Each year The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best award celebrates some of the greatest concours winners from the previous season, with one ultimately crowned ‘Best of the Best’ by a panel of esteemed judges. This year’s winner – a 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Speedster – was announced during an award ceremony that took place at the recently opened The Peninsula London on 3 September 2024 (which will also host the International Historic Motoring Awards later this year).
Duesenbergs have been a staple of the concours scene scene since its inception, so for this Model SJ Speedster to to garner so much attention means it is a particularly special example with a brilliant story behind it. Coming from the private collection of late U.S. Air Force Major General William Lyon, whose lifelong passion for automotive and aviation design prompted him to establish a museum celebrating both in Orange County, California, the award was accepted by Bill H. Lyon, who now represents Lyon’s classic car collection as well as the Lyon Air Museum. He commented: ‘It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of my father. Among elite collectors, The Peninsula Best of the Best Award has long been known as a pinnacle of recognition.’
Not only was the Model SJ one of the most powerful and luxurious American cars of its era, this stunning Speedster was one of just 38 (out of total production of 481) to be fitted with a supercharger. The car was also the only example delivered to Gurney Nutting’s senior coachbuilder (and namesake) John Gurney Nutting for bespoke bodywork.
Maharajah Holkar of Indore originally ordered this one-of-a-kind SJ. As the car was destined for a royal career, it received various special touches like chrome flagsticks and red and blue lights on the front fenders to indicate whether the Maharajah or the Maharanee was driving the car. Upon completion at Nutting’s workshop, the car was shipped from London to New York and driven back to Indianapolis by Duesenberg employees. After a final tune-up, the Gurney Nutting Speedster was delivered to the Maharajah’s Santa Ana, California mansion due to concerns about Japan invading India.
After the regional tensions dropped, the Duesenberg was shipped from Los Angeles to Singapore and then to India. It remained there until the 1950s, when it was taken back to the United States, where it remains. This is the highest-numbered Duesenberg chassis and has been meticulously restored with all the royal details retained.
The winner was picked by a group of 25 judges representing a diverse selection of renowned automotive enthusiasts and design experts. Among them were legendary car designer Chris Bangle, Nick Mason, Ralph Lauren, Dassault Systèmes Vice President of Design Experience Anne Asensio, Ford Motor Company Board of Directors member Henry Ford III, former Design Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars the late Ian Cameron, and Octane columnist Jay Leno.
The runners up were, of course, all sublime. These included a 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aerodyne by Voisin, 1937 Bentley 4¼-litre Rothschild Sedanca Coupe by Gurney Nutting, 1937 Bugatti 57S Roadster by Corsica, a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen, a 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta by Pininfarina, a 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder by Frua, and the 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica “Superfast” Coupe by Pininfarina. All received the highest awards from the most prestigious concours events of 2023.
