Bob Roller

In addition to the louder than normal horn there is the "French brake" which is the bumper of whatever's in front of you.I had a good looking 1935 Packard CC with mechanical brakes and they were supposedly adjusted right but to me they felt weak.Back then I was used to brakes on a "J" Duesenberg and maybe that was a poor comparison.

What's the difference between a used car lot and a car show? I no longer can tell the difference.

Mechanical brakes MUST be backed up with a very loud horn,maybe a 5 mile Klaxon. Bob Roller

That "T" speedster looks like it started at the bottom and went down from there.

If there is a difference in the photos then something isn't on the up and up. Caveat Emptor prevails along with Barnum was RIGHT.

You don't see cars like that ANYwhere very often. I have ridden in SJ397,the Rudy Bauer car at Auburn when Bill Petit owned it.It was showing 11,000 miles on speedometer then. The Rollston with the scooped fenders may have been the one we had in the shop for a minor tune up. If it's the one from Morehead,Ky.it IS the one.It had some weird wheels then as I recall, Many thanks for all these great pictures.They represent a time long passed away and that will hopefully never be repeated,the "Great"Depression and World War 2 and the Third Reich.

Lord Lucas,the father of darkness.When I was helping Don Thompson at European Motors in Ohio I answered the phone and was asked if we knew anything about Lucas electrical systems and I replied, "We are the veterans of 100.000 blown fuses".He had a Jaguar XK120 that had been stored in a garage owned by a long deceased lawyer.

When you shift to reverse it's like having two rear facing headlights and when the brakes are applied it says S-T-O-P in red letters.Not all J's had two back up lights but they do a good job of balancing the rear of the car's appearance. That radiator core may have a big screen formed to fit the "V" of the radiator. I saw one at Auburn on a "J"that had a V shaped bar with the protective screen in a frame matcing the contour of the radiator shell and it was good looking.

Bernie Madoff made off with a lot of other peoples money and he is right where he should be. In the Hotel Fed's Presidential suite. Bernie Sanders wants to bring the failed ideas of old Europe to all of us. I am glad these great cars are in the hands (mostly) of those who can keep them looking and running like new. I have no grudge or animosity toward anyone who is wealthy and never worry or care one way or the other.My wife and I have all we need and are content with our lives.No regrets.

K8906. I think there is one for a Packard that is the same as the downdrafts used on the ""J". I will try to fine the number and post it.

Semi accurate information means that I'm not 100% sure but have NO problems with someone correcting me if they have a better input on anything I might say.

Wayne, You and others are welcome to any accurate or semi accurate information I can post. In the early 1990's I gave all the info I had and could remember to Ted and Gerry McPhail in Canada.Most was in the form of a cassette tape and used Fred Roe's book on Duesenberg as a reference for "J"numbers and body styles.We had a specialty garage in the early 1950's,51-52 and 53 to be exact and had a small group of Duesenberg owners whose cars we serviced including those of Melvin Clemens and there were others but don't have any idea who they belonged to now. I did a couple of valve jobs requiring the removal of the head and taking it entirely apart.These are NOT complex engines and it took little time to figure them out regarding mechanical function. Other mechanics of the time took one look at that engine and said "you guys are crazy" for working on them.. I made it clear that I would NOT dream up a bunch of fantasy stories because they would be lies.One thing about the truth,there is only ONE version and it's easy to remember. My memories are mostly intact at 82 and hope they stay that way for a while.

Dave, I don't THINK there are any valve cores on the "J"engine. .

The engine numbers run from 101to 588 on cars actually sold.........maybe. Some engines may have been replaced due to failure and some were said to be on display around the country.The factory records say 445 were in cars that were sold.Fred Roe gives chassis numbers 2125to2614 and the same 101-588. New fire wall and bell housings have been made and stamped and I know for a fact that engine J467 resides in a Brunn convertible sedan with bell housing J528. I built the head on that engine when I was 17 in 1953.I also did most of the dismantling on J467,the "Ernie Henderson"car mentioned in Elbert's book as displaying a sign advertising an eatery owned by Henderson.His wife supposedly found him in the car with a "cutie" and blew him away with a pistol.I doubt if there are many of these these cars that are 100% as they were when sold new. Back many years ago when Melvin Clemens bought J357 (1944)it had 12,000 miles on it in 14 years of use and I was told it had crankshaft J464. Melvin may have changed it but I don't know. I put a clutch in it in 1952 in Melvin's driveway.Edinmass told me that the crank shaft that belongs in it was being negotiated for in Canada. Maybe he can verify this for us. Other than spark plugs is there anything from another make of car that can be used on the "J" engine? Captive market for sure.

The Left Coast.THAT explains a lot of things. Was it Nethercutt or Lyons??

Why not continue. The "J" is a heck of a lot more interesting that post war Chevrolets. Has anyone ever noticed that cars some consider "classic"are only used cars??

West Peterson, Many thanks for the verification of my musings and speculations.When I saw J107 it was at Auburn in 1986,our first trip there.It was a different paint scheme then and I like the one in this picture much better.Wasn't this car when new involved with the Heinz family? Heinz as in 57 varieties? I wish we had used the "J" number idea back in the day when I was actually involved with these cars on a daily basis. The Wolff notes are the best idea yet and I can't imagine the work Mr.Wolff had to do to compile them. I heard from Chris Summers that J542 is now resupercharged and I thought that the Cofer's had j561 but I didn't really inquire. J542 wouldn't restart at a gas station across from Eckhart Park in Auburn about 20 years ago and I got in it and turned the key and heard NO fuel pumps clicking.The hot side of the battery connection hadn't been properly tightened and after making sure the external exhaust pipes were cooled of I snugged it down and put a 12 volt hot shot on it from my car,got in,turned the key and all kinds of fuel pump reaction accured. Pulled out the starter engagement and it fired up instantly.My wife and I rode in the parade in that car and we have some pictures from the late Ted McPhail of Canada here some place taken as we were coming around a corner. Mr.McPhail was restoring J452 but passed away from Multiple Myaloma before he could finish it. I made a number of small parts for him,mostly acorn style nuts and bolts and shackle bolts and bronze bushings. Thanks again for the back up on the 3 cars.

Edinmass, At 4500 RPM the driver had better be looking straight ahead if the car has a decent road gear ratio. I know of one "J",a sedan that will 35MPH per 1000RPM due to a real good road ratio and the 19" wheels and tires. 2000RPM and 70 is there.

I THINK the first million dollar Duesenberg I heard of was the one bought by Mr.Monahan,owner of a pizza business that sold franchises,Domino's maybe. I also think the man that sold it was named Dick Gold from Minnesota. I met him at Auburn years ago and then he was driving J561,the "Six Fender Rollston"sedan. He had another one as well,a Murphy convertible four door with a wide body and Zeiss headlights that were hooked to the steering rods and turned with the steering wheel. I don't know the "J" number on it. I think the Domino's car was J107,a phaeton.....maybe. Back in my time with these cars we paid no attention to "J"numbers.That came about by the efforts of Ray Wolff in Wisconsin and I have them,a gift from a Canadian when he found out he was terminally ill with a vicious cancer. He was restoring one "J"that originally had engine J452 in it and I think he was using J105 and had bought the bell housing from j452 from a man in Maine.He had another "J" that was a ruined car because someone had cut the roof off to make it into an open car and the body fell apart. I do not know the "J"number of it.His widow sold both cars after he passed away and I have no idea as to who got them.If anyone has any more information on these cars feel free to make any corrections needed.

Gary, I met Homer Fitterling only one time but was told he had 20+ Duesenbergs. A man in Georgia did get a number of Duesenbergs in one sale and I think his name was either Weber or Weaver. I think he passed away and after that I have no idea what became of these cars. I have no real idea as to how Mr.Fitterling got these cars whether or not is was an enmass purchase or one or two at a time.

Edinmass, 5 Murphy Clear visions made,one running and scrapped in a burst if misguided patriotism during WW2 according to Fred Roe.4 still extant. I also like the sedans and my favorite was J540 when Melvin Clemens owned it. We also stored another one that had SJ551 under the hood when new but I have no idea what it had when I drove it. I remember it handled really well on a curvy road.

Most Americans preferred being thrown thru the windshield and disemboweling themselves on the steering wheel than to wear a seat belt.That SAAB like many other European cars was probably a 12 volt car as were earlier MG's and others from England.

The Wolff notes on J425 indicate a scrambled and abused car with all kinds of things done to it such as 16" wheels welded to it,I am assuming welded to the brake drums. Crankshaft cracked and replaced. Notes indicate that Mr.Nethercutt had the blower and traded it for restoration work on another car.Car when new had spares at the rear probably because the owner,a South American had it sent to Paris,France from New York Factory Branch. I wonder how a crankshaft can crack.Maybe stresses not relieved during manufacture???

Bernie, It was YOUR $6 so whose business is it and I am sure your family was glad to get the call.. I find a lot of people entertaining by their worrying over a small amount of money. I will never hold onto something that I can never keep or worry about what I can never have. I have a number of interests including pre WW2 cars, seaplanes of all kinds, BIG steam locomotives, Fine single shot rifles both muzzle loading and breech loading. I have a small machine shop and do small jobs when I want to and am making up an English style Flintlock rifle now to use in competition.Proves I am 1/2 a bubble from level but that's just me and I enjoy my world.

Xander, My alcohol consumption is about 2 beers per year at the Spring and Fall events of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Assn. at Friendship,Ind. The uncle I mentioned earlier stayed drunk so he wouldn't have to get drunk. I am addicted to life and life alone.Never needed a crutch or an accelerator to get thru the day.Now 82 an NO medications which makes me a pariah with the local medical community.I told my doc's receptionist if she knew of a cure for old age that didn't involve my 45 or cyanide I'd be interested.