1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan
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Fred and August Duesenberg drew upon more than a decade of racing success to create their twin-cam straight-eight powerplant, a 420-cubic-inch design producing 265 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The dual-overhead-camshaft configuration featured four valves per cylinder and was manufactured by Lycoming to Duesenberg specifications.
Top speed reached approximately 116 mph, with second gear capable of an astonishing 89 mph. The bare chassis sold for $8,500, with completed automobiles typically ranging from $13,000 to $19,000 depending on the choice of coachwork.
Introduced on December 1, 1928, at the New York Auto Show, the Model J was offered on 142.5-inch and 153.5-inch wheelbases. An unsynchronized three-speed manual transmission proved adequate given the engine’s immense torque and flexibility.
Approximately half of the 481 Model Js produced between 1928 and 1937 received custom coachwork from independent builders including Murphy, Derham, Rollston, and LeBaron. The remainder were fitted with bodies by Duesenberg’s in-house La Grande operation.
LeBaron created 33 distinct body designs for the Model J chassis, with convertible sedans ranking among the firm’s most elegant offerings. These bodies blended formal presence with sporting character through careful attention to windshield rake, door placement, and overall visual balance, often accented by dual side-mounted spare wheels and optional external exhaust pipes.
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