Bradey Gerke

The Model J Duesenberg is one of the most illustrious automobiles ever created; just 481 were built, and 378 survive today. Introduced to the world in 1928, no one, not even E.L. Cord, could have known the impact these automobiles would have on the automotive landscape. Arguably the fastest, most technologically advanced, and most beautiful car that money could buy, The J was and still is an American-made sculpture on wheels and one of the finest motorcars the world has ever seen.

Today, the surviving Duesenberg Model J’s are owned by an exclusive list of collectors and are scattered throughout the world, split between private and public eyes. Of the 378 surviving examples, just one person has seen them all – the world’s leading Duesenberg historian, Mr. Randy Ema. A very hard task and one that many would say is nearly impossible, but Randy has succeeded, and I am looking to become just the second person to lay eyes on all 378 surviving examples, documenting the process by taking a picture with each Model J I encounter.

Having grown up, and still residing, in Auburn, Indiana, I’ve always taken great pride in knowing it is the Classic Car Capital of the World and the same place where E.L. Cord built his world-renowned empire. A man that I would have loved to have sat down and had dinner with, E.L. Cord was a business tycoon in the purest sense; he had his hands in the automotive, real estate, aviation, and other sectors. However, the Model J Duesenberg was arguably his most impressive and memorable business venture.

Since 2020, I’ve been the in-house historian and catalog writer for Worldwide Auctioneers, a boutique collector car auction company headquartered in Auburn, Indiana. This has given me many unique opportunities to travel throughout North America to meet and build relationships with many of these Model J owners. Seeing the uniqueness of each car is a major plus, but learning the history, meeting the owners, and listening to them tell their stories of not just their cars, but also their life and the hobby we share – is my favorite part.

Documenting Duesenbergs by their J-Number, I began to amass photos of this project in the late fall of 2022. So far, “The Great Model J Chase” has taken me all over North America from Jay Leno’s Garage, various Concours d’Elegances, museums, and private collections that hold multiple Model Js. Through this, I’ve also had the privilege of having lunch with Randy Ema and going through his vast collection of original factory blueprints and documentation on the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg automobiles.

As of February 2024, I have inspected and taken photos with 50 different Model J Duesenbergs. Although I still have quite a few to go, at just 26 years old and considering the profession that I am in, I am confident this is an achievable goal in my lifetime. As I continue to travel throughout the globe to track down and inspect Model Js for clients, I plan to do a write-up for every 50 Model Js I encounter. I look forward to sharing my progress and building relationships with members of the ACD Club who have helped keep the Model J’s legacy alive some 90 years since they were introduced.