The most famous Duesenberg of all time can drive like a modern car despite being nearly 100 years old
- The most famous Duesenberg of all time is the ‘Twenty Grand’
- It gets its nickname from its price tag during the Great Depression
- The ultra-luxury sedan can keep pace with modern cars
Published on Oct 11, 2024 at 2:03 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Oct 11, 2024 at 5:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
It’s hard to imagine a Duesenberg driving like a modern car.
For starters, they lack some of the features fitted to modern cars that we’ve become accustomed to, like power steering and ABS.
But despite being nearly 100 years old, the most famous Duesenberg of all time can keep pace with modern cars.
That’s the revelation Jay Leno made anyway – and we’ve no reason not to believe him.
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In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Jay Leno’s Garage, the television host and comedian is behind the wheel of the car in question.
Dubbed the ‘Twenty Grand’, it’s a one-off custom 1933 Rollston Arlington Torpedo-bodied Duesenberg SJ ultra-luxury sedan.
Why the name ‘Twenty Grand’?
The design’s initial price tag of $20,000 – equivalent to $470,746 in 2023 dollars – during the height of the Great Depression infamously gave it its nickname of ‘Twenty Grand’.
$20,000 may not sound a lot in today’s money but for perspective, this homemade fighter jet cost that amount to build.
Is it special?
In short – yes.
It’s widely considered to be the most famous Duesenberg ever built and the pioneer of the ultra-luxury car design.
Not only that, but it’s one of the most valuable cars in the world, with a reported value in excess of $40 million.
Who owns the Duesenberg Twenty Grand?
The ultra-luxury car 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.
Jay Leno has an enviable car collection, too, which includes one of the rarest concept hypercars ever that has a jet turbine-powered engine.
What did Jay Leno have to say about this Duesenberg?
In the video, Leno described the Twenty Grand as the 20th century equivalent of the Bugatti Veyron.
He was referring to the unprecedented engine power output and prominence of each of their vehicles for their time.
Speaking of which, the Twenty Grand is powered by a 6.9-liter supercharged Duesenberg straight-8 engine producing 320 horsepower.
“It’s one of few antique cars you can drive on the freeway like a modern car,” Leno said in the video.
“You can get in the fast lane, hold this thing 70, 75, without straining it even a little bit.
“After a little driving you forget that it’s almost a 100-year-old car.”
Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
