Duesenberg Model J chassis 2189, engine J 168, is a short wheelbase example carrying one of the most dramatic and distinctive open bodies ever installed on a Model J: a LeBaron Special Phaeton. This rare dual cowl design represents the height of sporting elegance during the Classic Era, combining restrained ornamentation with a boldly rakish profile.
The body is characterized by its laid back split windshield, sharply angled front door line, and unadorned body sides, allowing the proportions to speak for themselves. Beautifully flowing fenders and a close coupled rear treatment visually compress the passenger compartment, emphasizing the extraordinary length of the hood and creating a strong sense of motion even when standing still. It is among the most purposeful and modern-looking phaetons fitted to any Model J.
According to noted marque historian Fred Roe, chassis 2189 was completed in late 1930 and was initially delivered with a Derham four door sedan body. Within just a few months, however, that body was removed and replaced with this exceptional LeBaron Special Phaeton in preparation for the car’s appearance at the 1931 New York Auto Salon. The body incorporates several LeBaron hallmarks, including slash cut front doors with concealed hinges, flawless surfacing, and impeccable balance between sporting intent and luxury.
The first registered owner of record was Bob McEldowney of Pennsylvania, followed not long after by John Troka, one of the most important early collectors and dealers of Duesenbergs. Troka acquired the car in the late 1930s and later sold it to Walter Kerner of Kenosha, Wisconsin. By the late 1940s, the car had entered the ownership of Bob Robertson, who reportedly carried out a cosmetic restoration. Crucially, the car survived the scrap drives of World War II, an era in which many Model Js were lost.
In 1949, Robertson sold the car back to Troka. During this period, Troka performed engine work, installing the cylinder block, head, and crankshaft from engine J 352. Importantly, he retained the car’s original, numbered J 168 bellhousing assembly, preserving a key element of its mechanical identity. The car continued to pass through dedicated enthusiasts over the following decades, remaining intact and appreciated rather than heavily modified.
In 1993, chassis 2189 received a full restoration while under the care of renowned collector Jack Passey. The restoration returned the car to a high standard while respecting its historic configuration. In 1999, it entered the world class collection of Otis Chandler, former publisher of The Los Angeles Times and one of the most respected collectors of American classics. Following the dispersal of the Chandler Collection in 2006, the LeBaron Special Phaeton was acquired by another legendary collector, Major General William Lyon, and it has remained in the Lyon Family Collection to the present day.
Today, the car presents in a beautifully preserved older restoration, finished in metallic champagne, complemented by burgundy colored chassis, fenders, and cockpit surround. Ornamentation is intentionally restrained to emphasize the body’s purity. Equipment includes dual side mount spares, cowl lamps, chrome horns, a trunk rack, and chrome wire wheels with whitewall tires. The interior is upholstered in crème leather, and the beige canvas top harmonizes elegantly with the exterior color scheme.
Although restored some years ago, the car has been lovingly maintained and remains highly usable. It successfully completed the 2019 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance and went on to place third in the Duesenberg class (Class G) at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an impressive result that speaks to the integrity of the restoration and the car’s continued excellence.
Retaining its original chassis, firewall, and bellhousing, and carrying a CCCA National First Prize badge, chassis 2189 stands today as one of the most important surviving LeBaron Special Phaetons. Elegant, historically significant, and eminently drivable, it represents the very essence of the Duesenberg Model J at its most sporting and sophisticated.
