1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo takes ‘Best of Show’ at Pebble Beach
2022 Pebble Seaside Concours d’Class judges gave the distinguished “Better of Present” award to a one-of-a-kind 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports activities Torpedo. This marks the primary time an American automobile has earned “Better of Present” since 2013 and is the Duesenberg model’s seventh win.
Owned by Lee R. and Penny Anderson, the droptop has an interesting story. It was assigned chassis quantity 2509 and shipped and not using a physique to Motors Deluxe in Paris. This was a typical observe in an period when coachbuilding flourished. French coachbuilder Joseph Figoni fitted the Duesenberg with a one-off Sports activities Torpedo physique and returned it to Motors Deluxe proprietor E.Z Sadovich, who then drove the automobile within the 1932 version of the Paris-Good Rally earlier than delivering it to its unique proprietor, a Peruvian sugar inheritor named Antonio Chopitea.
Chopitea displayed his new Duesenberg at a concours held in Cannes and gained the Grand Prix. What occurred subsequent stays somewhat murky: what’s sure is that the Duesenberg traveled to america in 1933 and misplaced its Figoni-designed physique within the Nineteen Sixties. The chassis ended up carrying a distinct physique for many years whereas the unique physique was fitted to a different Mannequin J, in accordance with Hagerty. Fortunately, each vehicles discovered their solution to the identical assortment. Anderson bought the duo and started the lengthy, meticulous technique of rebuilding chassis 2509.
He paid an incredible quantity of consideration to even probably the most minute particulars. He notably tracked down the unique crankshaft fitted to the straight-eight engine; it had been put in in a automobile situated in Vancouver. The proprietor agreed to supply the half to Anderson’s venture.
The diligent restoration paid off: Anderson’s Mannequin J beat 39 vehicles to earn what many take into account the basic automobile world’s most coveted award.
“All of the preparation — the story behind this automobile is simply superb. There’s just one Figoni Duesenberg, ever ever, and it is this one proper right here. So, it is like all this stuff coming collectively to make an actual champion. We’re so excited,” Anderson mentioned.
The listing of Better of Present nominees additionally included a 1937 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Coupé, a 1930 Duesenberg J Graber Cabriolet, and a 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Stabilimenti Farina Cabriolet. As a comfort prize, the 1937 Talbot-Lago took first place within the European Traditional Closed class, the 1930 Duesenberg gained the Graber Coachwork Early class, and the 1951 Talbot-Lago gained first place within the Talbot-Lago Grand Sport class.
These vehicles, and the entire Pebble Seaside scene, are within the photograph gallery above.
