Uion City Body Company built eight LaGrande bodies for the CORD L-29's '' Custom body program '', two Town cars, two Victorias, one Coupe, one ( Salon ) Sedan, one Boattail Speedster and one Sedan.

Duesenberg buyers came in as many assorted shapes and flavors as the cars themselves. Some had only the vaguest notions of what they wanted and leafed lazily through catalogs and sketches while the salesmen kept their patience. In a custom business where cars were virtually one-of-a-kind, the client was king and his whims were commands. often it was these whimsical touches and Duesenberg's devoted attention to them that closed the deal. Over the years Duesenberg rolled out with rear seat instrument panels, fine cabinetry bars fitted with Baccarat crystal, a built-in jewelry safe, custom fitted vanity case, and special compartments for traveling pets. Normally, the procedure was for the salesman to work out the basics with his customer as to general body paint color, interior decor, and any little details, these were then forwarded to Indianapolis to the Duesenberg body engineer. They decided the best integrated engineering and art then they did a color rendering which was sent out to the customer. This step might produce a reaction between ecstacy and horror and alterations were made accordingly. Throughout this stage, the attitude that the customer was right was maintained, and eventually came the moment of truth when the buyer accepted the final design and said, '' Go ahead and build it ''.

Duesenberg Model- J   LaGrande Sweep Panel Dual Cowl Phaetons

​1950's

A.J. Jim Hoe, a renowned Connecticut based master mechanic and Duesenberg specialist, notably altered Duesenberg Model J's, often adding superchargers, building racing specials, or performing total restorations. He was known to work on hundreds of these cars after World War ll. Jim was the post war owner of Model J-281 and famously utilized it as his daily driver and customized the engine block with hand machined domed pistons. One of the most famous Duesenberg mechanics and restorers in American history, who famously traveled to the Indy 500 in 1946 and 1947 to study vintage race cars, that is where these photos were taken. The infield was largely an overgrown, unkept quagmire of weeds, dirt, and wild grass after the track set dormant during WWll ( 1942 - 1945 ) it wasn't until the late 1950's that the Speedway began creating the iconic manicured grass strip along the pit lane. Jim removed the expensive supercharger before he sold it.

Duesy parked on the street without the sidemount spare  tire.

​Original factory photos

The first Duesenberg to sell for over $ 1 million was this Super Charged Union City lagrande Sweep Panel Dual Cowl Phaeton. Sold to Domino's pizza founder Tom Mohaghan at the 1985 kruze Auburn sale for Richard Gold who had restored SJ-107. Today it is estimated that the cars worth is around $4.5 million and is rated as one of three of the most desirable Duesenbergs. The car is in the Keller family's collection and has been restored in black and maroon.

Union City LaGrande Sweep-Panel Convertible Sedan Touring Car.

After Paris the Speedster went to Toronto Canada for display, shown here in front of Knox College, 23 Kings Circle, University of Toronto. Back home to Auburn, Indiana and no records of its existence after that.

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1933 J-281 LaGrande Dual Cowl Phaeton. This Duesenberg is certified by the ACD Club as an original, cloning and replication are not acceptable. This particular car J-281, has history since new with 12 owners and has been part of three important private Museum Collections. This Duesenberg has won the ACD Meet Award in Auburn. Awarded best of Class at the Meadowbrook Concours beating out 12 other Duesenbergs in its Class.

Indianapolis "Brickyard"

Supercharger added in 1934.

.​The final "Sweep Panel'' Dual Cowl Phaeton to be built by LaGrande, body # 1015 was delivered to Duesenberg ''in the white'' in February 1934. Notably, this bodywork featured suicide-style front doors. Several months later the body was mounted to chassis number 2558 alongside engine number SJ-537. At the time SJ-537 was completed, Duesenberg was transitioning to a more aerodynamic, modern appearance, and thus the car was outfitted with a newly specified stylish skirted fenders and 17- inch wheels.  In effort to promote that more modern and sleek styling, SJ-537 was retained by Duesenberg factory branch in New York and used as their demonstrator. The car would have been test driven by an enviable list of personalities during this time. On October 28 1936 the car was finally purchased by its first known private owner, Hugh Bancroft Jr., the 26-year old heir to Dow Jones & Co., publishers of the wall Street Journal.

H.S. Lewis from Beaver Falls, New York purchased the Coupe new on 5-23-1931.

1935 - 851 & 1936 - 852  Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster..

In October, 1926 E.L. Cord purchased Duesenberg, a company that used only handcrafted bodies for their chassis and motor set-up. Fred Duesenberg had a profound influence in the development of the motor car. Being a designer of racing models, influenced the development in his passenger automobiles. He introduced to America the eight cylinder car, hydraulic brakes, overhead cam, four valves per cylinder. On June 14, 1929 Erret Lobban Cord formed the Cord Corporation, a holding company capitalized with 125 million dollars. The Cord Corporation controlled the following Automotive subsidiaries: Auburn Automobile, Limousine Body Company, Central Manufacturing, Union City Body Company, Columbia Axle and Safety Cab'' Checker Cab ''. Union City Body Company built open bodies for Auburn from 1921, up to this time. Duesenberg's President Harold Ames knew that sales of the Model J could be improved if the firm offered a series of catalog customs and needed a well known Coachbuilder, hence the emergence of LaGrande, In-house Coachbuilder enabled Duesenberg to keep close tabs on quality. The LaGrande Sweep Panel Phaeton made its debut at the 1931 New York Auto Salon. Most of the bodies for the LaGrande program were supplied to Duesenberg in-the-white, finished upholstery that was covered with muslin cloth, by the Union City Body Company.

Fred Duesenberg

Recent restoration

1977 photo of the Alabama Southern Belles.

Custom built by the Union City Body Company in 1931.

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After the New York Auto Show, the Cord L-29 speedster departed for France where it appeared at the Paris Concours d'elegance and achieved First Place.

Folding windshield

Lagrande Union City

1963

1929 CORD Victoria Coupe.

Photo taken before the New York Auto Show.

Domino's Pizza Founder Tom Monaghan and past owner of the Detroit Tigers.

Union City Body Company, an established supplier for Auburn and Cord was one of the first to supply Duesenberg with bodies for the Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton. Very few automobiles in the World have coachwork that is as attractive and highly desirable as the Model J LaGrande Sweep-Sanel Dual Cowl Phaeton.

The 1931 CORD L-29 LaGrande Boattail Speedster.

Mr. Manning's wife Katie behind the wheel.

Individual adjusting seats patented by the Union City Body Company.

​ Lucious B. Manning used the original body on no fewer than four chassis, which wasn't uncommon for a wealthy owner to have a favorite Coachbuilder body moved to a new chassis.

One of two LaGrande ( Hard Top ) Coupes  built by the Union City Body Company in 1930, for the 1931 model year.

 This rare highly prized model underwent a complete body-off restoration in 2003 and has since received many prestigious awards, and was recently featured in " 24 Motor Cars Under the Stars" in Philadelphia.

​​​CORD L-29

Duesenberg's LaGrande bodies have stood the test of time, their elegance and tasteful embellishments distinguishing them among the most coveted coachwork on these great chassis, in an era of great designers and coachbuilders. This handsome Duesenberg Union City LaGrande Phaeton Model SJ-510, chassis 2540, one of the Supercharged Phaetons built by LaGrande on the long wheel-base chassis. SJ-510 was purchased in 1933 by Mr. Ben E. Smith Sr. of the brokers Hutton & Company in New York. By 1944 Mr. Smith's son Ben E. Smith Jr. had taken the car to Mexico where it was given to Bruno Pagile, the manager of the Hippodrome built by Smith in Mexico City. The car was purchased by Valentine G. Melgarejo in 1950. Melgarejo a used car dealer kept the car for 18 yrs. before passing it on to William J. Metta of Alabama, who was reported to have partially restored it, with just 26,000 miles. It passed next through James Southard in 1975, a dealer based in Wisconsin. The same year it's believed to have been purchased by Thomas S. Gene Storms, who purchased a faithful reproduction Supercharger in 1979. The car has remained in California by its current owner, with a full restoration and the odometer showing less than 31,000 miles.

This would be a good time to point out the scope of E.L.Cord's purchase of the Union City Body Company. Not only was Union City Body Company the in-house Coachbuilder for Duesenberg, but due to strict body standards for the other COACHBUILDERS to follow, all Duesenberg Chassis came with a choice of  skirted or tablespoon fenders, running boards and the entire hood assembly built by the Union City Body Company. Just about any Duesenberg you observe, at least 1/3 of its build will be Union City Lagrande.

​Union City Body Company is also credited with building all the bodies for 8 different versions of the  ''Second Generation Auburn Boattail Speedsters''. The 100 Standard, 100  A Custom, 105 Salon. The 12 Series 12-60 Standard, 12-160 Custom and the 161 Standard and Salon.

Philip O. Wright, a designer who was responsible for some of the sportiest Duesenberg Model J's ever created, presented this sleek boattail speedster design ( Front Wheel Drive ). The Coachwork was awarded to the Union City Body Company. Completed in time for its debut at the New York Auto  Salon public showing in 1931.

1935 Model 851 Salon Phaeton Sedans manufacture by the Union City Body Company, then transported to Connersville, Indiana where final assembly took place. Connersville plant assembled 6,316 Auburns, which included 627 Phaetons. Fewer than 25 - 851 and 852 Phaetons are known to exist today.

Erret Lobban Cord

longer than a Dueseberg, the Cord L-29 front wheel drive Limousine.

Mr. Manning playing with youngest daughter Katherine, in her 1932 Auburn Speedster replica pedal car.

Another Gordon Buehrig Design contracted to the Union City Body Company LaGrande program, are two 1931 Duesenberg Hard Top Coupes. Union City built two in 1930 for the 1931 model year.

Union city Body Company had approximately 42 - 1933 Second Generation Auburn Boattail Speedster bodies left over, that were used to build the new Third Generation   Auburn 851 Supercharged Boattail Speedster

The wealthy  WW I  flying Ace Reginald Sinclair was the first owner of this 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ-532 , where the S stands for 'Supercharged'. Like other Duesenberg owners, he had to pay approximately  $20,000 for his new car; that was $8,500 for the chassis with engine and $12,000 for the LaGrande coachwork. Delivered to his home in Colorado in 1935.

1931 New York Auto Show.

Duesenberg Model J-436, long wheel based Union City Lagrande Dual Cowl Phaeton .  Purchased by Rudolph Bauer, an eccentric German artist.

1933  12-160 Auburn Boattail Speedster

2013 Website created by:  ​Nick McNutt

1935 Photo

In 1929 Cord let it be known that he was going to build the largest and most impressive automobile in America. In July of 1930 a work order was issued to the Union City Body Company, reading. Design and construction of sample E-1  ( 16 cyl. F.W.D. car...Cord Salon Sedan 7 passenger...use same cowl as Victorias built in last Oct. '29. Trim with brown leather in driving compartment and Tan Laidlaw in passenger compartment. The chassis was stretched to a 157.5 inch wheelbase, longer than any Duesenberg. E-1 Experimental first model.

Re-creation started in 1995 and was completed in 2004, consuming 20,000 man-hours, meticulously recreated in every detail, even in its original colors of Royal Cranberry and Cashmere Cream.

Rendering

Photo taken inside the Paris Automobile expo.

Chassis 2552, a 142.5 inch short wheelbase version with engine SJ-523. One of the final Dual Cowl Phaetons to be built. SJ-523 was only one of four to be fitted with the Supercharged engine known as the SJ Model. The Supercharger would produce 320 horsepower with top speeds of 130 mph. The early years of SJ-523 belonged to such personalities as Listerine heir and aviation pioneer Stafford Lambert, Pennsylvania Governor James Earle and race car driver Ralph Depalma. In 1947 it's owner R.J. Woods brought the car to former Duesenberg factory man Marion Roberts for modern restyling, mostly limited to a cut down windshield, scoops cut into the fenders and the installation of 17 inch. wire wheels. The Duesenberg eventually ended up with C.B. Frye of Hamburg New York. Around 1950 it was acquired from Hamburg by George Lamberson of Chicago. Mr. Lamberson in 1952 passed the car down to Harry Whithall of Chicago, then to a Mr. Dickens. Acquired in 1961 by Homer Fittering of Southbend Indiana, a long time Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg member. In 1989 the car was acquired by L.K. Newell, who set about restoring the Dual Cowl Phaeton back to its original appearance. The original body panels were restored and repainted in two tone scarlet red, with tan upholstery and matching top. The famous scooped front fenders were filled in with new metal and returned to their original appearance.

Behind the familiar Duesenberg grille stretches a 153.5 wheelbase, but a coach that only seats two and a rumble seat for two more.

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Fred Duesenberg died July 25,1932 from medical complications resulting from an accident driving the above automobile.He was driving a customers Duesenberg equipped with a prototype supercharged engine along the Lincoln Highway back to Indiannapolis from New York. The car went out of control when he swerved to avoid an oncoming car. Fred was thrown from the car and his injuries were relatively minor. However, he developed pneumonia while recovering in the hospital and passed away several days later.

Fred Duesenbergs 1932 Model SJ-261 Union City LaGrande Sweep-Pane Dual Cowl Phaeton.

President of Duesenberg C0. and Vice President of Cord Corporation  Holdings Company Lucius B. Manning had at his disposal a Model SJ-324 '' Sweep Panel'' Dual Cowl Phaeton , designed by Gordon Buehrig and built under the "LaGrande'' label by the Union City Body Company , Union City Indiana.                                              

Modified Bullet Headlights.

E. L. Cord's

Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg  Museum

E.L. Cord introduced his namesake Automobile in 1929, the unheard of front wheel drive. Duesenbergs  custom builders, were building bodies for the J chassis. Cord on the other hand, built a chassis engineered by race car builder Harry Miller. The super long front allowed body engineer John Oswald to craft a flowing hood, fenders ensemble. Auburn chief designer Al Leamy applied a Duesenberg - style radiator that only accented that impressive length and lowness of the front wheel drive L - 29 Chassis.  Production ceased Dec. 31st 1931, with only 4,993 produced. Factory body types: Sedan, Brougham, Phaeton, and Cabriolet. Custom body types: Victoria, Town Car, Coupe, Salon and Speedster. Union City built 8  L-29's  2 - Victorias, 2 - Town Cars, 1- Coupe, 2- Sedans, one being a Salon ( Salons were built for Auto Shows and Dealer Showrooms ) and 1- Boattail Speedster .

Coachbuilder - Union City Body Company