In late 2022, Doug Pray of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company was called to rescue a Duesenberg that had been in storage for 55 years. The car turned out to be a rare 1931 Model J worth millions of dollars. The classic was also in good condition, albeit no longer 100% original.
In February 2023, we witnessed the Duesy finally emerge into the open after more than 50 years, courtesy to YouTube’s “Nobody’s Show.” Why is this crucial? You won’t get another chance to witness this classic in its original state. A frame-off restoration that will restore the Model J to its original condition is planned. Doug predicts that the procedure will take up to three years because it is so complicated.
The car’s current condition is not precisely as-found, though. The convertible was obviously cleaned inside and out, and the fender skirts were cut off for a closer resemblance to its original specifications. As Mr. Pray explains, the Murphy-bodied Model J wasn’t available with fender skirts in 1931. The option was added later in the 1930s when he assumed that the owner took it back to the factory for an upgrade. The Model J will also be running and driving at the event.
The restoration will include a significant overhaul of the pre-WW2 classic. For starters, it will be stripped of the current silver paint. That’s mainly because it’s not the original color. Believed to be repainted like this in 1951, this Duesenberg left the factory in dark blue. Needless to say, the wheels and the interior weren’t green either.
The latter, albeit initially appearing to be original, actually has vinyl upholstery as opposed to leather. In order to give them a nicer and more authentic appearance, the seats, door panels, and dashboard will also be covered in hide during the restoration. The instrument panel dials turn out to be frequently not original as well, thus the restoration will also involve looking for genuine Duesenberg clocks.
This 1931 Model J will be one of the best and most authentic Duesenbergs available once it has been restored. And that’s more than appropriate for a million-dollar ultra-rare American classic. How unusual is it? Doug claims that it is one of just 25 Model Js that the Walter M. Murphy Company bodied.
Duesenberg built 445 Model J chassis, all of which were sent to various coachbuilding firms. About half of them were bodied by La Grande, while the rest were split among independent companies like Franay, Gurney Nutting, and Saoutchik. The Murphy cars are the rarest of the Model J lineage. So much so that people are standing in line at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Co. to make offers and buy it. But the owner is not interested in parting ways with his rare treasure.
What is the value of a Duesenberg like this? I’m not able to provide you with an exact figure, but I can say that 21 of the 29 items that were auctioned off over the course of the last couple of years found new homes for more than $1 million. Six of them were sold for more than $3 million, one went for $4.6 million, and another was put up for auction for $5.7 million. An SSJ once owned by Gary Cooper holds the record, selling for a staggering $22 million in 2018.
The latter is, of course, much rarer than the Model J, as Duesenberg built only a couple of them. The supercharger SJ is also scarce and usually more expensive at only 36 units made from 1928 to 1937. But while it may not be the most valuable Duesenberg out there, this Model J is definitely a million-dollar classic. One that still rocks its original 420-cubic-inch (6.9-liter) straight-eight engine.