How many Duesenbergs did Gary Cooper own?
Just two were built, primarily for publicity purposes, and next month Gooding & Company will offer the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ roadsteronce owned by actor Gary Cooper as part of its 2018 Pebble Beach sale.
Did Clark Gable flirt in a 1935 Duesenberg?
TO begin a seduction, a couple could do worse than flirt in a 1935 Duesenberg. Clark Gable, known for his cars and his flirting, attended a celebrity gala held by the actress Carole Lombard on the evening of Jan. 25, 1936.
Did Clark Gable own a Rolls Royce Jn?
The Model JN that Gable bought originally had a body by Rollston. But Gable, who also owned a collection of other Duesenbergs, Packards and Mercedes-Benzes, took it to the coachbuilders Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, Calif., for a complete reworking.
How much is a Duesenberg convertible worth?
The car is also undeniably rare; fewer than a dozen JNs were built, only four of which were convertibles, the auction house said. “The record for an American car sold at public auction is $10.34 million, for a Duesenberg — the 1931 Whittell Coupe — which we sold last year,” Mr. Gooding said.
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Who were the promoters of the Duesenberg car?
The firm had already acquired a considerable aura of prestige when in October 1919, Fred signed over the rights to his name, patents, and drawings for a passenger car to a pair of promoters, Newton E. Van Zandt and Luther M. Rankin. On March 8, 1920, these men became president and vice president of the "Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Corporation of Indianapolis". Fred was chief engineer and Augie his assistant, and both were salaried as employees.
Where were the first Duesenbergs built?
According to archives of The Des Moines Register, the first Duesenbergs were built at 915 Grand Ave in Des Moines, Iowa. In the 1970s, Virgil Exner tried to revive Duesenberg, but due to his early death, only concept cars were ever made.
What is a Duesenberg JN?
There is another version of the model J known as the Duesenberg JN (a name never used by the company either). All JNs were sold with Rollston coachwork and only ten were produced in 1935. In an attempt to give a more modern look to an ageing design, the JN was equipped with smaller 17 in (43 cm)-diameter wheels (versus 19 in (48 cm)), skirted fenders, bullet-shaped taillights, and bodies set on the frame rails for a lower look. The battery box and toolbox were redesigned slightly so that the doors could close over the frame. Supercharged JNs gained the logical SJN designation.
What engine did the Duesenberg brothers use?
This had the Duesenberg Straight-8 engine, the first "mass-produced" straight eight engine in the U.S.
What was the first car made by the Duesenberg brothers?
This had the Duesenberg Straight-8 engine , the first "mass-produced" straight eight engine in the U.S. It was an extremely advanced and expensive automobile and prices began at $6,500 ($98,731 in 2020 dollars ), offering features such as an overhead camshaft, four-valve cylinder heads, and the first four-wheel (16") hydraulic brakes (designed by Fred in conjunction with Lockheed) offered on a passenger car anywhere (predating Adler 's introduction to the European market in 1926 on the "Standard 6"). The Model A was a lighter and smaller vehicle than the competition. It was among the most powerful and the fastest cars of its time. Among the celebrities who purchased this model were Tom Mix and Rudolph Valentino .
What does SSJ stand for in Duesenberg?
The second "S" stands for "short wheelbase" as the two SSJ are the only Duesenberg to have a chassis with the wheelbase shortened to 125 in (3,200 mm).
How much did the Duesenberg J weigh?
Father Divine had the last Duesenberg chassis built with an extra-long 178-inch wheelbase. It weighed 7,800 lb (3,500 kg) and accommodated ten passengers.
What car did Clark Gable drive?
Two Duesenbergs are associated with Clark Gable. The one that has received the most 'press' is the Short Chassis SSJ. Die cast models are available (see My Collection ). However, according to ultimatecarpages.com , that car was only loaned to Gable! The recent book by Bill says that Gable "drove" it, but Cooper owned his!
What movie was Duesenberg in?
I was surfing the TV channels late one evening when I thought I spied a Duesenberg in an old movie. The movie was " Merrily We Live ". In the scene I saw, the hero, a writer, posing as a 'tramp' and hired as the chauffeur, backs the Duesenberg into another car at about 2 miles an hour and then says he'll take it to the shop to be repaired. Anyone who has seen a Duesenberg bumper knows that no repairs would be needed!
When was the Duesenberg made?
In the 1930s, no car was more befitting of a Hollywood superstar than a Duesenberg, and the Model J Duesenbergs (built from 1928 through 1937) are perhaps the most iconic. In 1935, Gable ordered a Model JN Convertible Coupe, one of only 10 JNs built, and one of only four in a convertible coupe body style.
What movies did Clark Gable play?
When it comes to Hollywood stars, few were bigger than Clark Gable. While his early films (some silent) brought him recognition, it was his roles in “It Happened One Night ,” “Mutiny On The Bounty” and “Gone With the Wind” that vaulted him to superstar status.
When was the Duesenberg engine replaced?
It was repainted at least four different colors. Its engine was replaced in the 1950s.
How fast is the Duesenberg?
Its 420-cubic-inch in-line 8-cylinder engine pulled like a train; it was reputed to have a 115-m.p.h. top speed “right off the showroom floor,” Mr. Gooding said. Its wheelbase of nearly 12 feet gave the car a poised, sublime ride. And its enormous steering wheel guided the wheels straight and true, although its vacuum-assisted drum brakes provided somewhat uncertain stopping power.
Who built the JN?
The Model JN that Gable bought originally had a body by Rollston. But Gable, who also owned a collection of other Duesenbergs, Packards and Mercedes-Benzes, took it to the coachbuilders Bohman & Schwartz in Pasadena, Calif., for a complete reworking.
Who owned the 1935 Duesenberg?
1935 Duesenberg "SSJ," once owned by Gary Cooper, heads... | Hemmings. Duesenberg's SJ models were noted for the performance of their 320-horsepower supercharged straight-eight engines, but the sportiest of the SJ models was the super-short-wheelbase variant dubbed... Duesenberg's SJ models were noted for the performance ...
Who is Clark Gable?
Stories vary on the second SSJ model, long associated with actor Clark Gable, a friend of Cooper's and a fellow motoring enthusiast. Some state that Gable purchased his SSJ first, prompting his friend Cooper to order a similar – but more powerful – example.
What year was the Duesenberg SSJ?
1935 Duesenberg SSJ roadster. Photos by Mathieu Heurtault, copyright and courtesy of Gooding and Company. Duesenberg's SJ models were noted for the performance of their 320-horsepower supercharged straight-eight engines, but the sportiest of the SJ models was the super-short-wheelbase variant dubbed "SSJ" by enthusiasts ...
How much did the Duesenberg SSJ sell for?
UPDATE (27.August 2018): The Duesenberg SSJ sold for a hammer price of $20 million, making it the most valuable prewar car ever sold at auction.
Who bought the Duesenberg SSJ?
Miles Collier purchased the collection from Cunningham, including the SSJ, and the car has long been exhibited as part of the Collier Collection and now, The Revs Institute. The Duesenberg SSJ has ties to Hemmings as well, as it was featured in issue 100of Special Interest Autos, published in August 1987.
How long is a Duesenberg J?
Duesenberg J models were generally available in two wheelbase lengths - 142.5 inches or 153.5 inches – while factory-built SJs (excluding cars later modified by owners) typically rode on the shorter chassis. The SSJs were built upon an even shorter frame, one that measured just 125 inches from axle to axle and was reportedly crafted from an existing 142.5-inch chassis. Roadster bodies for both SSJs were styled by Herb Newport and built by La Grande, and J-563, the car to be offered in Pebble Beach, came powered by a twin-Schebler-carburetor-fed version of the supercharged 448-cubic-inch straight-eight, said to be good for 400 horsepower. Top speed of the car was claimed to be 140 mph, but was electronically measured at 126.6 mph at Muroc Dry Lake in California. With a curb weight of 5,080 pounds and a massive vertical grille disrupting airflow, even the latter number is more than slightly impressive.
How much did the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ sell for?
The rare 1935 Duesenberg SSJ recently earned the title of most expensive American car to ever be sold at auction. It sold for an astounding $22,000,000 at the Gooding & Company auction during the 2018 Monterey Car Week, which is 60 percent more than the previous most expensive American car, the CSX 2000. The vehicle sold was one of only two SSJ ...
Who owns the SSJ?
The vehicle sold was one of only two SSJ models ever built, which were owned by Hollywood actors Clark Gable and Gary Cooper. The SSJ that was sold was the one previously owned by Gary Cooper , according to Hagerty. Cooper later sold the car to American race car driver Briggs Cunningham.
Where did Clark Gable live?
Few celebrities exemplified the movie community’s shift to simpler lifestyles better than Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who moved to a 20-acre ranch in the sparsely settled San Fernando Valley town of Encino several months after their marriage in 1939.
Where did Gable and Lombard live?
At the ranch, Gable and Lombard enjoyed unspoiled country living, far from the tour buses that prowled the streets of Beverly Hills, yet still an easy drive to the studios. To reach the property, they drove through the farmland and small ranches that still characterized the western portion of the San Fernando Valley before World War II. Behind a high fence and an electronically controlled gate, the couple's own property contained acres of citrus groves and fields of oats and alfalfa, stables, a cow barn and a pigless pigsty.
What type of roof did Carole Lombard have?
The ranch house, which Carole Lombard had renovated while Gable worked on Gone With the Wind, featured a white-brick-and-wood-frame facade, spacious red-brick terraces and a gambrel roof .
Did Gable and Lombard get married?
For a while, they even discussed the possibility of getting more chickens and selling "The King's Eggs.". Gable and Lombard's idyllic marriage was sadly short-lived.
