For Sale: 1929 Duesenberg Model J in Saint Louis, Missouri

The superlative new Duesenberg Model J was inarguably an engineering masterpiece when it debuted in 1928. Boasting a 420-cubic inch inline eight-cylinder engine designed by Fred Duesenberg and built by Cord subsidiary Lycoming, it brought exotic, race-proven technology to the road in a most spectacular fashion. Twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder helped the mighty eight develop an astonishing 265 horsepower in naturally aspirated form - or a storming 320 horsepower when fitted with the optional supercharger, astounding figures for 1928! Handling all that power was an overbuilt chassis with revolutionary hydraulic drum brakes and fully automatic chassis lubrication operating every 30-60 miles. The Model J was far and above the fastest, most exclusive, and most expensive car in America, capable of vanquishing nearly anything that came its way.
Per common practice among prestige automakers of the time, Duesenberg customers got a complete rolling chassis and very little change from their initial $10,000, while coachwork came as an additional cost. Duesenberg offered clients coachwork options via their house LaGrande label (produced by Union City Body Company), while independent firms including LeBaron, Murphy, Rollston, and others also offered a wide array of catalogue styles. Of course, custom options were always available to those with sufficiently deep pockets, and many Model Js were updated and restyled through the years to suit individual owners' varying tastes.
Such is the case with J-118, chassis 2143, a very early Model J originally delivered with four-door closed Berline coachwork by Derham Body Company of Philadelphia. Derham was a firm which quietly built a stellar reputation for impeccable quality and superb, understated design. That reputation carried the company well beyond the point where most private coachbuilders had vanished, and it remained one the last bastions of custom and semi-custom coachwork in the USA, with projects trickling out of its workshops until the mid-1960s.
Turning back to the story of 2143/J-118, Duesenberg historians including Ray Wolff and Marshall Merkes believed this car was the first Model J bodied by Derham and delivered to Art Kiel of Santa Barbara, California. Its earliest days were seemingly uneventful, that is, however, until a return trip from Santa Catalina Island in the early 1930s when longshoremen accidentally dropped the car into the Santa Barbara Channel! Thankfully, the water was shallow and the car was easily recovered, but it still needed significant recommissioning. At that point, rather than undergo repairs, Kiel sold the car and it was acquired by M. K. Barbee, owner of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles. Barbee was known as a flamboyant playboy, with a penchant for flashy cars. Since his new acquisition needed work, he took the opportunity to have the coachwork updated to suit his tastes and the style of the time.
For this job, Barbee commissioned Pasadena coachbuilders Bohman & Schwartz. Relative newcomers to the coachbuilding scene, the firm rose from the ashes of Walter M. Murphy Co., which had closed its doors in 1932. Two employees, Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz, along with chief stylist Herb Newport, took up the torch to completing existing Murphy contracts and were quick to attract new business from the West Coast elite. Along with the restyling of 2143/J-118, Bohman & Schwartz were notable for creating several spectacular Duesenbergs, including the Clark Gable/Carole Lombard JN Convertible Coupe, the SJ Town Car for candy heiress Ethel Mars, and the glamorous SJ Convertible Coupe for Woolworth's heiress Barbara Hutton. They also built the coachwork for the famous Phantom Corsair movie car. Such a portfolio certainly puts J-118 in elite company.
For the redesign of J-118, Bohman & Schwartz incorporated their signature streamlined design language. The fully skirted front-fenders flow beautifully from a graceful, integrated front apron, while the rear fenders are reworked and fitted with streamlined removable spats. A bold waterfall grille is canted back, leading to a new hood with distinct art-deco inspired horizontal louvers. The original side-mount spare wheels were removed for a clean, uncluttered profile, and the rear of the body tapers neatly into an integrated trunk. The central portion of the original Derham body remains (retaining corresponding body numbers) and is artfully integrated with the modernized styling with what is believed to be a subtly lowered roof line. Period photos show the car was finished in black and fitted with black wall tires and black painted wheel discs - a delightfully sinister look.
While it is not known precisely how long Barbee owned his magnificently refreshed Duesenberg, it had the good fortune of passing through the hands of pioneering collectors who recognized its significance, thereby ensuring its preservation. Photos and correspondence on file show J-118 was next owned by Art Austria of the Simplex Garage in Venice Beach, California. He sold it to Fred Buess Jr., who owned it until 1963 when it was acquired by the serial Duesenberg collector Homer Fitterling, and it remained in his care for two decades.
In 1983, J-118 was sold to Gerri Brown, the wife of Fitterling's longtime mechanic and fellow Duesenberg collector Keith Brown. Mrs. Brown was quite enamored with the car, driving and showing it with enthusiasm. In 1993, only after much persuasion by Ed Weaver, did she agree to sell it. When Weaver inquired about a price, Mrs. Brown's response was "a new Rolls-Royce" and one was promptly delivered to her door!
Unfortunately, Mr. Weaver did not own the car long before his untimely passing and his collection, along with J-118 was dispersed via an estate sale. It was then acquired by the Blackhawk Collection, which had it refinished in its current color scheme. It was shown at the 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, earning a Best in Class award. The car then spent the better part of ten years in the famous Richard Burdick collection, before joining the stable of a Michigan-based collector. Following that owner's acquisition, he commissioned the respected specialists at Mann's Restoration in Festus, Missouri, to perform an extensive refresh and detail - totaling 540 hours - and bringing the car up to his exacting standards. During his tenure, J-118 made appearances at several prestigious Midwestern concours events, taking home class and overall honors. During this time, the ACD Certification was renewed.
Most recently, J-118 found a home in an East Coast-based private collection, where it shared space with numerous other significant Duesenbergs, but rarely made public appearances. It has been meticulously maintained by marque specialists and remains in superb condition throughout.
As offered here, the distinctive and unique Derham/Bohman & Schwartz Duesenberg J is as striking as ever in its warm gold finish, which highlights the curves and flowing surfaces of the gorgeous high art-deco design. It retains its original engine, firewall, chassis and central Derham body along with the period modifications, and is a Category 1 Certified Original car with the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club. For the collector seeking a wholly unique and distinctive Duesenberg for top level concours events, touring, and for the pure enjoyment of owning a fascinating piece of motoring history, one would be hard pressed to find a finer - or more breathtaking - example.

Offers welcome and trades considered.