1935 Clark Gable's Duesenberg SSJ Roadster front right

The road cars were not an immediate success. The Duesenberg brothers were great designers and engineeers, but their business and marketing talents were limited. Poor sales results pushed Duesenberg on the verge of bankruptcy. E.L. Cord stepped in and bought the company in 1926. Cord decided to abandon the nimble Model A and requested Fred Duesenberg to design a large, luxurious and powerful chassis to be bodied by various coach-builders.Dubbed Model J, the new Duesenberg was equipped with a wide variety of technical novelties. In its design the chassis was very simple with a ladder frame and solid axles front and rear. Six cross-members made sure the chassis was twist-free and could accomodate all body-types regardless of the body's rigidity. An ingenious lubrication system was installed, which automatically started lubricating various parts of the chassis after sixty to eighty miles. Two lights on the dashboard indicated the lubrication progress and two others lit up at 750 and 1500 miles indicating the need for an oil change and battery check respectively.It's the engine that really made the Model J stand out from its competition. With 32 valves, double overhead camshafts and a detachable head the eight cylinder engine was the most advanced engine ever designed in the United States. Displacing just under 6.9 litres, the engine produced an earthmoving 265 bhp, more than could be tested on any contemporary dynometer. Although the engine was designed by Fred Duesenberg, it was constructed by specialised engine-builder Lycoming, which was also recently acquired by E.L. Cord.Despite the enthusiastic public response at the New York launch, sales were disappointing. The estimated production figure of 500 cars per year was never matched and eventually only 481 Model Js were constructed. Being extremely expensive, the Model J was popular with the rich and famous. Among the owners were many greats from the showbizz industry like Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, James Cagney and Greta Garbo. Various kings and queens were Model J owners as well. Part of the Duesenberg legend is based on the many famous owners.Today the Model J is considered to be one of the most legendary cars ever constructed. The combination of state-of-the-art racing inspired engineering, the era's finest coach-building and the cars' many famous owners have all contributed to that legend. One of the most told stories about the Model J underlined the engine's incredible power; the Model J could smoothly accelerate from 10 mph to 89 mph in second gear. The SSJ's top-speed is estimated to be close to 160 mph, faster than any other pre-War road car.Founded by Harold Ames, LaGrande was not a regular coach-builder, but rather a name for factory designed bodies constructed by three local Indiana coach-builders. Although the LaGrande bodies are today considered 'factory bodies,' none of them were ever constructed by Duesenberg. The 29 bodies were constructed by Union City Body Company, A. H. Walker Body Company and Central Manufacturing Company.Featured are two similar LaGrande 'bodied' Duesenbergs. After its short-wheelbase chassis, unique to these two examples, they are known as the SSJs. Each car was once in the possession of a famous actor. The two-tone silver car (s/n 2594 J-563) was first owned by Gary Cooper. Duesenberg leant the second car (s/n 2595 J-567) to Clark Gable. Although he was already a Duesenberg owner, he never actually owned this example. The two cars remain as the most famous and fastest Duesenberg road cars ever constructed

 

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