1930 Duesenberg Model J Towncar

Jul 17

Written By Katelyn McSherry

This magnificent 1930 Duesenberg Model J Towncar was purchased by Nanaline Holt Inman Duke, widow of James Buchanan Duke, founder of the American Tobacco Company. Duke, the mother of Doris Duke, had the rolling chassis sent to Murphy in Pasadena, California to construct a town car. The car was completed quickly and sent to Ms. Duke on Halloween that same year. Years later the car was purchased by J.S. Person, who owned it for ten years with original paint and upholstery. In 1958 the car was sold to Judge Pat Ferchill of Fort Worth, Texas, still in its unrestored and original form. Auctioneer and dealer, Dan Kruse, purchased the car from Ferchil’s estate in the early 1980s, and sold it to Robert McGowan in Ct. In 1985, McGowan sold the car to Bill Lassiter who lived in Florida. Lassiter commissioned the car to have a comprehensive concours quality restoration, finished off with a charcoal and burgundy exterior and black leather top.

Though they were built during the Great Depression and cost more than a Rolls-Royce or a Hispano-Suiza, the Model J Duesenberg had no problems attracting customers in the beginning. Among the rich and famous who drove Duesenbergs were film stars Greta Garbo, Al Jolson, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable and Dolores del Rio, whose husband Cedric Gibbons, famed film art director and creator of the "Oscar" statuette, was also a keen Duesenberg owner. Among its remarkable features was a twin-cam race-bred engine – a purpose-built 32-valve Lycoming 419 C.I. DOHC straight-eight said to develop 265 horsepower.

With light bodywork, it was possible to achieve 90 mph in second gear with a maximum speed in the region of 110 mph in high gear. Even with more substantial Town Car bodies, performance was impressive. Ride and handling were exceptional for the period, matched by 15-inch hydraulic brakes all around. Every chassis built was tested for 500 miles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before being handed over to a leading coachbuilder for the construction of custom bodywork.