1935 Model SJ 2567 Fernandez et Darrin Convertible
Chassis number:
2567
Year:
1935
Modeltype:
SJ
Body:
Fernandez et Darrin Convertible (current)
Fernandez et Darrin Convertible (current)
Wheelbase:
Short
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Information
Duesenberg SJ chassis 2567, powered by engine J‑542, is one of the most celebrated European-bodied Duesenbergs ever built. Combining the legendary performance of a factory-supercharged SJ with the elegant styling of Fernandez & Darrin of Paris, it represents the pinnacle of transatlantic automotive design during the Classic Era.
Often regarded as the last Duesenberg completed for the European market, chassis 2567 is one of the original 36 factory-supercharged SJ models produced.
During his years in Paris, legendary designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin partnered with Argentine businessman Tomás Fernández to create some of Europe's most sophisticated custom automobiles. Together, Fernandez & Darrin built only four known Duesenbergs, two on long-wheelbase chassis and two on short-wheelbase chassis. Chassis 2567 was among their final and most refined creations.
Constructed in Boulogne, France, where Fernández operated a luxury furniture and coachbuilding enterprise, the Convertible Victoria displayed many of Darrin's characteristic styling cues:
- Low, flowing body lines
- Elegant proportions
- Gracefully integrated fenders
- Minimal visual bulk
- Refined European detailing
The result was one of the most sophisticated Duesenbergs ever created and one of only 39 Duesenbergs bodied by European coachbuilders, representing less than twelve percent of total Model J production.
Before being sold to a private owner, chassis 2567 was campaigned by E. Z. Sadovich, Duesenberg's principal European distributor and representative in Paris.
Sadovich personally drove the car in the prestigious Paris–Nice Rally, where it finished seventh overall. The Duesenberg subsequently achieved further success by winning the Grand Prix at the Monte Carlo Concours d'Elegance. These accomplishments gave the car a unique combination of both sporting and concours pedigree before it ever entered private ownership.
The Duesenberg's first owner was Madelaine Talmage Force Astor, better known as Mrs. John Jacob Astor.
One of the most famous women of her generation, Madelaine survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in April 1912 while her husband, John Jacob Astor IV, perished. Astor was among the richest men in the world at the time of his death.
In 1935, Madelaine purchased chassis 2567 as a gift for her fiancé, Enzo Fiermonte, the Italian boxer, racing enthusiast, and future film actor. The glamorous Fernandez & Darrin Duesenberg perfectly suited Fiermonte's public image. Fiermonte would later enjoy a lengthy acting career, appearing in more than one hundred films between the 1940s and the 1980s.
After its European years, the Duesenberg eventually returned to the United States. One later owner was H. J. Welker of Hazel Park, Michigan. In 1967, the car was acquired by Gene Cofer, ensuring its preservation among significant American classics. A comprehensive eleven-year, frame-off restoration was subsequently undertaken and completed in 1989, returning the car to concours condition.
Duesenberg 2567 represents the ultimate combination of American engineering, European coachbuilding artistry, competition history, and celebrity ownership. From Paris rallies and Monte Carlo honors to Titanic survivor Madelaine Astor and actor-racer Enzo Fiermonte, its history is every bit as remarkable as its appearance.
As one of the finest surviving Fernandez & Darrin Duesenbergs and one of the legendary thirty-six factory SJ models, chassis 2567 stands among the most important and glamorous automobiles ever to bear the Duesenberg name.
Provenance
1935 - ???? Madelaine Talmage Force Astor
???? - ???? H. J. Welker
1967 - present Gene Cofer
Highlights/prizes
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