Equipment
Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual chrome wrapped sidemounts, dual windshields, outside head pipes, Pilot Rays, mesh hood side vents, neatly integrated luggage trunk. A quality old restoration in dated colors showing age but little use. Unnumbered old CCCA National First Prize badge. A factory long wheelbase SJ with its original coachwork and engine, first owned by Ben E. Smith of E.F. Hutton & Co. in New York (who must have survived the Crash of 1929 and its aftermath pretty well.) Went to Mexico in 1944 where it stayed until 1968. Continuous history from new but with a repro blower.
Market commentary
Opened at $750,000, bumped to $1 million and left the block bid to $1,525,000 and unsold. After about fifteen minutes negotiation, several phone calls and some arm twisting this deal was concluded. It is the real deal, in an intriguing and rare 5 passenger long wheelbase phaeton configuration that has been well restored and maintained over a long period. A real Duesenberg bought for real money.