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Tow Trucks.

  • West Peterson
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11 Dec 2013 13:52 #26464 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Tow Trucks.
The pickup Duesenberg (now J-350) is the car my dad purchased in the 1980s. I remember driving it (restored), and it sure drove like a truck. I'm pretty sure that the steering box and all associated pieces needed some major overhaul. I wonder if it was ever done.

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  • Bob Roller
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10 Dec 2013 03:44 #26452 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic J214
I did say that it was looking as I described but more accurately,the description should have been gross neglect of a once fine car.I saw it at Auburn when the Canadian owned it and I thought it was elegant. That wood work was superb and the color combination is great.
The Canadian Museum asked me about the car as I once saw it in 1953 and I couldn't give them much help because of the derelict condition.

Bob Roller

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  • Chris Summers
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09 Dec 2013 22:15 #26451 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
Bob will correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall him once describing J-214 "as-found" as looking like it had been hit by two coal trucks, going at a high rate of speed in opposite directions.

Bernie Aaron's other phaeton - a rebodied Murphy, J-183 - was sold earlier this year, and now resides overseas.

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  • landmark
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09 Dec 2013 22:00 #26450 by landmark
Replied by landmark on topic Re: A bit more

Bob Roller wrote: The car I said was needing an upgrade to be deplorable was J214,a, or maybe THE Wolfington tourer.a long wheelbase car wth unusual moulding prescribed by the original owner,John Eberson,a designer of art deco theaters. It went thru a series of owners and when I saw it in the early 1950's it belonged to Melvin Clemens in Clarksburg WV. A subsequent owner contacted me years later and was restoring it as time and money allowed and I THINK the designer of the car,Herb Newport was also involved. It was eventually purchased by a Canadian who finished the restoration and I will say it looked good. The odd appearence with the curlycue moulding must be viewed with the thought that THIS was what it was when new,by request and design.It will be then appreciated for what it really is,a custom built car from bumper to bumper.It seems to me there was another body shop initially involved but went broke,or maybe it was Wolfington that went broke and THEN another shop finished it. Anyway,it is alive again. Left to me,in the early 50's.I would have either restored the chassis or parted it out. We did get it started in Melvin's garage and it sounded like the pistons were changing holes and smoked like a volcano,totally worn out from running full bore and powering a water well drilling apparatus.
The gentleman from Canada now has another phaeton restored but I have seen only pictures of this one and the Wolfington he donated to a museum in Alberta. I think I sent them info on it as well at their request.

Bob Roller



Hello Bob,

I like that story!

When I saw a picture of that car the first time (in the Elbert-book) I thought by myself "Oh man"...
You are right the curly hood and body mouldings are very "special"...

Here it is in its original appearance: www.duesey2208.com/Datasheets/Mo ... rm2240.htm

And here are two photos (you have to "go down" some pictures) as the car is now displayed @Reynolds Alberta Museum. www.albertawow.com/hikes/Reynold ... Museum.htm

I must say in that colour-combination and with the closed roof-top, it looks not so bad.

Cheers

Matt

Was man besonders gerne tut,
ist selten ganz besonders gut

Wilhelm Busch

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  • Chris Summers
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09 Dec 2013 14:22 #26442 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
Joel, I didn't know that - thanks!

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  • landmark
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09 Dec 2013 09:22 #26440 by landmark
Replied by landmark on topic Re: truck

Joel wrote:

landmark wrote:
...I just "fall over" this older posting. Do you know where do you find that picture at the Curtright website/ to which car (J-number) that picture belongs?

As I read in an old road & track article, J-132 was at a time used as a pick-up truck on a farm, until Homer Fitterling purchased the car and equiped the chassis with a Murphy CC body he had "in stock". Is that maybe the car on the picture?

I know that a forum-member is today the proud owner and driver of that Murphy CC, maybe he owns some photos of the "pick-up time" of his car and like to share them...

Cheers

Matt


J-132 was never actually made into a truck. In the time that I spent with Keith and Gerri Brown, I learned that the Road and Track article has several innacuracies. Paul S. Johnson, a Chicago-area plumber did remove the rear portion of the original Derham sedan body, planning to build a truck on it's 17,000 original mile chassis. He never completed the conversion, however, and eventually sold the car to Keith Brown of LaPorte, Indiana in October of 1957. It was Keith who mounted the Murpy CC body and sold the car to his friend Homer Fitterling.



Hello Joel,

thank you for the corrections, I am always learning.


Cheers

Matt

Was man besonders gerne tut,
ist selten ganz besonders gut

Wilhelm Busch

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  • landmark
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09 Dec 2013 09:19 #26439 by landmark
Replied by landmark on topic Tow Trucks.

Steve Derus wrote: The truck photo I have is associated to 2370/J350. That chassis apparently now has the body from J237 which would correlate with the post from Chris.

I don't know why Jack Curtright's site no longer has the photo but I'm pretty sure that's where I discovered it.



Hello Steve,

thank you for the advice, now I found the Pick-up Truck photo on the Curtright-Site attached to his data-collection about J-350.

Here it is: www.duesey2208.com/Datasheets/Mo ... rm2370.htm

Cheers

Matt

Was man besonders gerne tut,
ist selten ganz besonders gut

Wilhelm Busch

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09 Dec 2013 06:32 #26438 by Joel
Replied by Joel on topic Re: truck

landmark wrote:
...I just "fall over" this older posting. Do you know where do you find that picture at the Curtright website/ to which car (J-number) that picture belongs?

As I read in an old road & track article, J-132 was at a time used as a pick-up truck on a farm, until Homer Fitterling purchased the car and equiped the chassis with a Murphy CC body he had "in stock". Is that maybe the car on the picture?

I know that a forum-member is today the proud owner and driver of that Murphy CC, maybe he owns some photos of the "pick-up time" of his car and like to share them...

Cheers

Matt


J-132 was never actually made into a truck. In the time that I spent with Keith and Gerri Brown, I learned that the Road and Track article has several innacuracies. Paul S. Johnson, a Chicago-area plumber did remove the rear portion of the original Derham sedan body, planning to build a truck on it's 17,000 original mile chassis. He never completed the conversion, however, and eventually sold the car to Keith Brown of LaPorte, Indiana in October of 1957. It was Keith who mounted the Murpy CC body and sold the car to his friend Homer Fitterling.

Joel Nystrom
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe
[img

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  • Chris Summers
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09 Dec 2013 02:00 #26437 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
Hi Steve,

The truck in the photo is J-350, not J-237. I just got the two chassis swapped around. Thanks.

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09 Dec 2013 01:59 #26436 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Tow Trucks.
The truck photo I have is associated to 2370/J350. That chassis apparently now has the body from J237 which would correlate with the post from Chris.

I don't know why Jack Curtright's site no longer has the photo but I'm pretty sure that's where I discovered it.

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  • Chris Summers
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08 Dec 2013 23:09 #26434 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
Sorry, that's the only one I know of.

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  • landmark
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08 Dec 2013 22:46 #26433 by landmark
Replied by landmark on topic Tow Trucks.

Chris Summers wrote: I think it's J-237 but can't recall off the top of my head.


Thank you Chris!

Looks possible, but I have not found the pick-up truck photo on the curtright site. Do you know any source where to find some pictures of Model J truck conversions?

Cheers

Matt

Was man besonders gerne tut,
ist selten ganz besonders gut

Wilhelm Busch

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08 Dec 2013 22:34 #26432 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
I think it's J-237 but can't recall off the top of my head.

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08 Dec 2013 22:28 #26430 by landmark
Replied by landmark on topic Re: truck

Steve Derus wrote: Maybe this is the farm truck Bob mentioned. The photo is from the Curtright Website.

[img][img]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l350/stevederus/Duesenbergs/truck.jpg[/img][/img]



Hello Steve,

I just "fall over" this older posting. Do you know where do you find that picture at the Curtright website/ to which car (J-number) that picture belongs?

As I read in an old road & track article, J-132 was at a time used as a pick-up truck on a farm, until Homer Fitterling purchased the car and equiped the chassis with a Murphy CC body he had "in stock". Is that maybe the car on the picture?

I know that a forum-member is today the proud owner and driver of that Murphy CC, maybe he owns some photos of the "pick-up time" of his car and like to share them...

Cheers

Matt

Was man besonders gerne tut,
ist selten ganz besonders gut

Wilhelm Busch

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  • Bob Roller
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15 Feb 2011 20:24 #19274 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic J508
Steve,
My date of Harrah's purchase was wrong.I must have got that idea from a 1965 Road&Track magazine that featured that car on the cover. Obviously neither he nor Whittel got much pleasure from it. As I recall the AQ article on Whittel's cars,he blew it up when it was new and then considered it a nuisance from then on. Too bad,the rich man and his toy were not well served and none of it did him much good.

Bob Roller

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15 Feb 2011 01:24 #19263 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
And then he double-upstaged by buying that Bugatti.

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14 Feb 2011 23:11 #19260 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Tow Trucks.
I have information from Chris that indicates Whittel sold it to Harrah in November '62.

I saw the car and Bill Harrah himself shortly after he acquired it, at a CCCA Grand Classic in Redondo Beach CA, I believe it was the first time he exhibited it. I have a hunch he may have timed that purposely just to upstage the simultaneous debut of Jack Nethercutt's freshly restored Bugatti Type 57 coupe.... Mission accomplished.

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  • Bob Roller
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14 Feb 2011 20:04 #19255 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic Weymann/Whittel Speedster
Steve,
In 1965 when Harrah bought this car from Whittel,it had 1342 miles on it. They must be trying to wear it out if it now has nearly 2000 on it. One thing for sure,it stands out like a goose egg in a coal bucket.I did have an Automobile Quarterly that had a good write up on Whittel's Duesenbergs but it vanished into a black hole and I can't find it.

Bob Roller

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  • Steve Derus
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14 Feb 2011 19:14 #19252 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Tow Trucks.
I recently had the pleasure of seeing the ex-Harrah/Whittel Weymann speedster, which I guess I can safely refer to as J-508/2537, at the National Auto Museum in Reno.

Not sure how many miles on the car now but in 1987 it was less than 2,000 original miles.

The car is displayed with its original tires.

I would think this car defines the term "legit".

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  • Bob Roller
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14 Feb 2011 19:05 #19251 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic Original Duesenbergs
Still intact is a question. SJ525 I believe is still all together with the same engine,frame and body,a Brunn Convertible sedan. I THINK J540 might be mostly original with the driveshaft and rear axle assembly from J155 under it. The two SSJ's are probably all together. Repairs,be they major or minor can't be factored in because nobody really knows what was done and when. J164 may be original.I saw it at Auburn before restoration and it appeared to be as it should be.
The Ely Lilly Walker La Grande coupe no doubt is original.
I have heard that it was used as a push car and vehicle of all uses at a gas station or garage.Does anyone know for sure? J397,the Rudy Bauer Rollston CS is still as was even to the original 70 year old tires. I rode in it when it had about 11,000 miles on it. By "as was".I mean as Bauer owned it. It started out as somehing else earlier.
How about the surviving Judkins coupe? That seems to be as it was when new. J391,the "Tyrone Power car"was a MCS in the early 50's and possibly could be as it was.
Jay Leno's F.R.Wood and Son limo is original although the body came from God knows what. Aren't 11 of the 12 Beverly's still body-frame and engines as new.
This could go on for a long time and I have to leave.

Bob Roller

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  • Chris Summers
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13 Feb 2011 22:27 #19230 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
I have a lot of projects waiting for me. Counting up how many cars are fully legit is among them.

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13 Feb 2011 21:40 #19229 by silverghost
Replied by silverghost on topic Tow Trucks.
I know of few other great Full Classics that have had their engine, chassis, and bodies, mixed & matched-up as much as the Model "J" Duesenbergs.

I often wonder today how many model "J" s are still as they first left the factory & coachbuilder without any engine, chassis, bell-housing, gearbox & coachwork swaps ?

Does anyone have any idea about this ?
How many model"J" s are exactly as they first left the factory & their first coachbuilder ?
I would venture a guess that the percentage might be very low indeed !

One would think that such a rare & completely original model "J" auto might be very valuable despite it's less interesting & desirable body style.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. BRAD HUNTER Huntingdon Valley Pa/Ocean City NJ 215 947 4676 Engineer & RE Developer Brass & Classic Auto, Antique Boat, Mechanical Automatic Music Machine, & Jukebox Collector

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13 Feb 2011 18:31 #19225 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic J214 from clunker to glory
Chris,
Norman Arbour told me that the fenders that were on this car when it was a derelict were from a Sayre&Scoville ambulance.I knew one of the wheels didn't fit the hub and it was thought to be from a Stutz. Anyhow,the car went from a parts car to nicely restored for all to admire or wonder about.

Bob Roller

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  • Chris Summers
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12 Feb 2011 21:10 #19212 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Tow Trucks.
Bob left out my favorite of his descriptions of J-214 / 2240 prior to restoration: "It looked like it had been run over by two fast-moving coal trucks going in opposite directions." Somewhere in a long-ago newsletter there are photos of the car as it was found. It was, indeed, quite a mess.

I'm not aware of any hearses or ambulances on J chassis. There were plans afoot to build a woody wagon a few years ago but it never happened. Engines were used in boats and to run heavy equipment, more than one frame was used as the basis for a boat trailer, and then there was one car that was scrapped and its parts used in a breakwater.

As I said elsewhere on the forum recently, remember, they were just old cars, once upon a time.

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12 Feb 2011 13:25 #19208 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic A bit more
The car I said was needing an upgrade to be deplorable was J214,a, or maybe THE Wolfington tourer.a long wheelbase car wth unusual moulding prescribed by the original owner,John Eberson,a designer of art deco theaters. It went thru a series of owners and when I saw it in the early 1950's it belonged to Melvin Clemens in Clarksburg WV. A subsequent owner contacted me years later and was restoring it as time and money allowed and I THINK the designer of the car,Herb Newport was also involved. It was eventually purchased by a Canadian who finished the restoration and I will say it looked good. The odd appearence with the curlycue moulding must be viewed with the thought that THIS was what it was when new,by request and design.It will be then appreciated for what it really is,a custom built car from bumper to bumper.It seems to me there was another body shop initially involved but went broke,or maybe it was Wolfington that went broke and THEN another shop finished it. Anyway,it is alive again. Left to me,in the early 50's.I would have either restored the chassis or parted it out. We did get it started in Melvin's garage and it sounded like the pistons were changing holes and smoked like a volcano,totally worn out from running full bore and powering a water well drilling apparatus.
The gentleman from Canada now has another phaeton restored but I have seen only pictures of this one and the Wolfington he donated to a museum in Alberta. I think I sent them info on it as well at their request.

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12 Feb 2011 02:53 #19206 by kedeuel2008
Replied by kedeuel2008 on topic Holy cow.
<!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> Holy Cow. Steve and Bob. (And Randy Ema). These are some great pictures and info. And the picture of the flat bed is suprisingly great. This will give me some great info to do conversions of some rare and weird Duesey's.
Thanx Guys. and keep the info coming. Kim

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  • Steve Derus
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11 Feb 2011 17:51 #19198 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic truck
Maybe this is the farm truck Bob mentioned. The photo is from the Curtright Website.

[img][img]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l350/stevederus/Duesenbergs/truck.jpg[/img][/img]

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  • Bob Roller
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11 Feb 2011 17:20 #19196 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic Desecrated?Duesenbergs
I have seen a picture of at least one made ito a flat bed truck for farm use. This was during the Great Shooting Match of 1939 to 1945 and Duesenbergs were almost a negative value. Randy Ema told me several years ago that there were about 60 Model "J"engines around with no car to go with them. Motor DeLuxe in Paris,France is said to have sold about 60 Duesenberg cars. Most of these did not survive the above mentioned Schuetzenfest so no doubt the engines were mostly lost as well.That leaves America and South America. In America,some few went to scrap drives and others with then undesireable body styles.limos,large sedans etc were parted out to keep the "pretty ones"like phaetons,roadsters,convertible sedans in running condition.More than one "J" that is runnng today is a composite of at least 3 different cars. I personally did most of the parting out on J467 in the early 1950's.It was a Willoughby enclosed limo that had a "colorful"history in Chicago. I still occasionaly see ads with parts from that car for sale.
Some others were made into "Hot Rods" of one sort or another. Some of these were just plain UGLY and one or two were really well done. One I know of was made into a platform for a water drilling rig in Ohio and when I saw it,the condition would have had to be upgraded to be considered deplorable. It has been brought back to its former,peculiar
glory and may still be in Canada.

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11 Feb 2011 07:02 #19192 by silverghost
Replied by silverghost on topic Tow Trucks.
My great uncle William "Wild Bill" Hunter" sold a model J Duesey to his buddy Howard Hughes who later stripped-off the aft section of it's body to use this Duesenberg as a glider tow car at a small local airport.
Sadly no photo exists of this car in it's glider towing configuration.
The car was later found as a bare rolling chassis &amp; drive train in the 1950s. A reproduction body has since been installed on this car !

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. BRAD HUNTER Huntingdon Valley Pa/Ocean City NJ 215 947 4676 Engineer & RE Developer Brass & Classic Auto, Antique Boat, Mechanical Automatic Music Machine, & Jukebox Collector

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11 Feb 2011 03:35 #19187 by kedeuel2008
Tow Trucks. was created by kedeuel2008
<!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> Does anyone know if any Duesenberg were converted into Tow Trucks, Hearse's, Ambulance's So on and so forth ?. <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> Kim

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