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Duesenberg Aerodynamic Walker Coupe Most unique. Most aerodynamic. Most elegant. From "Special Presentation" episode DCRD-S

The Walker Coupe on display at Pebble Beach

Jay Leno Duesenberg Collection, Automobile #5: Duesenberg Aerodynamic Walker Coupe

Statistics:

• Model: J
  
• Year built: 1934
  
• Original owner: Josiah Lilly
  
• Original mileage: Unknown
  
• Price new: $25,000 (approx)
  
• Number in Leno's collection: 5th

Awards:

• 1996 Pebble Beach — 2nd place in class (*wasn't finished )
  
• Gwen Graham award for "Most Elegant Closed Car"

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Jay Leno's Aerodynamic Walker Coupe was the most expensive factory Duesenberg ever made. There were more expensive models in Europe, but not factory models.

One of a Kind

This Long Island find is the most unique Duesenberg in Jay Leno's collection. Built in 1934 for Josiah Lilly of Lilly Pharmaceuticals, this one-of-a-kind duesenberg had one of the most expensive bodies ever built. It was designed Herb Newport to be completely aerodynamic — from the way the body was curved to the design of the grille and bumpers. Even the headlights, which were smaller than normal and protruded from the body, were positioned at the best point to break the wind. Coachbuilder A.H. Walker took all these design features, combined them with a sleek body, and created a vehicle that had minimal wind noise inside even at top speeds. It wouldn't be until 1939 that the American auto design would even come close to building vehicles with this curved appearance and engineering.

Lilly kept the Duesenberg for only about a year, which was his custom with vehicles. Eventually he traded it to a Cadillac dealer in New York for a new Cadillac in 1935. Rita Lemay was its next owner, rumored to be the mistress of New York's mayor. The Walker Coupe traveled to Europe with Lemay, but eventually came back to New York and ended up with Otto Stoye.

Stoye owned a gas station during the late '30s and early '40s, and used the once stately vehicle to tow cars back to the station. By the time the Duesenberg changed hands again in 1963, it had been used and abused. Morton French paid a mere $400 for the hand crafted masterpiece, and briefly tried to bring it back to its original glory. It wouldn't be until 1995 when Leno bargained the coupe away from French that it would go through a full restoration.

This is an original photo of the Aero Coupe at the time that it was purchased by the Lily family during the depression era. The spectacular extravagance of the automobile was doubly conspicuous during this era of financial strife.

Restoration Process

This coupe was an automotive masterpiece, but it had been driven in two countries and used as hard laboring work car — causing a considerable amount of damage to the engine and body. When Leno took possession of it, there were multiple parts missing, and the car needed to be completely restored.

For the next year, restoration specialist Randy Ema and his team worked around the clock on this restoration. These were just a few of the things Ema had to restore:

• back section of the body
  
• wood
  
• headlights (were missing)
  
• interior
  
• front grille

The grill was arguably the hardest part of the restoration. Stripping the metal down to nothing, it could not be saved, and each of the 51 pieces in the grille had to be hand crafted. In the end, all the time was worth seeing a piece of history restored to its original beauty.

Go to the next Duesenberg in Jay's collection.