1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster Boat Tail | Indian Maharaja Cars | Best of Show Villa d'Este 2023

This bespoke and extravagant 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster was awarded "Best of Show" at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2023 in Cernobbio (Italy). Duesenberg delivered this last of just 36 SJ Duesenberg’s built to John Gurney Nutting in London for them to cloak the chassis in a spectacular Boat Tail Speedster body, ordered by the 28-year old Maharaja Holkar of Indore. In 1959, this impressive speedster returned to the USA and joined the collection of its current owner.

Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, James Cagney and many other stars drove a Duesenberg during the 1930s. Founded in 1913, Duesenberg quickly made a name in motor sport and positioned itself at the top end of the market with a small series of exclusive models, always significantly more expensive than even the most aristocratic of vehicles imported from Europe.

The crowning glory came in 1932 with the extravagant SJ model. As much as 320 hp was available when the supercharger kicked in and this propelled the huge car to around 220 km / h (140 mph). The turn of phrase “it’s a Duesy” was coined as a synonym for the quality of the vehicles.

The 2nd vehicle which is shown in this film is a Packard Standard Eight originating from the eleventh series and was delivered to the Maharaja of Nawalgarh in 1934. Its powerful 5.2 litre inline eight-cylinder engine produced up to 120 hp and the brakes already offered adjustable servo assistance. Although cloaked in a standard body from Dietrich, the Packard Standard Eight has been graced with some exceptional equipment. This includes special disc wheels and a folding windscreen, akin to the factory standard installed by Packard in earlier models. The highly polished engine bonnet was a popular extra fitted to export cars supplied to India and it is being said, that even Kirk Douglas once drove this car, as part of a film shoot.

0:00 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster - Sound, Drive-by
1:36 1934 Packard Standard Eight - Sound, Drive-by
2:26 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster - Exterior, Interior
6:17 1934 Packard Standard Eight - Exterior, Interior

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