The Stupendous 1935 Model SJ Duesenberg
Considered one of the most powerful and luxurious American cars of its era, the Model SJ Speedster was built as one of just 38 models out of 481 to be fitted with a supercharger. The car was also the only example delivered to Gurney Nutting’s senior coachbuilder (and namesake) John Gurney Nutting, acclaimed for his beautiful coachwork, innovative engineering and glamorous mystique. (A predominant customer of Nutting’s coaches was Edward, Prince of Wales—later to become King Edward VIII).
Maharajah Holkar of Indore originally ordered this one-of-a-kind SJ. As the car was destined for a royal career, it received various special touches like chrome flagsticks and red and blue lights on the front fenders to indicate whether the Maharajah or the Maharanee was driving the car. Upon completion at Nutting’s workshop, the car was shipped from London to New York and driven back to Indianapolis by Duesenberg employees. After a final tune-up, the Gurney Nutting Speedster was delivered to the Maharajah’s Santa Ana, California mansion due to concerns about Japan invading India.
After the regional tensions dropped, the Duesenberg was shipped from Los Angeles to Singapore and then to India. It remained there until the 1950s, when it was brought back to the United States, where it remains. This is the highest-numbered Duesenberg chassis and has been meticulously restored with all the royal details retained. The car now resides in the Lyon Estate Car Collection in Southern California.
