1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster
Designer Gordon Buehrig considered this his favorite creation among all Duesenberg Model J body styles, which speaks volumes about its exceptional beauty and proportions. The Tourster represented an exclusive collaboration between Duesenberg and Philadelphia’s prestigious Derham Body Company, with only eight original examples ever constructed.
Derham crafted distinctive five-passenger bodywork on the long 153.5-inch wheelbase chassis, creating what Buehrig described as “severely plain in ornamentation” yet equally handsome whether the convertible top was raised or lowered. The design solved common dual-cowl phaeton problems by incorporating an innovative rear windshield that slid up and down from behind the front seat via a crank handle, eliminating clumsy hinged tonneau panels.
The 420-cubic-inch dual-overhead-cam straight-eight engine delivered 265 horsepower through a three-speed manual transmission. Clever proportioning moved the rear seat ahead of the rear axle and positioned foot wells within the frame rails, allowing lower body sides while increasing passenger space.
All eight original Derham Toursters survive today and remain highly coveted centerpieces in the world’s most prominent automotive collections.
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