Duesenberg chassis 2437, powered by engine J‑425, is a highly significant example of the legendary SJ, one of only 36 Duesenbergs originally equipped with a factory-installed supercharger. Combining extraordinary performance with elegant Murphy coachwork, it represents the pinnacle of Duesenberg's engineering achievements during the final years of production.

The car is fitted with a handsome Convertible Berline body by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California, a coachbuilder renowned for its clean, sophisticated designs and exceptional craftsmanship. As a late-production SJ, it incorporates several styling features associated with Duesenberg's final evolutionary phase, including 17-inch wheels, skirted fenders, and the distinctive European-style Marchal reflectors integrated into the Twilite headlamps.

Powered by the supercharged version of Duesenberg's famed 420-cubic-inch twin-overhead-cam straight-eight, engine J‑425 was capable of producing approximately 320 horsepower, making it one of the fastest production automobiles in the world during the 1930s.

This remarkable SJ was sold new to Antonio Chopitea, a wealthy Peruvian landowner with substantial international interests. After its completion, the car was delivered to New York and then shipped across the Atlantic to Chopitea's estate in France, where it remained for several years.

As political tensions in Europe escalated during the late 1930s and the prospect of war became increasingly likely, Chopitea chose to relocate the Duesenberg to his home in Lima, Peru, in 1939. There, the car continued to be driven regularly and enjoyed as intended.

Eventually, the difficulty of obtaining replacement tires and other specialized components in South America made continued use increasingly challenging. As a result, Chopitea gifted the Duesenberg to his chauffeur, demonstrating both the car's reliability and his appreciation for a trusted employee.

The car was subsequently restored with the assistance of noted collector and automotive preservationist Jack Nethercutt, one of the most influential figures in the early classic-car movement. Following completion of the restoration, the Duesenberg made a highly successful return to the concours scene, appearing at a CCCA Grand Classic in Pasadena in 1968, where it attracted considerable admiration.

After passing through several additional collections and benefiting from another restoration, chassis 2437 continued to be carefully preserved by knowledgeable owners who recognized its rarity and historical significance.

Eventually, it was acquired by Jeannie and Rob Hilarides of Visalia, California, respected collectors and longtime enthusiasts of the Duesenberg marque. Under their stewardship, the SJ remains one of the finest surviving examples of a factory-supercharged Duesenberg.

From French estates and Peruvian roads to concours lawns and distinguished collections, this magnificent automobile embodies the performance, prestige, and worldwide appeal that made the supercharged Duesenberg the ultimate expression of the "World's Mightiest Motor Car."