1930 Duesenberg Model J Town Cabriolet
Best in Class, Boca Raton Florida Concours 2020
Owned by Doris Duke’s mother Nanaline Holt Inman Duke of Rough Point, Newport, RI
Bodied by Walter M. Murphy Company coachbuilder of Pasadena, CA
The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Town Cabriolet on display here has a story closely tied to Newport, Rhode Island. It is more than just a remarkable machine; it is a piece of Newport’s Gilded Age history, connecting a famous luxury car with a well-known family and the city’s lively summer traditions. It received Best in Class honors at the 2020 Boca Raton Concours.
The Duesenberg name, with its rich racing heritage, was famous even before the Model J appeared. In 1926, car entrepreneur E. L. Cord bought the struggling Duesenberg company with a big goal: to build an American car that could beat the best European brands. Fred Duesenberg was asked to design a completely new chassis and engine, which led to the impressive Model J. It was first shown at the 1928 New York Automobile Salon, where only the chassis was on display. Each buyer would then choose a custom body from top coachbuilders, making every Model J unique and tailored to its owner’s style.
This automobile has one of the most notable histories among surviving Model J. It was first bought by Nanaline Holt Inman Duke, who was the widow of James Buchanan Duke, founder of the American Tobacco Company, and the mother of philanthropist Doris Duke. Like many wealthy families, the Dukes owned several large homes, including their summer home Rough Point in Newport RI, which set the scene for this car’s story.
Upon purchase, Mrs. Duke had the rolling chassis sent by rail from the Duesenberg showroom in Manhattan to the well-known Walter M. Murphy Company in Pasadena, California, one of the top coachbuilders in the country. The car was finished in 1930 and delivered to Mrs. Duke only a few months after the Great Depression began.
The Town Cabriolet’s design matched the formal traditions of its time. It was meant to be driven by a chauffeur, with a separate area for the driver and a private, comfortable cabin for the owner. While Mrs. Duke owned it, the car was used at her homes in New York, New Jersey and Newport.
Under its long hood was one of the best American car engines ever made. Fred Duesenberg designed it, and Lycoming built it. The big 420-cubic-inch straight-eight engine had dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder, using technology from the company’s winning race cars. It made 265 horsepower and 374 lb-ft of torque, almost double what many other luxury cars offered. Paired with a Warner Hy-Flew three-speed manual transmission, the Model J could go about 110 to 116 miles per hour, and nearly 90 miles per hour in second gear.
The Model J’s impressive engineering was not limited to its engine. Each finished chassis was tested for about 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before being sent to the coach builder. Features like four-wheel hydraulic brakes, carefully tuned suspension, and a strong chassis gave it ride comfort and handling better than most cars of its time.
Mrs. Duke owned this car for only a short time before it was sold to other owners, but its link to Newport is still a key part of its story. The car comes from a time when cars showed off personal identity and social status, taking America’s elite between grand homes, private clubs, and the places that made Newport’s summer season famous. In Newport, this Duesenberg truly belonged.
Specifications
Engine: 420 Cubic Inch dual overhead cam inline 8 Cylinders; 4 valves per cylinder, dual carburetors, 3 speed transmission
Performance: 265 Horsepower, 0-90 in Second Gear
Top Speed: 111 mph
Chassis: Ladder style steel frame; 4 wheel hydraulic brakes; tuned suspension
Weight: 5300 lbs