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Heritage Museums & Gardens’ 1930 Duesenberg Takes First Place at Prestigious Auburn Competition
Historic automobile once owned by Hollywood legend Gary Cooper earns top honors in Auburn, Indiana
SANDWICH, Mass. (September 23, 2026) – One of the crown jewels of the automobile collection at Heritage Museums & Gardens has earned national recognition, taking first place at the recent Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg gathering in Auburn, Indiana.
Heritage’s 1930 Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster received first-place honors during the 2026 Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival, an annual celebration that draws collectors, enthusiasts, and some of the finest examples of these legendary American automobiles from around the world.
The recognition is particularly meaningful for the Duesenberg, which returned to the state where the marque was built and where the Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg legacy remains an important part of American automotive history.
Heritage’s Model J has a history as remarkable as its design. The automobile was originally purchased by Hollywood actor Gary Cooper, one of the most celebrated stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Cooper owned the car for at least five years and was known to race it.
Finished in its original Primrose Yellow and Parkway Green color scheme, the automobile features a custom Tourster body by renowned Philadelphia coachbuilder Derham. The Model J represented the height of American luxury and engineering when it was introduced, pairing exceptional performance with individually commissioned coachwork and extraordinary attention to detail.
The first-place award adds another chapter to the story of a vehicle that has been carefully preserved as part of Heritage Museums & Gardens’ nationally significant collection of American automobiles.
“We are thrilled that our iconic Duesenberg received first-place honors at the 2026 Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival,” says Anne Scott-Putney, President & CEO, Heritage Museums & Gardens. “Special recognition goes to our ‘Car Guys,’ the deeply dedicated group of automobile volunteers who work to preserve, operate, and show distinctive cars from our collection. Their important work ensures that the cars will be preserved to the highest standards and that visitors will continue to learn about American culture and innovation by engaging with our auto collection for decades to come.”
The trip to Auburn also reflects Heritage’s commitment to maintaining its historic automobiles as living artifacts. The majority of the vehicles in the collection remain operational, allowing audiences to experience not only their design but also the engineering and craftsmanship that made them significant.
The 1930 Duesenberg is currently featured in Heritage Museums & Gardens’ 2026 automobile exhibition, From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America. Featuring 25 automobiles from Heritage’s permanent collection, the exhibition traces the development of the American automobile from the late 19th century through the 1960s and examines its profound influence on American culture and everyday life.
Visitors can see the award-winning Duesenberg in the J.K. Lilly III Automobile Gallery at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich.
About the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster
Introduced at the end of the 1920s, the Duesenberg Model J was conceived as one of the finest automobiles in the world. It was specially constructed for the car show circuit with special features including an altimeter, service warning lights, and four fuel pumps. Heritage’s 1930 example features a straight-eight, dual-overhead-camshaft engine with four valves per cylinder and custom Tourster coachwork by Derham. With its custom rear end, it could achieve a remarkable 130 miles per hour!
Originally owned by actor Gary Cooper, the automobile later became part of the collection assembled by Heritage Museums & Gardens founder J.K. Lilly III. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable automobiles in Heritage’s collection.
About Heritage Museums & Gardens
Heritage Museums & Gardens is set on nearly 100 stunning acres of gardens, woodland and lakeside trails and open spaces. It is the only place where you can browse through rare works of art, stroll through stunning gardens, see iconic antique automobiles, and ride a carousel all in one day. Explore Hidden Hollow, an interactive outdoor discovery area for kids of all ages, visit the Bountiful Bogs: The Massachusetts Cranberry Story exhibit, and find your own special spot on Cape Cod.
For more information, visit Heritage Museums & Gardens.
Media Contact:
Judith Goetz
Director of Marketing, Communications & Sales
Heritage Museums & Gardens
67 Grove Street
Sandwich, MA 02563
508-888-3300
