Duesenberg

Duesenbergs are identified by their "J" number which unfortunately is stamped in the bell housing which often got swapped to another car over the years.

Here is one of my favorites, even in its current horrible color.   J365.

J496 with Brunn Torpedo body.  Unfortunately wrecked.

There were no production Duesenberg bodies.  All were coachbuilt although many were done in series.  For example,  Murphy built a bunch of convertible sedans which I believe was the most inexpensive model you could buy at around 12k.   Bare chassis was 8500.    A complete custom V16 Caddy would run you about 2k less.

Incredibly handsome guy standing in front of a Murphy disappearing top convertible coupe.  These came in two varieties,  with the disappearing top and non disappearing top.  The premium for the deck lid is around 100% these days.

With the top up there is no way to tell.  At least I can't.

A.J.:

Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them.  Thanks for correcting this oversight.

We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...

Steve

58L-Y8Oct 22, 2023

A.J.:

Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them.  Thanks for correcting this oversight.

We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...

Steve

The JN series is the ultimate Duesenberg in my mind.  It has the drop center wheels, drop sill bodies with super low windshield, down draft carburation, and the improved steering box.  There is no cowl band to interrupt the hood line.

Also, the later cars got the swept needle instruments which were a huge improvement over the barrel ones.

58L-Y8Oct 22, 2023

A.J.:

Duesenberg J's get discussed so often, we all just assumed there was an individual thread for them.  Thanks for correcting this oversight.

We got to enjoy this briefly at Hershey this year...between the showers...

Steve

This car was parked right next to me at Hershey and I was struck by how small it is. Duesenbergs are known for being massive and having 140+ wheelbases, but this one appeared smaller than my 136-inch Lincoln. And yes, it was lovely.

Matt HarwoodOct 22, 2023

This car was parked right next to me at Hershey and I was struck by how small it is. Duesenbergs are known for being massive and having 140+ wheelbases, but this one appeared smaller than my 136-inch Lincoln. And yes, it was lovely.

Matt, the car has 142 inch wheelbase. The long wheelbase cars are 153.  What is massive is the length of the hood.

Gentlemen:

Sized by comparison to the 1934 Nash Ambassador Eight Brougham Model 1297 which also has a 142" wheelbase, the SJN didn't look as large as it is.  In fact, both cars are nearly identical length, their bumpers aligned.   Body/chassis proportioning was significantly different, as A.J. notes, approximately 55% of the Duesenberg is taken up through the A-pillar, while the Nash was perhaps 33%.   The latter does deserve the "Kenosha Duesenberg" monicker, it is one imposing, impressive automobile. 

Steve

58L-Y8Oct 22, 2023

Gentlemen:

Sized by comparison to the 1934 Nash Ambassador Eight Brougham Model 1297 which also has a 142" wheelbase, the SJN didn't look as large as it is.  In fact, both cars are nearly identical length, their bumpers aligned.   Body/chassis proportioning was significantly different, as A.J. notes, approximately 55% of the Duesenberg is taken up through the A-pillar, while the Nash was perhaps 33%.   The latter does deserve the "Kenosha Duesenberg" monicker, it is one imposing, impressive automobile. 

Steve

Steve, to date I have not found any hood on an American car (or any car for that matter) as long as the Model J Duesenberg.   Anything 6' or longer is big and the Duesenberg is much longer than that.

Check that,  I forgot about my Stutz.

My buddy Jim owned the tapertail for a while back in the 1960’s. He purchased it off a local estate for $20,000. He put down $4,000 and the estate held paper and financed the balance. He told me he had a lot of sleepless nights owing that much money on a car since the car cost a lot more than his brand new house did a few years earlier. The 20k was a huge sum of money back in the day for a collector car.

Jim said a bunch of people were lined up waiting to buy that car from the estate and they couldn’t believe a young punk could come with that kind of scratch to buy it, not knowing the deal that he worked out with the estate. Luckily as time went on he found some sucker to buy the car for $40,000 in cash, was able to pay off the estate and go back to having good night sleeps…. “ I thought I won the lottery selling that car!”

Also a cool Delage in the background.

Tph479Oct 24, 2023

My buddy Jim owned the tapertail for a while back in the 1960’s. He purchased it off a local estate for $20,000. He put down $4,000 and the estate held paper and financed the balance. He told me he had a lot of sleepless nights owing that much money on a car since the car cost a lot more than his brand new house did a few years earlier. The 20k was a huge sum of money back in the day for a collector car.

Jim said a bunch of people were lined up waiting to buy that car from the estate and they couldn’t believe a young punk could come with that kind of scratch to buy it, not knowing the deal that he worked out with the estate. Luckily as time went on he found some sucker to buy the car for $40,000 in cash, was able to pay off the estate and go back to having good night sleeps…. “ I thought I won the lottery selling that car!”

Also a cool Delage in the background.

I'd vote this one to be the ultimate Duesenberg.

West PetersonOct 24, 2023

I'd vote this one to be the ultimate Duesenberg.

I sure wish I was the sucker who paid 40k. It’s a 25+ car today……that’s M 

alsancleOct 23, 2023

Steve, to date I have not found any hood on an American car (or any car for that matter) as long as the Model J Duesenberg.   Anything 6' or longer is big and the Duesenberg is much longer than that.

How would a 1936 Buick Century compare? Maybe it was too contemporary for a side-by-side comparison. 

ShooteyOct 24, 2023

How would a 1936 Buick Century compare? Maybe it was too contemporary for a side-by-side comparison. 

My guess is that the Duesenberg is at least 12 inches longer.

Longer than an Individual Custom Packard from 1934? Or your 1935 Packard 12? How long is the '35 Packard 12 hood?

West PetersonOct 24, 2023

Longer than an Individual Custom Packard from 1934? Or your 1935 Packard 12? How long is the '35 Packard 12 hood?

Much longer than all of the above.   The 35 Packard 12 and my Stearns are both 72" if I recall correctly.  I believe my Royale is 74" with the setback body.

The Dietrich is not as long as you think,  although the V on the sides gives the impression of length.  Even along the sides the Duesenberg is longer.

George sent these to me of the Gurney Nutting Speedster.   AKA Maharajah Duesenberg.   I actually paid a fortune for a period print of the top up picture years ago.   Interesting to me because my dad always liked to brag that he beat it the first time it was shown at an ACD show back in 1963.

Interesting as I think the hoods on 500, 540K MB present longer. Must be an illusion combined with that long, low look.  

Steve_Mack_CTOct 25, 2023

Interesting as I think the hoods on 500, 540K MB present longer. Must be an illusion combined with that long, low look.  

If I’m remembering correctly around 68 inches, but a setback radiator car will look like 73.

J189 now and 30 years ago with me working on it.   Anybody insinuating that I staged that photo probably knows me well.

Couple of photos of an SJ engine with the manifolds being fit.  All the blown cars have the later "rams horn" manifolds but I believe most of the original 36 supercharged cars had the cross over pipes going in to a downdraft manifold.   I'll try to find a picture of one.   Obviously the rams horn looks better.   The only cars that I know of that got the dual carb blower are the two SSJ cars and the Mormon Meteor.   J292 got what was supposed to be the back up engine from the Mormon Meteor sometime in the late 30s down in Argentina.   That is pictured last.

Unfortunately about 99 percent of my Duesenberg photos can't be posted......here are a few that can.

Back in my youth, there was a local collector that had the Murphy disappearing top Convertible coupe with the two rear spare tires. I always thought that car was stunning. The joke is that  it went into Roxas’ shop for a brake job and a couple of hundred grand later came out a show dog and won a bunch of awards . It is black on black with blackwall tires. Most cars done at that time still had the circus wagon motif and this car looked sinister in black. 

If I’m lucky, I might see one on  a road!! Lol

Tph479Oct 27, 2023

Back in my youth, there was a local collector that had the Murphy disappearing top Convertible coupe with the two rear spare tires. I always thought that car was stunning. The joke is that  it went into Roxas’ shop for a brake job and a couple of hundred grand later came out a show dog and won a bunch of awards . It is black on black with blackwall tires. Most cars done at that time still had the circus wagon motif and this car looked sinister in black. 

Did I hear correctly that this car now runs with dual sidemounts instead of the rear-mounted spares?

West PetersonOct 27, 2023

Did I hear correctly that this car now runs with dual sidemounts instead of the rear-mounted spares?

I think it was converted to sidemounts and then converted back again.  What I can't remember is how many were built that way.  It is a tiny number, like 1, 2, or 3.

Hopefully the right person sees this and calls to straighten me out .

This is J292 which I mentioned earlier during its racing years in Argentina.   It was a LeGrande swept panel dual cowl, chopped for racing and then restored by my Uncle Ted back to its original configuration in the 1970s.

This is J547 Rollston sport sedan that was sold for cheap out of the Tupelo Automobile Museum Auction back in 2019. 

Everybody knows about the famous Mercedes Duesenberg match race on Lake Muroc I hope?   Phil Berg's Model J against Harpo Marx's Murphy bodied S Mercedes.

alsancleOct 27, 2023

This is J292 which I mentioned earlier during its racing years in Argentina.   It was a LeGrande swept panel dual cowl, chopped for racing and then restored by my Uncle Ted back to its original configuration in the 1970s.

Too bad it got converted back. Pretty cool as is

alsancleOct 27, 2023

Everybody knows about the famous Mercedes Duesenberg match race on Lake Muroc I hope?   Phil Berg's Model J against Harpo Marx's Murphy bodied S Mercedes.

Al...

This whole post confuses me. What does the Berline have to do with the race, and the shaved Duesenberg in the bottom photo does not match the shaved Duesenberg in the race.

West PetersonOct 27, 2023

Al...

This whole post confuses me. What does the Berline have to do with the race, and the shaved Duesenberg in the bottom photo does not match the shaved Duesenberg in the race.

Nothing. I’ll edit the post.

West PetersonOct 27, 2023

Did I hear correctly that this car now runs with dual sidemounts instead of the rear-mounted spares?

No idea. The car bounced around after it left the area and I haven't seen it since in person. It would be a shame if it was converted to sidemounts. The rear spare gave it a distinctive look from the other duesys. Seeing the car without the rear spares would be like seeing Tom Selleck without a mustache.  

I find this postwar update interesting, AJ I believe has noted it has since been returned to the original configuration.  Not unlike the racer,  the period mods are cool.

Another postwar shot in the wild..

Steve_Mack_CTOct 27, 2023

I find this postwar update interesting, AJ I believe has noted it has since been returned to the original configuration.  Not unlike the racer,  the period mods are cool.

Sold at the Guyton auction all the updates were simple bolted on.   Here it is with the updates taken off.  A Murphy convertible sedan, the most prolific body style on the J chassis.  Also the cheapest.

alsancleOct 27, 2023

Everybody knows about the famous Mercedes Duesenberg match race on Lake Muroc I hope?   Phil Berg's Model J against Harpo Marx's Murphy bodied S Mercedes.

Still curious and confused, though, as the car in the bottom photo is clearly not the car that raced the Mercedes.

West PetersonOct 27, 2023

Still curious and confused, though, as the car in the bottom photo is clearly not the car that raced the Mercedes.

Good point. I never paid attention but the muroc car was a barrel side. Now I’ll need to go figure this out and post more information.

alsancleOct 27, 2023

Good point. I never paid attention but the muroc car was a barrel side. Now I’ll need to go figure this out and post more information.

A.J.:

Looks like Gary Cooper's Derham Tourster.  Did he get the bright idea at some point to remove the fenders and race it?

Steve

alsancleOct 27, 2023

I think it was converted to sidemounts and then converted back again.  What I can't remember is how many were built that way.  It is a tiny number, like 1, 2, or 3.

Hopefully the right person sees this and calls to straighten me out .

I had a chance to look the car over at Pebble, and as any car that Randy restores, it’s perfect. I don’t have the entire story about it going to side mounts and back to a double rear set up but Randy had said to me only two or three were built that way. I have heard of the car recently on the Duesenberg tour……it’s doing just fine. I expect we shal see it out in public again soon.

I just saw a J conv. coupe with top up, dual sidemounts with possibly an accompanying Auburn Phaeton in the SE this morning. I believe I've met the Duesenberg owner. I was driving so couldn't get the camera out fast enough. Nice to see people enjoying their iron!

Randy Ema explained this mystery to me.   A hot rod being made out of a Model J in the late 40s Southern California.  When they went to put the engine in it there wasn't enough room for the drive shaft so the whole thing was broken up.

J534 is a pretty cool car. It has the crank down convertible top. Car was right out of the restoration shop on a ride.

No pictures of the Father Devine car yet with his angles?  

I like the Shappy car and the story behind it.  The undercarriage on this car has not been restored, but the car I believe has been sorted out.

Color? I like it but I know some don't.

Like it with the bird better than Lalique which he sometimes uses.

Tph479Nov 3, 2023

J534 is a pretty cool car. It has the crank down convertible top. Car was right out of the restoration shop on a ride.

Would we agree that the Walker LeGrande is the ultimate "production" Model J?  I believe 4 made?

Harry Yeaggy own this Bird car now.  My dad took this picture at the auction in 1963 at Farnsworth on Long Island.

My dad has a phone from the mansion telephone system.  I'll have to take a picture of it.

Tph479Nov 3, 2023

No pictures of the Father Devine car yet with his angles?  

I don't hate that car as much as everybody else.  Although this first picture makes me change my mind.  B&S I believe?   I looked to see if I had a picture and I don't.   These are internet photos.

Steve_Mack_CTNov 3, 2023

I like the Shappy car and the story behind it.  The undercarriage on this car has not been restored, but the car I believe has been sorted out.

Color? I like it but I know some don't.

Like it with the bird better than Lalique which he sometimes uses.

Dick is old school and started collecting when whitewalls, bright colors, extra lights and fancy hood ornaments were the standard.   That car is fantastic and I would be willing to pay for the blackwalls if he wanted to give it to me.   I believe Derham?   And they made 3 or 4 of them.  The black supercharged car was my all time favorite Model J and you would see it driving all over Auburn during the reunion.

alsancleNov 4, 2023

Would we agree that the Walker LeGrande is the ultimate "production" Model J?  I believe 4 made?

Harry Yeaggy own this Bird car now.  My dad took this picture at the auction in 1963 at Farnsworth on Long Island.

A.J.:

I'd concur the Walker-LeGrande convertible coupes are among the ultimate, late-production Duesenberg J's.  Credit for the design seems to be between Gordon Buehrig and J. Herbert Newport, I'd opine the latter had more to do with it.    Noted in Fred Roe's book is the full-length, over-the-cowl hood.  Though looking at the inflection in the beltline in your father's auction photo, was only the top hood panel extended and the side panel stops at the firewall?   Side-mounts help to hide that division in profile views.

I thought we shouldn't sully this tread with the dreadful Father Divine's Duesenberg "Bus"...but might as well get it out of the way early...

Steve

The Walker-LaGrand's are sharp.......just like the JN Rollstons. Interestingly there is very little published on either. The JN's were designed mid 1934, and were built in late November of 1934. Every JN had it's own separate drawing and were all somewhat different, some more than others. Why it took till mid 1935 for them to be placed on a chassis and then sent out to the shows and dealers is beyond anyones knowledge that is still with us. The very little information out there is closely held and not readily available. In my humble opinion, JN's are all 1935 cars...........although most didn't seem to find owners till 1936. I have more thoughts on the JN's but haven't shared it with anyone. There are probably less than five people on the planet who actually care about the details today. 

edinmassNov 4, 2023

The Walker-LaGrand's are sharp.......just like the JN Rollstons. Interestingly there is very little published on either. The JN's were designed mid 1934, and were built in late November of 1934. Every JN had it's own separate drawing and were all somewhat different, some more than others. Why it took till mid 1935 for them to be placed on a chassis and then sent out to the shows and dealers is beyond anyones knowledge that is still with us. The very little information out there is closely held and not readily available. In my humble opinion, JN's are all 1935 cars...........although most didn't seem to find owners till 1936. I have more thoughts on the JN's but haven't shared it with anyone. There are probably less than five people on the planet who actually care about the details today. 

Ed:

I would be interested to read your thoughts on the JN's.  My unglamourous assumption is that Rudy Creteur had develop the design series, was shopping it to the remaining luxury car purveyors when the Duesenberg representative recalled the last ten chassis left at Indianapolis in need of bodies to finally clear away inventory.  Ultimately, whether at the plebian or patrician level, the end game is to "move the metal".

Steve 

That’s certainly a strong possibility. Remember, after the JN’s a few more cars were tossed together. Some using used or refurbished parts. JN 565 for example had one of the first ten cylinder heads placed on it. #2 is the actual number. There were manufacturing issues early on, and thus #2 was shelved…….in 1928. Fast forward to 1935 and head #2 comes off the shelf and is installed on the car. Problem: It leaks oil……..when the car was pulled out of the barn in the 2018 where it was basically not driven any significant amount from 1950-1970 and then left forgotten it only had 19k on the clock. Well when it started getting driven again, in 2021 it ended up that I had to fix the leak……..”Duesenberg warranty work!” Early heads didn’t have an oil return for the distributor feed. Thus the plug holes fill up with oil and eventually plugs go bad from soaking in oil. Toss in the smell from it also. I ended up machining a return as installed on the “improved versions” of the production heads. Fixed the issue. We had lots of fun doing it………..but never got paid by the factory. It’s one of those little things that only hard core car people appreciate. Performing a Factory Directed Modification 83 years after the car was delivered. Wonder what the Chicago branch guys were thinking about the leak when it was new. I just checked it last week after we did 700 miles on the tour with it…….dry as a bone. Car had original rods, head gasket, pistons, brake hoses, clutch, ect when we got our hands on it. Basically just a 40’s repaint that had been forgotten. It’s special to drive a low mileage car………you get the same sensation as Clark Gable had when he drove his back in the day. 

alsancleNov 4, 2023

Would we agree that the Walker LeGrande is the ultimate "production" Model J?  I believe 4 made?

Harry Yeaggy own this Bird car now.  My dad took this picture at the auction in 1963 at Farnsworth on Long Island.

My dad has a phone from the mansion telephone system.  I'll have to take a picture of it.

I think that  3 were made and all exist. It is a pretty racy body style and these cars do check all of the boxes. 
 

In regards to the crank down top, where you put the handle into the side of the car and turn it, is there any truth to some kind of lawsuit between the patent holder and GM during the 1960’s on the top mechanism design? 

alsancleNov 4, 2023

I don't hate that car as much as everybody else.  Although this first picture makes me change my mind.  B&S I believe?   I looked to see if I had a picture and I don't.   These are internet photos.

I went to high school directly across the street from Roxas’ restoration shop and there was always cool stuff outside being loaded and unloaded. Since I went to an all male high school, which would probably today have to be called an “AMAB” - assigned male at birth high school, there was really nothing cool to look at besides the cars across the street. 
 

Later on in life, I would stop by Roxas’ shop at his new building. I would usually stop by when a car was just finishing up and getting prepared for Pebble. It was always neat to see the Duesenberg’s, Packard’s and other classics when they were fresh out of the box. The quality that they did is top notch.
 

What really was eye opening to me was seeing the condition or lack of quality of the previous restoration work on some of these cars that they were re-restoring. Some of these cars really lived hard, battered life’s. The guys did an excellent job of getting the evil spirits out of these cars and putting them back together again and put back to their formal glory.

I remember checking out the divine car about 15 years ago. The throne car barley fit through the door since it was so wide. Pictures don’t do that car justice, it is a bus seeing it in person. Even if you threw a wig on that car and drank a bottle of scotch it wouldn’t look any better. I can at least say that the most recent restoration of that car was as usual phenomenal. The joke was how many angles could Devine fit in that car at one time.

Here is a photo from my personal binder which I'm going to launch on to the internet.   Ed will be forwarding me a link from Facebook next week where somebody posts it.   J249 which I believe doesn't exist anywhere.

Tph479Nov 5, 2023

I went to high school directly across the street from Roxas’ restoration shop and there was always cool stuff outside being loaded and unloaded. Since I went to an all male high school, which would probably today have to be called an “AMAB” - assigned male at birth high school, there was really nothing cool to look at besides the cars across the street. 
 

Later on in life, I would stop by Roxas’ shop at his new building. I would usually stop by when a car was just finishing up and getting prepared for Pebble. It was always neat to see the Duesenberg’s, Packard’s and other classics when they were fresh out of the box. The quality that they did is top notch.
 

What really was eye opening to me was seeing the condition or lack of quality of the previous restoration work on some of these cars that they were re-restoring. Some of these cars really lived hard, battered life’s. The guys did an excellent job of getting the evil spirits out of these cars and putting them back together again and put back to their formal glory.

I remember checking out the divine car about 15 years ago. The throne car barley fit through the door since it was so wide. Pictures don’t do that car justice, it is a bus seeing it in person. Even if you threw a wig on that car and drank a bottle of scotch it wouldn’t look any better. I can at least say that the most recent restoration of that car was as usual phenomenal. The joke was how many angles could Devine fit in that car at one time.

One of the reasons I have learned lately to value cars that have never been apart.   So many cars were ruined in the 70s, 80s, 90s but being torn down to individual nuts and bolts and reassembled.    There is almost no such thing as an untouched car, but something that may have a single repaint 75 years ago and is otherwise unmolested is such a cool thing to me.    I will admit, it was very hard to get away from the shiny car syndrome.

alsancleNov 5, 2023

One of the reasons I have learned lately to value cars that have never been apart.   So many cars were ruined in the 70s, 80s, 90s but being torn down to individual nuts and bolts and reassembled.    There is almost no such thing as an untouched car, but something that may have a single repaint 75 years ago and is otherwise unmolested is such a cool thing to me.    I will admit, it was very hard to get away from the shiny car syndrome.

Under some of that shiny paint that was done in the 1970’s and 80’s on high end classic cars were cars held together with drywall screws and bondo that was so thick that it had to be chopped out with chisels and two pound sledge hammers.  Some real butchery, Joe Doakes type of work back in the day. When the cars were loaded up with all of the chromed accessories, the term we used was that they had “parasitic appendages” on them.

There is nothing finer than a well preserved original car or a quality restoration where people take pride in their work. 

OK.....these are probably new to everyone here.........

alsancleNov 5, 2023

Here is a photo from my personal binder which I'm going to launch on to the internet.   Ed will be forwarding me a link from Facebook next week where somebody posts it.   J249 which I believe doesn't exist anywhere.

Your just looking in the wrong garage.............

alsancleNov 5, 2023

One of the reasons I have learned lately to value cars that have never been apart.   So many cars were ruined in the 70s, 80s, 90s but being torn down to individual nuts and bolts and reassembled.    There is almost no such thing as an untouched car, but something that may have a single repaint 75 years ago and is otherwise unmolested is such a cool thing to me.    I will admit, it was very hard to get away from the shiny car syndrome.

One of the reasons I cut the Hudson Pickup as cool as it was and it drove really well,  and kept the 33 Plymouth.  Very original with one old respray fairly well done,  that has now aged enough that it matches the original wool interior .  Lots of satisfaction in taking a good fairly original car and just detailing the hell out of it.  There is a difference between patina and dirt.  

auburnseekerNov 5, 2023

One of the reasons I cut the Hudson Pickup as cool as it was and it drove really well,  and kept the 33 Plymouth.  Very original with one old respray fairly well done,  that has now aged enough that it matches the original wool interior .  Lots of satisfaction in taking a good fairly original car and just detailing the hell out of it.  There is a difference between patina and dirt.  

The there is a difference between patina and dirt. Somebody needs to tell the barn find people that.

edinmassNov 5, 2023

OK.....these are probably new to everyone here.........

These are pictures of J292 in Argentina.   I posted the picture of it earlier in the thread.   It was brought to America in the 60s by Ed Jurist who sold it to my Uncle Ted Billing.  Ted traded a 540K Special Roadster (late series) that was owned by Jim Dibickero of Chicago previously (see it in the mercedes thread).

Great thread. I hope to read more. Ed was correct,  his photos of J 292 were new to me.

Has anyone seen another one of these?  An Edmunds 2 carb intake for a J

Hemi JoelNov 25, 2023

Has anyone seen another one of these?  An Edmunds 2 carb intake for a J

Cool.  And Nope.   Ask Randy or Tim Purrier.   There is a chance it is a modern casting in which case you don't want to install it.

From the Ted McPhail estate ?

mike bradyNov 25, 2023

From the Ted McPhail estate ?

I don't have a record of who it came from. I bought it off of ebay in 2015ish. Did Ted McPhail have one?

Tph479Nov 3, 2023

No pictures of the Father Devine car yet with his angles?  

I posted a photo of it I took in 1989 here:  Orphan of the Day, 03-10, 1937 Duesenberg Model J - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum

Craig

Does anyone know what car was in the 1936 movies "Small Town Girl" and "Stowaway"?

It is a non-disappearing top Murphy convertible coupe with outside exhaust. It has the standard rake to the windshield and rear curtain and rear hinged doors. It looks like the top has been removed, (or it is a partially disappearing top?) and the chrome stands to support the top when it is down are still there. 

What do you think?  Joel

Could it be J142? It fits the profile.

Gorgeous 

Do not want to impose my contributions nor presence on a region nor club I do not belong to but will this one time to post a period photo that some have possibly seen before. This Duesenberg is a model X . Lot of focus on the model J , but the model X had some really good styling to it as well for the years it was built. So here is my one time contribution to the CCCA section of the forums with period material.

A do - well cow - well , the photo taken on a New York City street when new. ( probably on the upper west side of Manhattan) .

WEG

( yes I know most know me as Walt but CCCA moniker has to reflect more upper crusty lexicon. )

Jay Leno should buy this car-

Tph479May 29, 2024

Jay Leno should buy this car-

I would say my favorite Model J except that screwed up the headlights. 

For some reason I like the Bumpers