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Sir,

Your correspondent, Mr. Blight, asked for the b.h.p. of the J-type Duesenberg. As far as I know, the figures are as follows: In 1928, when 115 b.h.p. was news, a J-type produced 265 b.h.p. at 4,200 r.p.m. and the torque was 374 lb.-ft. at 2,000 r.p.m.

The engine was a d.o.h.c, straight eight of 6,885 c.c. (148 x 186) with a cast-iron cylinder head with four valves per cylinder. The c.r. was 5.2:1, which readily lent itself to supercharging.

In March, 1932, a centrifugal blower was introduced on the SJ-type. It was gear-driven to six times engine speed, giving 8 psi. boost at 4,000 r.p.m.

The figures for the SJ were: 320 b.h.p. at 4,750 r.p.m. Performance figures were (are) 0-100 in 17 see. and 104 in second gear, against 89 m.p.h. in second gear for the J-type.

By 1937, 470 Duesenbergs had been produced, including 35 SJs, at $13,000 a time! And the Weymann bodied SJs at 18 ft. 9 in. were surely the longest two-seaters ever!

Purley. A. M. Duncan.