1954 'Duesenberg' SJ Special

The factory-fresh Duesenberg SJ featured a 320 bhp, 7-litre, DOHC inline eight-cylinder engine with a centrifugal supercharger, three-speed manual transmission, beam-type front and live rear axles with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and vacuum-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

This car doesn’t.

Instead, it has a Jaguar MK 7 chassis, a Jaguar 4.2-litre engine, a full steel body with glass-fibre wings, a 4-speed gearbox with overdrive, but the same Leviathan dimensions as the legend upon which it is based.

The full steel body is the thing that sets it apart from lesser SJ ‘specials’, many of which are entirely fabricated from composites and have much more of a kit-car feel to them.

This car is one of several that have come to us from the estate of a man who liked an automotive challenge and had the engineering skills and enthusiasm to embark upon all manner of recreations, evocations, tributes and other mechanical homages to the great marques and models of yesteryear.

This car is a project and will require some recommissioning before it may be used on the open road.

The car’s journey from Jaguar MK 7 to Duesenberg SJ evocation is advanced but incomplete, as a quick glance will confirm.

The underlying structures, though, are all there and seem to us to be a pretty solid foundation from which to progress towards the finishing line.

The doors close with reassuring weight and accuracy.

The running boards feel solid and sturdy.

It’s been properly, if somewhat idiosyncratically, put together.

That said, you’ll struggle to find a panel that hasn’t got scuffs, scratches, cracks to the paint (or the glass-fibre in the case of the front valance), and outbreaks of (apparently) surface rust in sundry locations.

There’s also some bubbling to be found at the bottom of both doors.

The wire wheels are intact but very scruffy and in need of remedial attention.

The bonnet is spotted with surface rust throughout.

The exhaust seems to be hanging down rather low.

Like we said, there’s some work to do.

Some of the additions - the windscreen surround and ‘A’ pillars, the ‘decking’ at the rear, and the heavy-duty stainless-steel pipes holding the side-mounted spare wheels - have a rather Heath Robinson look and feel to them, but are all part of the vehicle’s truly unique character and charm.

The beige-coloured hood could do with a bit of TLC but doesn’t appear to be fundamentally damaged.

We noticed that it doesn’t fasten securely above the windscreen. We also noticed that it has no glass or plastic ‘window’ at the rear, which might make reverse parking quite a challenge in this 17ft-long colossus.

The inside is also a case of ‘work in progress’, but it seems to us to be largely faithful to its Jaguar MK 7 origins – at least in terms of the dashboard, steering wheel, controls, gauges, knobs and switches.

Fans of thick oatmeal carpet will be very happy, as there’s more to see in here than you would have found in a 1980’s show-home.

The leather upholstery on the two, scallop-backed seats is in decent condition. There are two alternative seat squabs with the car, plus a roll of trim in the same shade of dark brown.

The hood is unlined on the inside.

The pop-up hatch at the rear reveals a ‘Dickie’ seat, the footwell of which can also be accessed via a small door on the o/s/r wing – it’s all very ingenious.

We can’t speak for either the efficacy or accuracy of any instruments or controls as we have neither driven nor started the car.

The engine bay is rather dusty and clearly hasn’t seen any action for some time, but it is dry and everything seems to be in its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and nothing we’ve seen has given us any cause to tut or raise an eyebrow.

The car comes with its original buff log book, a V5C, and a typed description of the car, including some comments on work to be done and advice on what might be done to improve it.

Aside from that, history is a little thin on the ground.

Yes, there’s some work to be done before this car lives up to the promise its creator discerned.

But we think most of the really heavy lifting has already been done.

Underneath the skin this vehicle has the mechanicals, engine and drivetrain of a MK 7 Jaguar, which was a fine car in its own right.

If the next owner finishes the job of taking this car to the next level – aesthetically and mechanically – then he or she will have recreated undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

We think that’s quite a powerful incentive.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £5,000 - £10,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.