Duesenberg Identification, Crash southern California 1938-39

I'm trying to confirm or deny a story for a book that I am researching. I'm hoping someone here might point me in an informed direction.

I will be happy to elaborate, but the story essentially has my subject (named Ortiz) working as an agent in Hollywood, and using his first big paycheck to buy a Duesenberg, which he eventually crashes into a gas station.

While I have no evidence for it, I have no reason to disbelieve the story. My subject raced in the Grand Prix as a younger man, and I was told he bought the car because it was among the fastest in the world at that time. If true, the whole episode would have to have happened some time between February 1938 and September 1939.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

Ryan