Although we'd argue every Duesenberg ever made is in its own way unique, the speedster bodywork of this particular Model J makes it truly stand out. This car will be wearing its bullhorns when it crosses the block at Worldwide Auctioneers Houston event next month.
Duesenberg J-462 left the factory with a Murphy-built Beverly Berline body and the same 265 horsepower 420ci straight 8 that is currently under the hood, but not many other details about the car's early years are known. In fact, no one is even positive when those years began—the car is being advertised as a 1932 despite the fact a noted Duesenberg expert believes the car was built closer to 1935.
No one knows when the original body was scrapped and replaced with a speedster body or who was responsible for the switch either. The result is somewhat of a "mutt" of a Duesenberg—if such a thing could exist—with a mysterious past.
This is perhaps why the car failed to sell at a Bonhams auction last summer. When this custom speedster crosses the block in May it will be without a reserve. Accordingly, this Duesey will find a new home even if the top bid is significantly shy of the $400,000-$500,000 pre auction estimate.
We'll be excitedly watching to see where the bidding goes on this oddball Duesenberg.
[Hemmings]