1935 Model SJ 2582 Bohman and Schwartz Town Car
Chassis number:
2582
Year:
1935
Modeltype:
SJ
Body:
Bohman and Schwartz Town Car (current)
Bohman and Schwartz Town Car (current)
Wheelbase:
Long
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Information
Duesenberg SJ chassis 2582, powered by supercharged engine J‑553, is one of the most spectacular and extravagant automobiles ever built by the marque. Featuring dramatic Bohman & Schwartz Town Car coachwork, it represents the height of American luxury and Art Deco design during the final years of Duesenberg production.
The car was originally commissioned as a highly customized Duesenberg for Hollywood icon Mae West, one of the most famous actresses and entertainers of the 1930s. Before delivery, however, West chose another Duesenberg, leaving this unique automobile available for purchase.
The car was subsequently acquired by Ethel V. Mars, widow of Franklin Mars and heiress to the immensely successful Mars Candy Company. Following Franklin Mars's death in 1934, Ethel became one of the wealthiest women in America and was widely regarded as the highest-paid businesswoman in the United States.
Delivered on April 16, 1935, the Duesenberg perfectly suited her status and lifestyle. With a reported price of approximately $20,000, it ranked among the most expensive automobiles in the world. Its cost was so extraordinary that it was specifically mentioned in a 1936 issue of Time magazine, which described it as "the costliest car in the United States."
The stunning coachwork was created by Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz, whose Pasadena firm emerged from the remains of the respected Walter M. Murphy Company.
Unlike conventional Duesenberg Town Cars, chassis 2582 featured a strikingly modern design heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement.
Notable styling elements include:
Notable styling elements include:
- Dramatically elongated headlamps
- Flowing, sculpted front fenders
- A distinctive sloping radiator grille
- Elegant camel-hump spare tire covers
- A sweeping rear body section with a pronounced flared tail
- Formal chauffeur-driven Town Car configuration
These features gave the car a far more modern appearance than most contemporary Duesenbergs and made it one of the most recognizable examples ever produced.
After passing through several collectors over the decades, the car was acquired by Lee and Penny Anderson of Naples, Florida.
Recognizing the significance of the automobile, the Andersons commissioned extensive work to return it to its original presentation. The car was restored from a later black finish back to its original and elegant Chinchilla Grey color scheme, better reflecting its appearance during the Ethel Mars era.
Following completion of the restoration, the SJ was exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2017, where it achieved outstanding results:
- Best in Class
- Selected among the Top Five contenders for Best of Show
These honors reaffirmed its status as one of the finest surviving Duesenbergs in existence.
Price When New: Approximately $20,000
Few Duesenbergs embody the glamour, prestige, and excess of the Classic Era as completely as chassis 2582. Combining supercharged SJ performance, extraordinary Bohman & Schwartz styling, and ownership by two of the most prominent women of the 1930s, it stands among the most important and visually striking Duesenbergs ever built.
As both a masterpiece of Art Deco design and one of the last great supercharged Duesenbergs, J‑553 remains a true icon of American automotive history.
Provenance
1935 - ???? Ethel V. Mars
???? - ???? Lee and Penny Anderson
Highlights/prizes
No highlights/prizes available.