A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster claimed best of show at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, underscoring the enduring prestige of pre-war American muscle among the world's most discerning collectors.
The SSJ represents the pinnacle of 1930s automotive engineering. Only two examples exist, making this particular car one of the rarest automobiles on earth. The supercharged straight-eight engine produces 320 horsepower, a figure that dominated performance hierarchies nearly a century ago. That power, paired with open-air design and hand-crafted coach work, defines what luxury performance meant before World War II.
Pebble Beach's best of show award carries immense collector weight. Winning here validates ownership and preservation efforts while commanding attention at future auctions and private sales. The selection committee, composed of automotive historians and industry figures, evaluates authenticity, condition, rarity, and historical significance. A pre-war Duesenberg winning top honors reflects the American collector market's continued reverence for golden-age engineering.
The timing matters. Classic car values have remained relatively stable compared to the modern art and real estate markets, making significant specimens increasingly attractive to wealth preservation strategies. A car like this SSJ exists beyond traditional depreciation curves. It's a rolling artifact with investment properties, not a depreciating asset.
Duesenberg built only 481 Model J and SJ automobiles between 1929 and 1937. The supercharged SJ variant arrived in 1932 with enhanced performance and exclusivity. The SSJ designation appears on just two factory examples, making this win inevitable given its singular rarity and documented originality.
The victory echoes broader collector trends favoring pre-war American luxury cars. Ferraris and Bugattis command headlines