AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG CLUB

[Joel]

News from the Duesenblog:

[Greg Riley]

The car was at Keels and Wheels and it showed very well. I believe someone had something disparaging to say about it, but I don't remember any specifics. I believe the car was formerly of the Jerry J. Moore collection.

I spoke to Sterling just before the auction but didn't specifically ask him about the Duesenberg. He is converting his museum to an all Cadillac facility. He said that in his opinion that Cadillac is the ultimate in attainable American luxury. Pretty ironic comment from a man who made his fortune selling Toyota's and Lexus.


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Greg Riley

[Joel]

Thanks for the info and the pic Greg. Does anyone know the #s on the car?
It is my understanding that there were several Derham Tourister replica bodies produced back in the '70's. I wonder if this is one of them, hence the low price?

[MICHAEL S SMITH]

Joel,
At that price it would almost certainly have to be one of the Roxas rebodies, but Randy Ema will probably weigh in with the correct info when he gets a chance.
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MICHAEL S SMITH ACD LIFE MEMBER #40
851 auburn phaeton
851 auburn sedan
810 cord westchester
812 cord phaeton(ex Tressler Swiss)
812 cord custom s/c beverly
812 cord s/c cabriolet
812 cord s/c beverly
80 866 speedster (pray factory built)

[Joel]

Thanks!
How accurate were the Roxas rebodies? I talked to an owner of one and he told me that they identicle to the original bodys.

[RandyEma]

Hello Micheal is correct but it is an Amesly bodie installed by Billings Randy

[alsancle]

This price was price was roughly market. . The first ones that Ted did used complete engine/chassis combinations but as parts sourcing became scare other make and replica parts were used. The price for any Billing's cars would reflect the amount of real Duesenberg stuff present.

[Chris Summers]

It's J-375. It sold at auction in 2000 for $340,000; if McCall was the buyer then he made a nice profit.

P.S. Guess where I am right now? Hint: it's another name for light brown hair, can also refer to a university, and is the seat of DeKalb County.
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Chris Summers
ACD Club Duesenberg Historian
Life Member #192

Ancora imparo.

[alsancle]

A few years back Leo Gephart had one minus the blower that I believe he was looking for 350. This car eventually sold at Hershey (I think 2005) for a bit more. This car had an original chassis under it (with original front axle - very important!) and most original pieces. Christies sold one for 190k back 6 or 7 years ago - I would suspect it was one of Ted's later cars.

[Joel]

Thanks for all the great info. So a guy really has to know what that car is made up of to determine the value. You folks are really a valuable resouce.

[alsancle]

Here is a true story. Sometime around 1985 I was walking a local car show and sitting there was one of Ted's toursters. It was one of the later ones that had been assembled from 20 different sources including many reproduced parts. It was actually a pretty good looking car. Walking with me was a guy that had worked through the 70s for Ted and had actually spent quite a bit of time on that particular car. I introduced myself to the owner and then introduced him to "the guy that put your car together". He asked me what that meant. I said, "well, he worked for Ted Billings". He still didn't know what I was talking about. I then said "This is one of the cars that Ted built, you know that right?". He didn't. He was not a happy camper as he had bought it thinking it was a correct car (and had paid accordingly). I believe it was sold a short time later.

[alsancle]