A 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Speedster has been declared the winner of the Peninsula Classics 2023 Best of the Best Award, with the announcement being made at a glamorous ceremony and dinner at the Peninsula London hotel.
It was chosen from eight exceptional classic cars that have won significant awards at major concours events over the previous year: Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy; Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, UK; The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during California’s Monterey Car Week; Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, UK; The Amelia and Cavallino Classic in Florida; and Cartier Style et Luxe at the UK’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Although not counted for 2023, because it’s biannual, Chantilly Arts & Elegance near Paris is also one of the participating concours.
The winning Duesenberg comes from the private collection of the late US Air Force Major General William Lyon, whose lifelong passion for automotive and aviation design prompted him to establish a museum celebrating both in Orange County, California.
“It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of my father,” said Bill H Lyon, who now represents Lyon’s classic car collection as well as the Lyon Air Museum. “Among elite collectors, The Peninsula Best of the Best Award has long been known as a pinnacle of recognition.”
One of the most powerful and luxurious American cars of its era, this Model SJ Speedster was one of just 36 models out of 487 to be fitted with a supercharger. It was the only example delivered to Gurney Nutting’s senior coachbuilder (and namesake) John Gurney Nutting.
The SJ was originally ordered by Maharajah Holkar of Indore, and as a royal car it received special touches such as chrome flagsticks, along with red and blue lights on the front fenders to indicate whether the Maharajah or the Maharanee was driving. Once completed, it was shipped from London to New York, and driven back by Duesenberg employees to the factory in Indianapolis. It was subsequently delivered to the Maharajah’s Santa Ana, California mansion (due to concerns about Japan invading India).
Later, the Duesenberg was shipped from Los Angeles to Singapore, and then to India, where it remained until the 1950s, at which point it was brought back to the US. Its restoration retained all the royal details, and the car is now part of the Lyon Estate Car Collection in Southern California.
The other Best of the Best Award 2023 finalists were: the 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aerodyne by Voisin; a 1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Rothschild Sedanca Coupé by Gurney Nutting; the 1937 Bugatti 57S Roadster by Corsica; a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen; a 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta by Pininfarina; a 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder by Frua; and the 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Superfast Coupé by Pininfarina (featured in Magneto issue 22). You can view them all here.
“The calibre of the 2023 finalists is nothing short of extraordinary,” said The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels and co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. “Each vehicle exemplifies an extraordinary feat of automotive engineering and design. Consequently, selecting a single winner becomes increasingly difficult as the years pass. Nonetheless, I trust the judges’ choice will resonate as truly spectacular.”
The winner was chosen by a panel of 25 judges, including car designer Chris Bangle, car collector and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Dassault Systèmes vice president of Design Experience Anne Asensio, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Ford Motor Company board of directors member Henry Ford III, former design director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the late Ian Cameron, and television host and collector Jay Leno.
The winning Duesenberg will remain on display in the lobby of the Peninsula London from September 4-14, 2024, and a limited-edition, automotive-inspired Classic Car Afternoon Tea has also been designed to commemorate this year’s Best of the Best Award nominees.
The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award was launched by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie in 2015 with co-founders William E (Chip) Connor, Bruce Meyer and Christian Philippsen. The next Best of the Best will take place at the Peninsula Paris during Rétromobile week in February 2025.
You can find more about the award on the Peninsula Classics website.
