Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 2329
Firewall No. 2329
Engine No. J-319
Thanks to an outstanding international competition reputation and
the sales efforts of Parisian dealer E.Z. Sadovich at Motors Deluxe
on the Champs Elysee, Duesenbergs enjoyed considerable renown in
France and were the subject of elaborately configured and
beautifully detailed bodies by that country's finest
coachbuilders.
According to the records of longtime Auburn Cord Duesenberg (ACD)
Club Duesenberg Historian, Ray Wolff, Model J number J-319 is
believed to have been one of two built to this versions of this
design by Hibbard & Darrin of Paris. While a French coachbuilder,
Hibbard & Darrin was operated by two Americans, Thomas Hibbard and
Howard "Dutch" Darrin, who had originally relocated across the
Atlantic in the early 1920s. Hibbard & Darrin became famous for the
distinctive design of their coachwork, often with a bold beltline
treatment that flowed into and narrowed through the end to end at a
pointed "spear" just behind the radiator. They were also pioneers
of virtually all-metal body construction with the patented
Silentlyte method, outer panels of pressed aluminum over a cast
aluminum inner frame - a construction used in this Duesenberg.
Interestingly, J-319 was also originally built with two-section
running boards, as often used on short-wheelbase models, rather
than the three-section style common to long-wheelbase cars.
Wolff notes that the car, originally dark blue with grey trim, was
delivered in 1930 to Luis Martinez de las Rivas, a wealthy Spanish
aristocrat who maintained homes in both Madrid and Paris. He would
subsequently marry Mathilda Coster, heiress to a prominent New York
banking fortune, with whom he moved in the social circles of the
Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. It is believed that the Duesenberg
was kept in Paris and sold there in October 1932 to its second
owner, Lucius D. Humphrey. In early 1933, Mr. Humphrey's
brother-in-law passed away suddenly, and he encouraged his sister
and her two small daughters to visit with him in Europe to help
them recover from the loss. The family arrived in the summer of
1934, and the Humphrey party proceeded to tour the continent in the
Duesenberg in truly grand style.
Accompanying them as a riding mechanic was a young Arthur James
"Jim" Hoe, who was thoroughly impressed by the automobile and
became a devotee of the Model J. Following World War II, he
established the Hoe Sportcar Garage in Weston, Connecticut, which
shortly became the foremost mechanical repair debut for Duesenbergs
on the East Coast.
J-319 came to the United States with the Humphrey family following
the tour and was shortly resold to L. William Gilbert of New York
City. In 1946 it came full-circle and was purchased from New York
dealer Walter Hodich by none other than Jim Hoe, who resold his
formative automobile a year later to Richard K. Wells of Rhode
Island. Mr. Wells much enjoyed the Model J for several years;
accounts of his ownership of the car remain in its history file. In
1950 he was contacted by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City,
inquiring as to the possibility of including the car in an upcoming
automobile design exhibit - the groundbreaking '8 Automobiles,' in
which, unfortunately, J-319 was unable to take part.
The Duesenberg was then sold in 1952 to Matthew McKay-Smith, then
to William A.C. Pettit II of Louisa, Virginia. Claude Pettit and
his young son, W.A.C. III, known to all as Bill, were devoted
enthusiasts who assembled a fascinating collection of automobiles -
largely focused on Chrysler products, which the family sold at
Louisa's Pettit Brothers dealership, but also extending to
Rolls-Royces, Packards, and Duesenbergs. Notably, it was the
Pettits who purchased the famous trio of Js from avant-garde artist
Rudolf Bauer's widow, and maintained them for many years. Much of
the Pettit collection was at one point on display in their Museum
of Motoring Memories, in the nearby tourist town of Natural
Bridge.
Bill Pettit eventually inherited his family's collection and
maintained much of it for many years. J-319 became one of their few
acquisitions sold during his lifetime, when passed in 1984 to avid
enthusiast Ray Bowersox of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. A man whose name
needs no introduction to the Duesenberg faithful, the affable Mr.
Bowersox was for many years a common sight with one of his Js on
any number of ACD Club tours and CCCA CARavans. In his ownership
J-319 appears to have been maintained as a showpiece; it was
cosmetically restored to its present appearance, in a rich red with
deep maroon moldings, and was Certified Category 1 by the ACD
Club.
J-319 was sold by Mr. Bowersox in 1987 to the Imperial Palace Auto
Collection of Las Vegas, at the time one of the largest automobile
collections in the world, with a particular focus on Duesenbergs.
The Hibbard & Darrin cabriolet remained one of the standouts in the
Imperial Palace's exclusive Duesenberg Room for well over a decade,
before it was purchased by John Hendricks for the Gateway Auto
Museum in October 2004.
The Model J's restoration remains in superb overall order given its
age, with the paint holding up very well and having a deep shine,
and the leather upholstery of both the front and rear compartments
remaining in fine condition with only light patina to its surfaces.
Especially magnificent is the trim of the rear compartment,
including elaborate woodwork on the faces of the jump seats that
serve to virtually hide the seats in a cabinet-like facade when
they are furled. Further, the rear compartment is equipped with a
Philco radio. Hibbard & Darrin's impressive attention to detail
extends to crank-operated cowl vents and the design of the windows;
the frames themselves are spring-loaded and emerge on swivel hinges
from the tops of the doors at the touch of a switch. Once they are
erected, the window glass rolls smoothly up between them.
Inspection of the car shows that it remains its original numbered
chassis frame and firewall, both bearing the correct matching
number 2329. Further, the Model J retains its original engine,
numbered J-319 on the bell-housing and 319 on its crankshaft, as
well as correct headlights, horns, and the early-style Winchester
radiator, with a vertical louvered stone guard. Accompanying is a
small history file including period photos and information from
former owner Wells, as well as the ACD Club Certification
paperwork.
Like all Duesenbergs, J-319 is a fine automobile to admire - but,
following many years of museum display, the new owner should be
tempted to awaken it and enjoy it on the road. Not only is it one
of the best-proportioned formal Model Js, with its relatively low
roofline and close-coupled coachwork, but it also has a wonderfully
spacious front seat, so as to enable its use by a driver of average
height. Thus it would be a superb family entrant in CCCA CARavans
or, of course, the Duesenberg Tour, to which it would be warmly
welcomed by the spirits of Bill Pettit and Ray Bowersox -
Duesenberg drivers, who knew and loved this wonderful and
impressive car.
Addendum & Administrative Notes
Please note that this lot is titled by its engine number.
Collection Guarantee Disclosure
Please note that as part of a larger collection to be offered at
live and online auctions, the Consignor of the Gateway Collection
has been guaranteed a minimum price for certain cars, including
this Lot, by Broad Arrow. Depending on the final Hammer Price
obtained for those Lots, Broad Arrow may benefit financially.
