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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Duesenberg Model J Imperial Landaulet Castagna

1930Coachwork by Castagna

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1930
Body style
Landaulet
Type
Limited

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Duesenberg Model J Town Car (1930) was coachbuilt by Castagna. The development of the Model J was part of Duesenberg’s strategy to create luxury automobiles that combined performance with bespoke craftsmanship, catering to an affluent clientele during the early 20th century. The design and construction process involved meticulous attention to proportions and stylistic details, reflecting the Art Deco movement prevalent in that era. The Model J featured a robust chassis and was known for its elegant lines and opulent interiors, which were often customized to meet individual customer specifications. Mechanically, the Model J was equipped with advanced engineering for its time, showcasing a powerful configuration. Powered by a V12 engine, it provided impressive performance, further enhancing its appeal among luxury car enthusiasts. The chassis was designed to support a range of body styles, which included the Town Car variant, characterized by its spacious rear compartment suitable for passengers and a driver’s compartment in front. Production data indicates that several units were constructed, with surviving examples documented in various private collections and museums. The Duesenberg Model J Town Car Castagna remains a significant representation of the era’s automotive artistry and engineering excellence. Surviving examples are recorded in private collections and institutional archives, providing reference for researchers of postwar coachbuilding.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Limited
Production notes
Historical Duesenberg registers identify the documented Castagna-bodied car as chassis 2423 / engine J-407, Imperial Landaulet, sold early 1931. Legacy Town Car body label corrected to Landaulet. Exact chassis is retained as source-vehicle evidence only on this model-level route; no production count inferred. NO_AUTO_INHERIT.

Engine & performance

Specification notes
Confidence detail moved from confidence: high_disposition_only

Design & manufacture

Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
Castagna
Manufacturer · Documented
Duesenberg

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Automotive History Review — Duesenberg Model J European chassis list autohistory.org Historical register publication
TM Raymond — Duesenberg registry tmraymondonline.com Specialist marque register
HABS / Library of Congress — Duesenberg Automobile Company Factory tile.loc.gov Government historic record

THE CONVERSATION

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