The Willoughby Company of Utica, New York, was one of the Classic Era’s finest coachbuilders, especially regarded by the East Coast’s finest families for the robust construction and superb appointments of their limousine and sedan bodies.

Willoughby worked on many of the most elite chassis of the Classic Era but was particularly known for their superb work on the Duesenberg, especially during the first few years of Model J production.

They built about 50 bodies for the Model J, all of them closed, including about 20 examples of their classic seven-passenger limousine on the long 153 1/2-inch-wheelbase chassis.

Unfortunately, they have not enjoyed a high survival rate and are today among the rarest Model J variants, with only four examples remaining extant.

Duesenberg historian Ray Wolff recorded the original owners of this limousine, originally equipped with engine no.

J-383, as being a Judge and Mrs.

Sara Rowe of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mrs.

Rowe sold the Duesenberg in 1942 ...