G-01-1932 Duesenberg J Rollston Victoria Coupe
Donald Ghareeb, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
From the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d Elegance Field guide.
“In European parlance this car might he called a Faux
Cabriolet, as the padded top is designed to have the look of an open car. The result is an exceptionally handsome closed 4-passenger or Victoria coupe with a 1/4 window in the top to give rear passengers greater outward visibility.
This Duesenberg (J-490) was bodied by the New
York coachbuilding firm of Rollston & Co. in 1932 on
Duesenberg’s Model J 142-inch “short” chassis. Delivered
to its first owner in Chicago, the car has known ownership history from new.”
The Duesenberg Model J was launched in 1928 with a dual overhead camshaft straight 8 cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder and making 265 Horsepower. The cars were capable of 120 mph.
The Chassis cost over $8,000 and then a Coachbuilder built the various style of bodies based on the customers wishes. Derham, Judkins, LeBaron, Murphy, Walker, and Rollston, among others produced bodies for these cars.
These cars were favoured by the rich of the day and were owned by many famous people including Howard Hughes, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, William Randolph Hearst, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, the Duke of Windsor, Mae West, and Al Capone.
