1980 Duesenberg II Speedster

The Duesenberg automobile was the symbol of ultra-success and the carriage for the elite of American business, entertainment, and entrenched wealth from 1929 through 1936. Approximately 420 Model J and SJ Duesenbergs were produced during the height of the Great Depression — setting speed records as fast as 160 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats and offering a level of luxury few had ever experienced. A meticulous and authentic hand-crafted re-creation by Elite Heritage Motors of Elroy, Wisconsin, this Duesenberg II Speedster is the ultimate expression of Classic Era styling blended with modern performance and convenience.

During Elite Heritage Motors' 23-year run, they created six different models of the Duesenberg II — because each one was hand-built and precisely planned, the process was very time-consuming, resulting in just 71 Duesenberg IIs ever created. Built using only high-quality materials and sold for top dollar to a discriminating clientele, this example ended up in the hands of Tom Monahan, the founder of Domino's Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers — a man known for owning one of the most prized automobiles in history, a Bugatti Royale Berline de Voyage, and for being the first person to buy a Duesenberg at auction for over one million dollars. Ford Cauffiel, a well-known collector in Ohio, purchased this Duesenberg II in 1988, and the Grand Rapids Classics Auto Museum took ownership from Mr.

Cauffiel in 2023. These authentic re-creations were also used in multiple TV shows and movies, most notably the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. Built for the purpose of driving, it offers a Ford V-8 engine backed by an automatic transmission with power steering, power brakes, and cruise control.

The interior showcases lovely parchment leather and an authentic-looking engine-turned dash mirroring that of a real Duesenberg, with automatic windows, heat, air-conditioning, and a radio. When the museum took ownership, the odometer showed just over 15,000 miles.