordinary driving experience, but it should never be represented as equivalent to a car retaining historically important original coachwork.
Lasting Importance
The Duesenberg Model J matters because it represented an extraordinary moment when American engineering, wealth and craftsmanship converged with almost no concern for economy. Its 420-cu-in twin-cam, 32-valve straight-eight, hydraulic four-wheel brakes, enormous chassis and individually commissioned coachwork were extraordinary in 1929 and remain impressive nearly a century later.
The standard J was already one of the world’s most powerful luxury automobiles. The supercharged SJ pushed performance dramatically higher, while the two SSJs demonstrated how extreme the basic design could become when enormous power was combined with a shorter chassis and lightweight sporting body.
Just as important was the coachbuilding tradition. A Model J was not simply purchased from dealer inventory in a predetermined form. The chassis could become a Murphy disappearing-top convertible, a LeBaron phaeton, a Derham limousine, a Rollston convertible or a completely individual creation commissioned by one wealthy customer. That makes each surviving car a distinct historical object.
For collectors, this individuality makes the Model J both fascinating and complicated. Chassis histories, engine changes, body transfers, period modifications and modern rebodies must be understood before value or authenticity can be assessed. The most important examples are valued not simply because they are Duesenbergs, but because of the specific stories carried by their engines, chassis, bodies and owners.
Few automobiles better embody the phrase “no expense spared.” The Duesenberg Model J combined racing-influenced engineering with the finest coachbuilding available and delivered performance that seemed almost impossible for such a large luxury automobile. It remains the defining American prestige automobile of the Classic Era and one of the clearest examples of what the American automobile industry could produce when the objective was not affordability or mass production, but simply to build one of the finest cars in the world.
Important Sales Reviewed by SCM Experts
Each month for the past 38 years, SCM’s analysts have reviewed 5 to 7 significant cars sold at auction, and discuss what options, history, or details made that particular more or less valuable. They give their expert opinion on the market for these cars, and whether this car was well bought or well sold. If you’re thinking of purchasing a Duesenberg Model J, you’ll likely find these profiles critical in helping you make the right decision.
1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by RollstonThe Rollston Company was inarguably New York’s finest coachbuilder — renowned for the proficiency of its designers in both open and convertible styles, with conservative or rakish lines. Few American shops of any era were so skilled at so diverse a catalog, all built with outstanding craftsmanship and rock-solid quality. It is a testament to […]Read more
1931 Duesenberg Model J Roadster “Green Hornet”The Classic enthusiast will behold this Duesenberg at first glance and wonder what looks so familiar. Finally, it will click: The body resembles a Packard roadster of 1930–31. The reason, of course, is that the body is a Packard roadster of that vintage. The body, as noted by prominent Duesenberg historian Ray Wolff, was bought […]Read more
1929 Duesenberg Model J “Disappearing Top” TorpedoThe most famous design from Pasadena, CA, coachbuilder Walter M. Murphy, the Duesenberg Model J “Disappearing Top” convertible coupe saw production of about 25 examples, all with the distinctive convertible top that hid neatly within the smooth rear deck when lowered. Yet there is a much rarer machine, the “Disappearing Top” Torpedo convertible coupe, which […]Read more
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy CoupeThe Duesenberg presented here, one of six Model Js that Capt. George Whittell Jr. purchased new, is arguably the finest example of the coachbuilt American automobile. Penned by legendary designer Franklin Hershey and executed by Murphy, the coachwork is a study in elegance and individualization, distinguished by Whittell’s inimitable motifs. At its foundation is Duesenberg’s […]Read more
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible CoupeThe Model J Duesenberg has long been regarded as the most outstanding example of design and engineering of the Classic Era. It was introduced in 1929, and trading was halted on the New York Stock Exchange for the announcement. At $8,500 for the chassis alone, it was by far the most expensive car in America. […]Read more
Cars For Sale
Quick links to listings for this make and model online:
Past Auction Sales – Duesenberg Model J
Average Duesenberg Model J Sale Price by Year from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
Duesenberg Model J Sales from SCM’s Platinum Auction Database:
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Aug 13, 2026
$2,315,000
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2+
Mar 6, 2026
$1,655,000
Gooding Christie's
Condition: 1-
Sep 20, 2025
$3,085,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition:
Aug 15, 2025
$4,405,000
Gooding Christie's
Condition: 2+
Mar 6, 2025
$2,342,500
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 1-
Aug 16, 2024
$3,745,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Aug 15, 2024
$1,875,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Mar 1, 2024
$3,855,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 4+
Feb 29, 2024
$2,645,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 2
Aug 18, 2023
$2,975,000
Bonhams Cars
Condition: 3+
Aug 18, 2023
$1,127,000
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 1-
Aug 17, 2023
$1,380,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 1-
Mar 2, 2023
$2,205,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Jan 26, 2023
$1,050,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 3
Sep 1, 2022
$857,500
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2
Sep 1, 2022
$3,305,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Aug 19, 2022
$4,680,000
Broad Arrow Auctions
Condition: 2+
Aug 18, 2022
$1,000,000
Mecum Auctions
Condition: 2
Aug 18, 2022
$2,695,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1
Mar 5, 2022
$3,525,000
Bonhams
Condition: 1-
Mar 3, 2022
$1,066,500
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Jan 27, 2022
$3,415,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2+
Jan 26, 2022
$2,260,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 1-
Jan 26, 2022
$775,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1
Oct 7, 2021
$1,650,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 3+
Sep 3, 2021
$527,500
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 3
Sep 3, 2021
$665,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 1-
Aug 13, 2021
$3,965,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Aug 12, 2021
$3,125,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Aug 12, 2021
$3,305,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
May 22, 2021
$5,725,000
Bonhams
Condition: 1-
May 20, 2021
$1,655,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 2-
Aug 3, 2020
$1,012,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Mar 6, 2020
$1,325,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Mar 6, 2020
$1,132,500
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 3+
Jan 15, 2020
$605,000
RM Auctions
Condition: 3+
Oct 10, 2019
$451,000
Gooding & Co.
Condition: 1-
Aug 16, 2019
$2,040,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
May 4, 2019
$1,105,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2+
Mar 8, 2019
$1,650,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 2-
Jan 16, 2019
$506,000
RM Auctions
Condition: 2
Aug 30, 2018
$737,000
Worldwide Auctioneers
Condition: 1
Aug 23, 2018
$1,320,000
Mecum Auctions
Condition: 3+
Aug 23, 2018
$3,850,000
Mecum Auctions
Condition: 2-
Aug 23, 2018
$1,155,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Mar 10, 2018
$995,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1
Oct 5, 2017
$594,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1
Oct 5, 2017
$1,485,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 1-
Aug 18, 2017
$1,430,000
RM Sotheby's
Condition: 2-
Oct 6, 2016
$2,090,000
See all 191 sales of Duesenberg Model J cars from SCM’s Platinum auction database.
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