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| GLM 1933 Duesenberg SJ "Twenty Grand" Arlington Torpedo Sedan by Rollstone |
The coachbuilder Rollston Body Company began after World War I as a body repair shop in Manhattan and soon expanded into coachbuilding. Rollston bodies appeared on Bugatti, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cord, Duesenberg, Ford, Hispano-Suiza, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Packard, Peerless, Pierce-Arrow and Rolls Royce.
Rollston's most famous car was this this 1933 Duesenberg Model SJ Arlington Torpedo Sedan "Twenty Grand" – the most expensive Duesenberg ever.
Designed by Gordon Buehrig, the Twenty Grand was built as a show car for the 1933-34 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, and the finished car's price tag was $20,000,
an astronomical amount at the time when the average U.S. physician earned less than $3,000 a year ( by the way - other completed Duesenberg models cost max between $13,000 and $19,000).
This supercharged Duesenberg with chassis number 2539 and engine J-513.
Chief designer, Gordon Buehrig, designed the "Twenty Grand", adapting several of the earlier coach styles, and the noted coach-builder Rollston Body Company, made the design a reality. With polished stainless steel tubing covering the exposed exhaust pipes, and an aerodynamically slanted windscreen, the luxurious "Twenty Grand" exuded a feeling of speed, as well as grandeur. Its long and sleek lines, uninterrupted by superfluous extravagance, elegantly belied the power that lay under the bonnet—a 320-horsepower supercharged engine that was claimed to have pushed the machine to speeds as high as 130 miles per hour.
The power and elegance that were revealed by the exterior were complemented by the sumptuousness of the interior. The "armchair" type seats were upholstered in broadcloth bounded with silver patent leather. Instrument panels, in the front and back seats, were panelled in two-tone burl walnut with silver inlay.
The famous ’20 Grand’ 1933 Duesenberg SJ Torpedo Sedan wears a California license plate with its original sales price was restored in 1979 and took top honors at Pebble Beach in 1980.
Original Car Owner:
S. M. Archer, Minneapolis
Owner in 1968:
B. Johnson, IN
Current Owner:
The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, California
Model made by GLM Models is authentic to the smallest detail.
Company GLM was founded in 2012 by a group of model car collectors.
Finish of paintwork Posh Champagne Silver and assembly are of the highest possible standard - each worker in GLM factory can only finish 2 cars every day!
The resin body casting is flawless, and the finish is accented with a mix of hand-applied detail castings, photo-etched metal, and sharp tampos.
Out front, the Duesenberg grille, delicate photo-etched hood ornament and set individually-lensed head are very well done, and the photo-etched front window frame look absolute perfect. Interior details include good-looking upholstery and hand-painted wood-grain dash and door panel wood trim, photo-etched control panels, and detailed instruments up front.
Tall whitewall bias-ply tires wrapped around exquisitely etched spoked wheels with finely crafted Duesenberg crests in the centers. Those wheels are probably my favorite feature on the whole model, and give it a feel of quality and completeness that ties the whole piece together.
It’s a beautiful car, and GLM does a beautiful job presenting in in 1:43. As a model that captures the promise and potential of the pre war period, this Duesenberg has few rivals—if this era appeals to you, this one is worth adding to your collection. But the price of the model is relatively too high, as once was the price of the real car.
| Manufacturer: | GLM |
| Scale: | 1/43 |
| Year of Production: | 2015 |
| Part Number: | GLM43106201 |
| Material: | Resin |
| Rating: | 10/10 |
