A 1935 Duesenberg SJ Bohman & Schwartz Roadster won the Best-of-Show award at the 2010 Ault Park Concours d'Elegance in Cincinnati. The "Dusey" was entered by The Auto Museum, a private collection in the Cincinnati area.
Records indicate that the Duesenberg was purchased for Russian Prince Serge M'Divani by Barbara Hutton, heir to the Wollwrth fortune. Jerry Gebby, a gun engineer and Dayton resident purchased the car not long after the Count's death due to a polo accident. Mr. Gebby raced it up Pikes Peak and is rumored to have driven it from Dayton to Tucson at speeds n excess of 100 mph. The Auto Museum is attracted to classic cars with a racing pedigree and this Duesenberg is no exception.
Duesenberg SJ models have an in-line 8-cyl, 32-valve, double overhead cam, 420 cu. in., supercharged Lycoming engine. It develops 320 hp and is capable of propelling the Duesenberg to speeds in excess of 130 mph. It should also be noted that much of the body is constructed in alloy; a rare instance since a vast majority of the Duesenberg bodies were made of steel.
The Duesenberg Model J was the result of a design process influenced by both Duesenberg's racing heritage and Errett Lobban Cord's demands. Cord envisioned the new Duesenberg to be the greatest American car ever. No expense was spared and a legend was created by the design team led by Fred Duesenberg.
Not that this show winner is chassis number 2596 and engine number J 572. Curiously, Duesenberg never used the "SJ" designation for their limited edition supercharged vehicles.
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