1929 Duesenberg Northport Roadster Skiff-Bodied

Judge North had assembled a large number of Duesenberg parts and was intersted in building a complete car from this collection. The effort took on new vigor with a retired Duesenberg designer, J. Herbert Newport, moved to Wittman, just a few miles from St Michaels. Newport had designed several special cars for Duesenberg, including SSJ models for Gary Cooper and Clark Gable, as well as the Mormon Meteor record holding car. He collaborated with North on the original design of this roadster, now known as the “Northport”

The Northport is a small Duesenberg, using a short 115″ wheelbase relative to other Duesys that were built on a 125″, 142″ or 153″ chassis. To get the proportions right, North and Newport lowered the hoodline by about 4.5 inches relative to the standard Duesy. The engine, which the Norths found in a Californian Desota hot rod, was rebuilt but retains the racing cams to this day. The standard 17″ or 19″ Duesy wheels were over large and so custom 16″ wheels were made to maintain proportions.

The construction story continues. In the 60’s, wood glues were inferior to today’s products, so the task of fastening the curved mahogany for the body was quite a challenge. The car, mechanically complete by the late 60’s became a weekend project which stretched into the 70’s then 80’s with several different people working on the body. A local paint and metalwork master, Virgil Maxwell, had shaped the 4 fenders in the 60s, the ash frame for the body was in place, and the mechanicals were ready, but the car remained without a finished wooden body.