Saturday 1st December 1928

For his new flagship model, the Model J Duesenberg, E.L. Cord wanted a big and powerful chassis suited for fine coachwork and able to take on the world’s greatest cars, such as Hispano-Suiza and Mercedes-Benz. With the Fred Duesenberg-designed Model J, his wishes were answered. The new Model J debuted on this date at the New York Auto Show. Following its launch in 1928 – ironically a year before the great depression – the Model J rapidly became the must have status symbol of the rich and famous. Notable owners included Al Capone, Great Garbo, Howard Hughes, Mae West, Clark Gable, as well as various European royals. It’s easy to see why they liked the car so much, as it featured the most powerful engine available from any US maker – a ‘straight eight’ work of art boasting almost 7.0-litres and making 265bhp. As such, it was both the fastest and most expensive American car of its era, made more so by the fact that it was supplied only as a rolling chassis so customers had to order a bespoke body from the coachbuilder of their choice.