HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY ON FOUR WHEELS: THE STORY OF THE DUESENBERG SSJ

In the world of automotive elegance and high performance, few vehicles command the same level of fascination and near-mythical status as the Duesenberg SSJ. Built in only two examples, this machine remains a masterpiece of American automotive engineering almost 90 years after it first appeared on public roads.

Today, when enthusiasts discuss discontinued American brands they would like to see revived, names like Pontiac, Plymouth, and Oldsmobile usually dominate the conversation. Rarely does Duesenberg come up, which may be one of the greatest oversights in automotive history. While those brands helped define the muscle car era, Duesenberg once stood as a global symbol of luxury, speed, and technical excellence.

From Racing Roots To Luxury Legend

The story begins in 1913, when brothers Fred and August Duesenberg founded the Duesenberg Motors Company in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Initially focused on racing cars, the company paused its automotive ambitions during World War I to produce aircraft engines in New Jersey. After the war, operations moved to Indianapolis, where Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company was established, later becoming Duesenberg, Inc.

In the 17 years between the formation of Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company in Indianapolis in 1920 and the end of Duesenberg production in 1937, the company achieved remarkable success. Duesenberg race cars won the Indianapolis 500 multiple times and competed successfully in European racing events. On the road car side, the brand created some of the most advanced and prestigious automobiles of its era. The most famous of them was the Model J, introduced in 1928 to compete with luxury giants such as Rolls Royce and Hispano Suiza.

At the time, Duesenberg produced only the chassis and mechanical components. Buyers then commissioned custom coachbuilders to design the bodywork, making nearly every Model J unique. A total of 481 Model J-based cars were built, including 36 supercharged versions.

The SSJ: Built For Hollywood Icons

Among all Model J variants, the SSJ models built in 1935 and 1936 hold a special place in automotive history. Developed during the Great Depression in an effort to revive the struggling company, the SSJ was a shorter wheelbase, higher performance version of the Model J designed specifically for Hollywood celebrities.

One car was delivered to actor Gary Cooper, who was known for his passion for fast cars. According to legend, Cooper wanted to outrun comedian Groucho Marx, who owned a Mercedes-Benz SSK. The story goes that Duesenberg set out to build Cooper something faster.

The SSJ used a shortened 125-inch wheelbase chassis with advanced suspension and hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels. The speedster coachwork was designed by J. Herbert Newport Jr. and built by LaGrande. Its long hood, dramatic grille, and flowing fenders made it one of the most striking automobiles of its era.

One Of The Most Powerful American Road Cars Of Its Time

The real highlight was the engine. The SSJ used a 420 cubic inch straight eight engine with four valves per cylinder and a centrifugal supercharger, and it was rated around 400 horsepower. For context, the standard naturally aspirated Model J was rated at about 265 horsepower, while the supercharged SJ was rated at 320 horsepower.

Despite weighing about 5,000 pounds, the SSJ could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under eight seconds and reach a top speed exceeding 130 mph. Those numbers were extraordinary for the mid-1930s.

The second SSJ was loaned in 1936 to Clark Gable, Cooper’s friend and fellow actor. By then, however, the company’s fate was already sealed. Duesenberg went bankrupt in 1937, leaving the SSJ as a rare symbol of what the brand represented at its peak.

A Record-Breaking American Classic

Both SSJ cars still exist today in largely original condition. Cooper’s example was sold at a Gooding & Company auction in 2018 for $22 million, making it the most expensive American car ever sold at public auction.

The Duesenberg SSJ is more than just an automobile. It represents an era when engineering ambition, luxury craftsmanship, and performance innovation came together in ways rarely seen today. It remains a symbol of a time when America dreamed big and built machines to match those dreams.

This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.

2026-02-10T20:36:03Z