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Topic starter
13/08/2025 12:58 pm
Raffi Minasian and Roger Hardnock may have spent as much time creating the provenance for their phantom 1939 Duesenberg SJ "Coupe Simone" as they did designing the model itself. The model was first released in 1998 as a tour de force of Art Deco coachwork by the fictitious Emmet-Armand coachbuilders of Green Brier, Pennsylvania. That's Emmet HARDNOCK and Armand MINASIAN. The model itself is an absolute joy to behold with so much design elements that were being employed in 1939 as an over the top 320 HP luxury coupe. The tale of this phantom is actually quite a read so, if you can spare the time, check it out here: https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/coupe-simone-this-mysterious-lost-duesenberg-will-soon-be-reborn/
Here's the model:
13/08/2025 1:42 pm
A beautiful model, excellent photos. I considered this model a couple of times, but never got it.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
13/08/2025 3:01 pm
I was fortunate enough to get both versions of this model in the past few years without breaking my wallet. Quite a model to behold.
13/08/2025 4:10 pm
What John said.A beautiful model, excellent photos. I considered this model a couple of times, but never got it.
John Bono
North Jersey
13/08/2025 7:23 pm
It is gorgeous, just out of my collecting range. 😊
13/08/2025 7:44 pm
I remember receiving the brochure for the model and being enthralled by the story of the car only for them to reveal at the end that they made it all up. I'll grab one one day too. Thanks Rich
14/08/2025 7:04 am
As the owners of the FM model know, part of the provenance is a booklet that tells the fictional, "The Emmet - Armand Story"; Duesenberg Coupe Simone. While Mr. Hardnock and Mr. Minasian were still together during a transitional period when Raffi took over the Design Manager duties from Roger, the Mint had one of their Annual Auto Festivals at the home office in Pennsylvania.
It was also when the D4C held it's annual meeting there. I took the story booklet with me and had Raffi sign it for me. We hunted up Roger and got his signature as well. They signed under the photographs. The photos, by the way, are real. Not Roger & Raffi, but of their fathers.
14/08/2025 7:23 am
@perrone1 Tony, it must have been very cool to be involved with the production of these wonderful models...
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14/08/2025 7:57 am
@diecast1-24cars It was cool watching them unfold for sure. And it was cool getting to know both fellows real well, especially Raffi and doing things with him but I wasn't involved with the Simone at all.
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