Life imitating Art, or Art imitating Life… Rudolph Bauer was an artist, in fact, a rather prominent German Artist. Through a series of dalliances, one might say, he came to meet Solomon R. Guggenheim of the Guggenheim Art Museum. Guggenheim became enamored with Bauer’s Non-Objective art style and proceeded to make Bauer a household name – and also rather wealthy. Despite Mr. Bauer being of Jewish descent, and the German’s effort to squash he popularity and debunk his style (calling it “degenerate art”), he became more sensationalized and, of course, more wealthy. His story reads like a salacious novel but, was in fact, true. A quick search of Google will reveal the debauchery and deceit involved in his story. Enough of the history lesson, I’m sure you’re asking; Paul, what does this have to do with cars? Well, quite a bit actually – and about a particular car that could be described as the Best of the Last – or the Last of the Best. More history. The great Duesenberg Car Company went out of business in January of 1937. This we all know. Sadly, they took Cord and Auburn with them. So how is it possible that I am featuring a 1940 Duesenberg? We have Rudolph Bauer to thank. His love of Duesenberg’s was well established, as he owned two prior to this car. Like everyone that year, Rudolph bemoaned the passing of the great Duesenberg name, a car that he adored and held in extremely high esteem. No matter, he commissioned August (Augie) Duesenberg, one of the founding brother’s of the company, to make him a new one. Not an easy or inexpensive request. Augie rounded up some old colleagues, found a complete and correct Duesenberg chassis (a 1931 factory demonstrator) albeit with a bad engine and went about producing the very last Duesenberg. They repaired the motor, threw away the body – added a massive supercharger (to an already massive 420 cubic inch block) and made the car ready for transport to the “Fatherland”. You see, Mr. Bauer apparently thought that, although the chassis and engine were sublime, a German firm would be better suited to fabricate the body. One of his own design. Silly artist. Alas, World War II was already upon us. Mr. Bauer was right to have moved away from his birth country and now was residing in the good ole’ US of A. He needed a Carrozzeria (better known as a coachbuilder on this side of the Atlantic) and was fond of Rollston’s work (who wasn’t). The problem again was that Rollston was also out of business. Once again, Mr. Bauer rounded up the remnants of the Rollston talent base and commissioned them to make his car. They gladly agreed, however – they could no longer use the name Rollston for obvious legal reasons. No matter. They dropped the “T”, renamed themselves; Rollson. They then went about making this incredible masterpiece, now aptly named the Bauer Duesenberg SJ. It’s important to note that Mr. Bauer penned the design of this car himself. It was his idea to lengthen the chassis to accommodate the desired length. He also requested the deletion of running boards and added the beautiful “V” windshield. Further, he added the two rear mounted spare tires (some say to lessen the weight of the chassis at a critical point) and designed an entirely new (and current for 1940) front grille. In fact, the grille looks remarkably like a Cadillac front end to me. Yet to call this car beautiful wouldn’t be using the entire English lexicon to describe what may be one of the prettiest, most elegant, cars extant. Let’s search that thesaurus now…. Here are a few suggestions: Ravishing, Gorgeous, Divine, Stunning, Arresting, Polarizing, Eye-pleasing; the list goes on – so, choose one that suites you and apply it to your description. If I have missed one that you prefer, please comment below. The late John O’Quinn purchased this car – and, after his untimely death, it was one of the few cars that he owned that was not auctioned off by RM Auction Company. This Duesenberg’s value must be astronomical, but I’m sure that it is in good hands. Enjoy, Paul PS, I’ve added a picture of Rudolph Bauer below (sitting with a Tiger, no less) and one of his famous pieces, for reference.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:00:00 +0000