Vehicle Description
The creations of brothers Fred and August Duesenberg are the stuff
of legend. The cars and engines they built were among the very best
the world had ever seen, and they put America on the motorsports
map, racking up success at Indianapolis and LeMans. While the
brothers were earning hardware on the track, they were also
producing elegant and superbly built road cars. In 1926, E.L. Cord
added Duesenberg to his quickly-growing industrial empire and
challenged Fred to build the biggest, fastest, most expensive car
in the world. Cord wanted to rival the great European marques like
Mercedes Benz, Hispano-Suiza and Rolls-Royce for superiority on the
roads. With the model J and its derivatives (SJ, SSJ, JN, SJN) were
built around Fred Duesenberg's masterpiece - the twin-cam,
four-valve per cylinder straight eight that produced 265 horsepower
in non-supercharged form. The Model J was capable of an incredible
119mph and was far and away the fastest and grandest car on
American roads in its day. Over the years, many attempts have been
made to recapture the magic of the Duesenberg name, yet the
near-mythical style and engineering brilliance of the E.L. Cord
days remained elusive. Most of these attempts were half-baked
concepts without the necessary funding to even reach production.
But in the late 1970s, one company did manage to recapture some of
that elusive Duesenberg character. Elite Heritage Motors of Elroy,
Wisconsin was founded by Richard Braund; a car restorer from Elroy
who also served as the Midwest car locator for the famed Harrah's
Auto Museum collection of Reno, Nevada. Mr. Braund had vast
experience in the classic car business and a great appreciation for
the big pre-war classics, which sparked his idea for a proper
revival of the Duesenberg name. Braund based his operations in his
home town, and began development on a car that could be a worthy
successor to the original. While other attempts to revive the name
resulted in gaudy neo-classics, or poorly built fiberglass replica
jokes, Heritage Motors' cars were exacting copies of the originals
that rode on a bespoke chassis with Ford-derived suspension and
running gear. But what really set the Heritage Motors vehicles
apart from "replicars" was their exceptional build quality and
amazing accuracy. It is said that each body style was precisely
measured using an original example as a template, and each car
utilized high-quality Lincoln engines and specially built frames.
The grilles, bumpers and other details were expensive castings, and
the bodies were hand-finished and assembled by a team of craftsmen
working at the Elroy plant. These details meant the Duesenberg II
was fabulously expensive - some models costing as much as $125,000
in 1981. With all of the grand looks of the originals yet with
easily serviced running gear, these magnificent automobiles are
genuine classics and real collector cars that are highly sought
after by a select group of enthusiasts. This fantastic example
comes from the height of Duesenberg II production in 1982. It wears
imposing Royalton Dual Cowl Phaeton bodywork and is instantly
recognizable as a Duesenberg thanks to the exacting proportions and
detailing. It shows just 3772 miles from new and presents in
exquisite condition throughout. The bodywork and finishing is very
straight and the burgundy paintwork in excellent order. A red coach
stripe and tan top set off the main body, and it is detailed with
dual side mount spares, a trunk, and correctly sized 19-inch chrome
wire wheels on wide-whitewall tires, just as the original Model J
would have worn. The radiator shell, windscreen frames, and other
chrome details start as bronze castings and are then hand finished
and triple-chrome plated - a testament to the quality and detail
that went in to building the Duesenberg II. Similarly, the interior
remains true to the form of the original, but with tastefully
integrated conveniences such as air conditioning, heat, radio,
power seats and cruise control. �A set of side curtains is included
for weather protection. �Upholstery is trimmed in high quality tan
leather which presents in very good condition, evident that this
example has been well kept and sparingly used. The fit and finish
is excellent; appropriate for what was the most expensive American
car in 1983. Beneath the hood, the 5.8 liter Ford V8 is tidy and
well presented. Modern ancillaries such as power steering and power
brakes make for an easy and enjoyable driving experience. What
truly sets the Duesenberg II apart from others is that it is one of
a scant few that managed to successfully combine the elegant,
pre-war proportions with a modern drivetrain without any semblance
of awkward detailing or serious compromises. This is a remarkable
automobile that not only captures the essence of the original
Duesenberg in its styling, but also in the gorgeous build quality.
They are highly prized for their accuracy, quality, and modern
usability. These wonderful cars rarely become available on the open
market, and are now legitimate classics in their own right.
