When E.L. Cord purchased Duesenberg in 1926, he challenged mechanical engineer Fred Duesenberg to design the best car in the world. Fred set out to build an automotive masterpiece. The resulting Model J had superlative engineering and custom body styling. Duesenbergs are one of the costliest and most coveted cars ever produced in America. They inspired the saying “It’s a duesie”!

Restored to its original color scheme of Primrose Yellow and Parkway Green, this car appears just as it did when it was purchased by actor Gary Cooper. From the 1920s to the 1950s, he was one of Hollywood’s most consistently popular and beloved stars. Cooper owned this car for at least five years, and raced it often. It is fitted with a custom tourster-style body by the famed coachbuilder Derham. Among its high-end, unusual features is an instrument panel with an altimeter and service reminder lights!

More from our automobile collection:

In our current exhibit, From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America, we present the origin story of the American automobile through 23 cars from Heritage’s permanent collection of antique and classic automobiles. Come along for a ride from the late 1800s to the 1960s and watch the car evolve from a horseless carriage to a streamlined symbol of freedom and independence.