1931 Duesenberg Model J
Key Stats
Year Built: 1931
Top Speed: 120mph
Engine: 6.9 litre, 6,882cc
Horsepower: 265bhp
0-60: 13 seconds
Launched in 1928, just before the onset of the Great Depression, the Model J aimed to rival the high standards set by Rolls-Royce. Combining elegance, luxury and power, it quickly became the ultimate symbol of wealth and prestige for royalty and the rich and famous.
One of only eight built, this Tourster model, crafted by the renowned coachbuilder Derham, features a sleek open body with the distinctive ‘Duesenbird’ bonnet mascot. The luxurious interior uses the highest quality materials and has intricate details like the wind-down windscreen for rear passengers. Its engine with twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder made it one of the most powerful and fastest cars of the time.
The first owner of this Model J Tourster-by-Derham is believed to be Dorothy Elmhirst, an American-born social activist, philanthropist and publisher, who lived at Dartington Hall Estate near Totnes, Devon.
The Duesenberg Model J is displayed in The American Dream Exhibition at Haynes Motor Museum.
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The Design of the Duesenberg Model J
The Duesenberg Model J at Haynes Motor Museum is one of the rare Toursters to feature an open body with a collapsible hood. It was also the first dual-cowl model to feature a crank-down windscreen for the rear passengers.
The car features a front beam axle, a live rear axle and adjustable, vacuum-assisted four-wheel hydraulic brakes, which can be controlled by the driver to suit different road surface conditions.
The Duesenberg was so prestigious and imposing that, during the 1930s, many Hollywood stars posed alongside one to promote their careers.
See the Duesenberg Model J at Haynes Motor Museum
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