Duesenberg SJ
Sadly, the end came at last for Duesenberg. In 1937 cord ran into difficulties with Auburn, and the Cord Corporation went into liquidation. Among the various attempts to revive this famous name, the efforts of Fritz Duesenberg, August’s son, in 1966, should not go unrecorded. He had solid financial backing, and his aim was to provide the American market with a super de luxe car along the lines of the Duesenberg J and SJ. The bodywork design was entrusted to Virgil Exner, and the production of it to Ghia, in Turin, Italy. The engine chosen was a Chrysler V8 developing 425 bhp. Line, instrument panel, and final details were to be based on the original J and SJ. The total price was made and exhibited in the States, but the lukewarm reception it received convinced everyone that the Duesenberg now belonged to the past, and that no substitute, however sophisticated, could replace the cars of the 1930s. This one prototype was nevertheless sold at auction for the enormous sum of $37,500 in 1966. Since then there have been at least two other Duesenberg companies, one making a replica of the 1936 SSJ 2-seater, and another making a modern-styled 4-door sedan selling at about $100,000.
Car : Duesenberg SJ
Year : 1936
Engine : 8 cylinders in line with compressor
Bore and stroke :95?120.5 mm
Cylinder capacity : 6882 cc
Gears : 3 forward
Brake horse power : 320
Maximum speed : 125 mph
Wheelbase : 11 ft 10 ins (3.60 m)
Suspension : front and back :semi-elliptic leaf- springs
