A 1930s-era Duesenberg Model J — one of the most filmed Duesenbergs of all time — will go under the mallet this Sunday at Bonham’s sale of classic vintage cars in Greenwich, Conn.

Estimated between $800,000 and $1 million, this car was first unveiled in December 1928 at the New York Auto Salon, by company owner E.L. Cord and chief engineer Fred Duesenberg. At the time, the Model J was know as “The World’s Finest Motor Car.”

Looking to out-do the Chrysler Imperial 80, which had the title of “America’s most powerful car,” the Duesenberg’s race-bred engine was said to develop 265 bhp, compared to the Imperial’s 112 bhp. The engine was a twin-cam straight-eight with a massive crankshaft that was both dynamically and statically balanced. This remarkable power unit endowed the Model J with breathtaking performance; it was possible to achieve 90mph in only second gear, with a maximum speed in the region of 110mph.

This model boasts an extremely prestigious history of ownership, including the likes of William Randolph Hearst, Howard Hughes, and such royalty as King Alfonso XIII of Spain, Queen Marie of Yugoslavia, the King Vittorio Emmanuel III of Italy and Prince Nicholas of Romania (who bought three and raced one at Le Mans).

Bonhams “Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Collectors’ Motorcars and Automobilia, Including the Italian Vintage Cars Collection” auction will be held on June 6th, with the motorcars portion starting at 12:30 p.m.

-Affluent Page

[Bonhams]