Twenty Grand (Duesenberg)

The Twenty Grand
Overview
ManufacturerDuesenberg
Rollston
Production1933
AssemblyIndianapolis, Indiana
New York City (coach building)
DesignerGordon Buehrig
Body and chassis
ClassUltra-luxury car
Body style4-door ultra-luxury sedan
Powertrain
Engine6.9 L (420 cu in) DOHC Supercharged Duesenberg Straight-8 engine
Power output320 hp (239 kW) at 4200 rpm

The Twenty Grand is the name given to the one-off custom 1933 Rollston Arlington Torpedo-bodied Duesenberg SJ ultra-luxury sedan. The design's initial price tag of US$20,000 ($470,746 in 2023 dollars [1]) during the height of the Great Depression infamously gave it its nickname of Twenty Grand.[2] It is widely considered to be the most famous Duesenberg ever built and the pioneer of the ultra-luxury car design, making it one of the most valuable cars in the world at over $40 million dollars.[3][4]

The Twenty Grand is the flagship vehicle of the Nethercutt Collection and the family's car collection, where it was fully restored by J.B. Nethercutt and painted in its iconic silver. It won Best of Show at the 1980 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.[5]

Jay Leno described the 320-horsepower Twenty Grand as the 20th century equivalent of the Bugatti Veyron in regards to the unprecedented engine power output and prominence of each of the vehicles for their time.[3]

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Twenty Grand Duesenberg at 2013 Palos Verdes Concours". Sports Car Digest - The Sports, Racing and Vintage Car Journal. 2013-05-29. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  3. ^ a b "Gorgeous Duesenberg "20 Grand" Looks Elegant In Jay Leno's Garage". MSN. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  4. ^ MCG (2023-03-19). "Video: Jay Leno Road Tests the Twenty Grand 1933 Duesenberg". Mac's Motor City Garage. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).