For lovers of classic cars, Duesenberg is a bit of an icon, even though it went defunct way back in 1937.
The American company produced a host of vehicles during its heyday, and on the most recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the veteran TV host introduced us to what is the most expensive vehicle Duesenberg ever built.
This special one-off was built for Lilly Pharmaceutical president Josiah Lilly and has distinctive bodywork created by Walker, a well-known coachbuilder.
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The bodywork is distinct, to say the least. Most notably, it features a set of striking front fenders and has a massive V-shaped grille and windshield. There are also a set of simple headlights and large horns sticking out of the front fascia. It looks absolutely monstrous.
Approximately halfway through the video, Leno opens up the hood, revealing a massive 420 cubic-inch inline-eight cylinder engine filled with components finished in chrome and painted green. The powertrain is good for approximately 265 hp and while that’s a good amount for a small hot hatch in the year 2020, this Duesenberg weighs more than 6,600 lbs (3 tonnes). As such, it’s not what you would consider fast.
Despite its weight, Leno says the car is actually quite pleasant to drive on the road, commenting on how nice the clutch action and steering action is. He also says that second gear is good for approximately 90 mph (145 km/h).
When Leno purchased the car, it was bashed and bruised having been used as a tow truck. However, he restored it and it now looks as good as new.