Equipment
Black wire wheels, chrome hubcaps, blackwall tires, vee windshield, Ryan-Lite headlights, dual sidemounts.
Condition
A prototype Al Leamy-designed Model J phaeton body assembled on a Duesenberg Model A chassis with Model A power by August Duesenberg. Refreshed mechanically and cosmetically by James T. Leeson in the 50's and left alone since. Dull, chipped old paint, worn and aged but sound more recent upholstery, sound but dull old chrome. Aged instrument panel. Original chassis. Displayed for many years at the ACD Museum, brakes not working but the car runs and drives.
Market commentary
Bid to $375,000 on the block, closed later at this price. Offered by Worldwide at Auburn in 2009 where it was reportedly bid to $500,000. Most of the nuts and bolts on this car were tightened by or under the supervision of Augie Duesenberg, it's that original. Its 88hp Duesenber Model A doesn't impart much performance, but that's not the point; in fact, the prototype body on the lower Model A chassis is sleek and fetching, much different from the large, imposing Model J chassis and coachwork. This is the real Model J that Fred Duesenberg, racer to the core, had in mind; it was E.L. Cord's dominating vision for the Model J that made it the behemoth beloved by collectors. This Model A/Y is an important piece of American automobile history, and not expensive at that.