By John Chrisman, Automobile Historian
The Duesenberg Racing and Luxury Car Company founded by the brothers August and Frederick Duesenberg in 1913. They started in St. Paul Minnesota then moved to Elizabeth, NJ to build aircraft engines for the Army during WWI then moved to Indianapolis, IN in 1919.
1933 Duesenberg Model SJ
There they started to seriously build high-end racing and luxury cars. The first car was the Model A, built between 1921 and 1927. This was the first car with 4 wheel hydraulic brakes and mass-produced straight 8 engines. During this time the Model A won the Indianapolis 500 in 1922, 1924, 1925, and 1927. Also, Jimmy Murphy became the first American to win the French Grand Prix, while driving the Model A, in 1921. The price of the Model A was $6,500 (you could by a Model T in 1927 for $360.) 650 cars were sold. Customers included Tom Mix and Rudolph Valentino.
The Model X was built between 1926 and 1927 and only 13 were built. Only 4 were known to survive until Jay Leno found a 5th in a garage in 2005.
The most famous Duesenberg was the Model J 1928 until 1937 when the company folded. The model J had, impressive for the time, 236 HP. The Model J could reach 94 MPH in 2nd gear with a top speed of 119 MPH. Each coach was built to the customer’s specifications and ran $13,000 to $19,000 with two cars reaching $25,000. In 1932 36 supercharged Model J’s were built with 320 HP with a top speed of 135 MPH.
Two SSJ models with a 420 cubic inch 400 HP were built. One went to Gary Cooper, the other to Clark Gable.
Model J’s were sold to many of society’s “elite” including Al Capone, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, Mae West, Marion Davies, Tyrone Power, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, and William Randolph Hearst.
Also, Mars, Whitney, and Wrigley families owned Model J’s. The cars were popular with European Royalty as well.
Expensive luxury cars became unpopular in the 1930s and Duesenberg finally went under in 1937.
Some people say the term “It’s a dusey came from the Duesenberg.” However, others say the term become popular 4 years before the Duesenberg started. Your choice on which is right.
Currently, Duesenberg cars sell in the 6 to 7 figures with one recently selling for $10 million.