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JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS

  • Chris Summers
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14 Jan 2009 04:59 #12408 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS
Thanks! There's a lot of new information you put out there...or new to me, at least.

According to my notes Leno's chassis is engine J-383, sitting on chassis 2430. I've read that he has no interest in building a body for the car.

J-383 was originally installed on chassis 2402, with a Willoughby Limousine body. The engine was removed and replaced by J-306 during the factory era. Per Randy, this car was surviving in the South a couple of years ago.

J-304 / 2343 is the car owned by the Atchley family (Smokey Mountain Car Museum). No clue if the museum is open or not; as of a couple years ago, when I visited Pigeon Forge, it was closed for remodeling and they had auctioned off many of their cars, including an L-29.

Chris Summers
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So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

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  • 250cal
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14 Jan 2009 04:32 #12407 by 250cal
Replied by 250cal on topic JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS
Chris Have you ever gotten a chassis number? I was at the auction in 1995 but don't think there wasa number on front frame rail.

Summary 2007: <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt=":x" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x -->xxx/J383. Does Leno have engine J383 on which chassis? The engine was originally in Willoughby sedan 2402/J383 which is at at the Smokey Mountain Car Museum, in Pigeon Ford TN with J306, which was installed in chassis to replace original defective engine. J383. Chassis is apparently from another Willloughby sedan.
2004 Adler,p 102: Jay Leno has equipped this chassis with a Duesenberg front seat and trunk., and drives it without a body.
1995 Automobile Investor, article p16, Eric Kildoran: Jay Leno had Randy Ema there bidding on his behalf. Bought the J show chassis for $120,000. (Also the 1934 Murphy Convertible Coupe for $450k, J405)

1995 Leno-Ema bought an unknown chassis with engine J383 at Weaver museum sale. Kruse called it -chassis J383.
1993 Malks p67 Willoughby Limo. 2402/J383. Factory replaced this defective engine with J306, (in the thirties)
1975 Elbert p190 J306 no chassis listed. Later factory replaced a defective engine, J383 with J306.
1975 Elbert p181 2402/J383 Willoughby Limousine, LWB .
1963 Homer Fitterling decided to marry these two pieces of history, installing the engine to the chassis

2007 diy TV channel, "Special Presentation" episode DCRD-S,.Jay Leno Duesenberg Collection;Automobile #4: Duesenberg Chassis
Little is known about the history of this Duesenberg chassis. The chassis and engine that sits upon it came from two separate Duesenbergs ? both Willoughby Sedans. After these two Duesenberg sedans were destroyed throughout the years, the chassis and engine were all that was left of the once great vehicles.

In 1963, Homer Fitterling decided to marry these two pieces of history, installing the engine to the chassis. It is unknown how he came to own these two pieces, but it was in that year that the two were united together. For a period of time after, the revamped chassis was displayed at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg museum in Auburn, Indiana. In 1989, Fitterling sold the chassis at auction with the rest of his immense car collection to Ed Weaver, owner of Diamond Carpet Mills. The chassis was up at auction once again after Weaver's death in 1995, where Jay Leno bought it.

Restoration Process
This chassis and engine would be the foundation for a great Duesenberg automobile. However, Leno has no plans as of yet to create a custom body to sit atop this chassis. For now, it will remain a stand alone chassis in Leno's collection ? a reminder of Fred Duesenberg's groundbreaking mechanical engineering.

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  • Chris Summers
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03 Apr 2007 05:06 #6750 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS
What's the J-number on the chassis? I have the numbers on all his other cars but this one has eluded me.

I wonder what museum he speaks of buying it from...

Chris Summers
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So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

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  • Picture Gallery
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03 Apr 2007 04:49 #6749 by Picture Gallery
JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS was created by Picture Gallery
JAY LENO'S 1929 DUESENBERG CHASSIS

www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/ind ... idID=82381


See more clips on Jay Leno's Garage at www.nbc.com/tonightshow

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