1929 Duesenberg SJ LeBaron Sweep Panel Dual Cowl Phaeton
$ Inquire
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1929 Duesenberg J-292 LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton
Duesenberg J short-wheelbase chassis #2158, fitted with engine J-292 was pulled from inventory by the Indianapolis factory and shipped to LeBaron of New York in the fall of 1929 to be fitted with their stylish Dual Cowl “Sweep Panel” Phaeton coachwork; this being the fifth one built by LeBaron. The completed car was then sent to Paris as one of several Duesenberg Model J show cars in the marque's premiere appearance at the 23rd Paris Salon de l’Automobile, held at the Grand Palais on the Champs-Élysées, in October of 1929. After the Paris Salon showing, J-292 returned to New York where it was purchased for the princely sum of $19,000 by Argentinian millionaire, playboy and racing driver, Martin Máximo Pablo de Alzaga Unzué – better known as Martin de Alzaga (1901-1982). Alzaga inherited his family’s 12,355 acres of prime Argentina farmland, as well as their cattle ranch and pharmaceutical company. With homes in Buenos Aires, Paris and in New York, where he was also a partner in the famed “El Morocco” nightclub.
Duesenberg J short-wheelbase chassis #2158, fitted with engine J-292 was pulled from inventory by the Indianapolis factory and shipped to LeBaron of New York in the fall of 1929 to be fitted with their stylish Dual Cowl “Sweep Panel” Phaeton coachwork; this being the fifth one built by LeBaron. The completed car was then sent to Paris as one of several Duesenberg Model J show cars in the marque's premiere appearance at the 23rd Paris Salon de l’Automobile, held at the Grand Palais on the Champs-Élysées, in October of 1929. After the Paris Salon showing, J-292 returned to New York where it was purchased for the princely sum of $19,000 by Argentinian millionaire, playboy and racing driver, Martin Máximo Pablo de Alzaga Unzué – better known as Martin de Alzaga (1901-1982). Alzaga inherited his family’s 12,355 acres of prime Argentina farmland, as well as their cattle ranch and pharmaceutical company. With homes in Buenos Aires, Paris and in New York, where he was also a partner in the famed “El Morocco” nightclub.
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Above - Original owner, Martin de Alzaga at the wheel of J-292.
Alzaga’s wealth had enabled him to indulge in his passion for automobile racing, entering the sport while a teenager just after World War I. He won a sprint at La Plata in 1920, and in 1921 took second place in Argentina’s most prestigious race, the Gran Premio Nacional, driving a Hudson. He was a member of the Bugatti team at the 1923 Indianapolis 500, and that same year, at the wheel of a Miller 122 he raced at the Italian Gran Prix. In 1924, driving a 4.9 Sunbeam, Algaza won the Coupe de l’Autodrome at Miramas, near Marseilles. Driving was in his blood.
It was no surprise that Alzaga was drawn to the Model J Duesenberg. With 265 horsepower, he stretched J-292 to the limit in several races, and on the road. Around 1934 the engine failed. Contacting the Duesenberg factory in Auburn, Indiana, he was told the company stood behind their products and asked that the car be returned for repairs under warranty.
It was during this time that Duesenberg had introduced their supercharged “SJ” engine, rated at an output of 320 horsepower. Additionally, they were developing a racing version that utilized their supercharger with a “dual ram’s horn” blower along with twin Stromberg UU-3 carburetors, linked in series. This produced an ultimate output of 400 horsepower. This set-up was created for Ab Jenkins’ record-setting custom Duesenberg speedster, dubbed the “Mormon Meteor.” Knowing that Alzaga was racing J-292, according to noted Duesenberg historian, Ray Wolfe, the spare SJ racing engine being built for Jenkins’ car was diverted and installed in Alzaga’s car. Duesenberg stamped the new engine with the Phaeton’s original engine’s number, designating it “SJ-292.” Subsequent histories of Duesenberg, going as far back as J.L. Elbert’s landmark 1951 book, “Duesenberg – The Mightiest American Motor Car” note this factory engine change that was made under warranty.
Alzaga reportedly did not use the car much after it was supercharged, and in 1935 Luis Viglione, racing driver and builder in Buenos Aires, modified the Phaeton by shortening the frame and rear of the body into what was termed a 2-seat “baquet.” In its modified configuration, the car raced three times: August 2, 1936, in the “Il Gran Premio de Venado Tuerto” driven by Jorge Perin. The second race was the “1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires,” on October 18, 1936; driven by Raul Riganti (Alzaga’s friend and former Bugatti teammate at the 1923 Indy 500.) It was then purchased by Jorge Perin and a French mechanic who lived in Buenos Aires and later moved with the car to the Province of Cordoba in the middle of Argentina.
In 1937, the Duesenberg was sold to racer, Emilio Karstulovic. He drove it in its last race on May 16,1937 in the “Il Campeonato Cordobés de Velocidad” in San Francisco, Argentina. Karstulovic subsequently kept the Duesenberg until his passing in 1961. (See photos of this Duesenberg in its racing livery, in the photo gallery, below.)
In 1965, J-292 returned to the U.S. where it was sold by Vintage Car Store Inc. in Nyack, New York to collector Ted Billings. He commissioned a comprehensive body-off restoration. Aside from the shortened chassis and modified rear portion, most of the original 1929 LeBaron coachwork was still intact and a correct LeBaron rear section was fabricated. The previously shortened chassis #2158 was extended to its original length with the rear section of Duesenberg chassis #2606, donated from J-581 – a Rollston Convertible Sedan - that had been previously destroyed by a fire.
In the mid-1970s, Billings sold J-292 to Bill Harrah, where it became a part of Harrah’s Collection in Sparks, Nevada. Following Harrah’s death in 1978, and the sale of the collection, J-292 was among the cars chosen to form the Imperial Palace Auto Collection in Las Vegas. For the next 30+ years, J-292 was displayed at the Imperial Palace, and loaned for exhibit at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana, several times and shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2012.
Purchased by the current owner in 2014, by that time J-292 was wearing a nearly 50-year-old restoration and showing significant wear. In 2018, the current owner set out on what would be an 8-year, frame-off restoration to return this remarkable Duesenberg to showroom condition. The body was removed from the frame and every component disassembled. The panels were stripped and refinished in the correct black and maroon colors. Over one year was spent just on rebuilding, hand-sanding and refinishing the fenders (with no body filler) to bring them back to correct factory specifications. All chrome and trim items were re-plated and polished. A scrap of the original leather upholstery was found under the seat and a tannery in Canada was sourced to recreate the correct pattern and color. New, imported wool carpeting was fitted, along with a new black Haartz cloth convertible top. All six wire wheels were re-spoked, re-chromed and trued, then wrapped by new Firestone 7.50 x 19 wide whitewall tires. All mechanical components were assessed and rebuilt or replaced as needed. One of the two rare, original Stromberg UU-3 carburetors was rebuilt by the experts at Straight-Eight in Troy, Michigan. Following reassembly, the mighty Duesenberg 8 roared to life again; running smoothly. Only driven for tuning test drives, this Duesenberg is truly "like new." This is a unique opportunity to acquire a significant Duesenberg with a known history from new, including a racing pedigree; equipped by the factory with the most powerful incarnation of the legendary Duesenberg supercharged straight eight. Of the few Duesenbergs available today, this is certainly one of the rarest and most desirable and would be the centerpiece of any collection. Please contact us, confidentially, for further information.
WE HAPPILY SELL TO BUYERS WORLDWIDE AND CAN ASSIST WITH SHIPPING ANYWHERE.
It was no surprise that Alzaga was drawn to the Model J Duesenberg. With 265 horsepower, he stretched J-292 to the limit in several races, and on the road. Around 1934 the engine failed. Contacting the Duesenberg factory in Auburn, Indiana, he was told the company stood behind their products and asked that the car be returned for repairs under warranty.
It was during this time that Duesenberg had introduced their supercharged “SJ” engine, rated at an output of 320 horsepower. Additionally, they were developing a racing version that utilized their supercharger with a “dual ram’s horn” blower along with twin Stromberg UU-3 carburetors, linked in series. This produced an ultimate output of 400 horsepower. This set-up was created for Ab Jenkins’ record-setting custom Duesenberg speedster, dubbed the “Mormon Meteor.” Knowing that Alzaga was racing J-292, according to noted Duesenberg historian, Ray Wolfe, the spare SJ racing engine being built for Jenkins’ car was diverted and installed in Alzaga’s car. Duesenberg stamped the new engine with the Phaeton’s original engine’s number, designating it “SJ-292.” Subsequent histories of Duesenberg, going as far back as J.L. Elbert’s landmark 1951 book, “Duesenberg – The Mightiest American Motor Car” note this factory engine change that was made under warranty.
Alzaga reportedly did not use the car much after it was supercharged, and in 1935 Luis Viglione, racing driver and builder in Buenos Aires, modified the Phaeton by shortening the frame and rear of the body into what was termed a 2-seat “baquet.” In its modified configuration, the car raced three times: August 2, 1936, in the “Il Gran Premio de Venado Tuerto” driven by Jorge Perin. The second race was the “1 Gran Premio Ciudad de Buenos Aires,” on October 18, 1936; driven by Raul Riganti (Alzaga’s friend and former Bugatti teammate at the 1923 Indy 500.) It was then purchased by Jorge Perin and a French mechanic who lived in Buenos Aires and later moved with the car to the Province of Cordoba in the middle of Argentina.
In 1937, the Duesenberg was sold to racer, Emilio Karstulovic. He drove it in its last race on May 16,1937 in the “Il Campeonato Cordobés de Velocidad” in San Francisco, Argentina. Karstulovic subsequently kept the Duesenberg until his passing in 1961. (See photos of this Duesenberg in its racing livery, in the photo gallery, below.)
In 1965, J-292 returned to the U.S. where it was sold by Vintage Car Store Inc. in Nyack, New York to collector Ted Billings. He commissioned a comprehensive body-off restoration. Aside from the shortened chassis and modified rear portion, most of the original 1929 LeBaron coachwork was still intact and a correct LeBaron rear section was fabricated. The previously shortened chassis #2158 was extended to its original length with the rear section of Duesenberg chassis #2606, donated from J-581 – a Rollston Convertible Sedan - that had been previously destroyed by a fire.
In the mid-1970s, Billings sold J-292 to Bill Harrah, where it became a part of Harrah’s Collection in Sparks, Nevada. Following Harrah’s death in 1978, and the sale of the collection, J-292 was among the cars chosen to form the Imperial Palace Auto Collection in Las Vegas. For the next 30+ years, J-292 was displayed at the Imperial Palace, and loaned for exhibit at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana, several times and shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2012.
Purchased by the current owner in 2014, by that time J-292 was wearing a nearly 50-year-old restoration and showing significant wear. In 2018, the current owner set out on what would be an 8-year, frame-off restoration to return this remarkable Duesenberg to showroom condition. The body was removed from the frame and every component disassembled. The panels were stripped and refinished in the correct black and maroon colors. Over one year was spent just on rebuilding, hand-sanding and refinishing the fenders (with no body filler) to bring them back to correct factory specifications. All chrome and trim items were re-plated and polished. A scrap of the original leather upholstery was found under the seat and a tannery in Canada was sourced to recreate the correct pattern and color. New, imported wool carpeting was fitted, along with a new black Haartz cloth convertible top. All six wire wheels were re-spoked, re-chromed and trued, then wrapped by new Firestone 7.50 x 19 wide whitewall tires. All mechanical components were assessed and rebuilt or replaced as needed. One of the two rare, original Stromberg UU-3 carburetors was rebuilt by the experts at Straight-Eight in Troy, Michigan. Following reassembly, the mighty Duesenberg 8 roared to life again; running smoothly. Only driven for tuning test drives, this Duesenberg is truly "like new." This is a unique opportunity to acquire a significant Duesenberg with a known history from new, including a racing pedigree; equipped by the factory with the most powerful incarnation of the legendary Duesenberg supercharged straight eight. Of the few Duesenbergs available today, this is certainly one of the rarest and most desirable and would be the centerpiece of any collection. Please contact us, confidentially, for further information.
WE HAPPILY SELL TO BUYERS WORLDWIDE AND CAN ASSIST WITH SHIPPING ANYWHERE.
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