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Topic starter
24/04/2026 8:37 pm
The classic American luxury cars of the early 1930s still have the power to stop you in your tracks. From the flowing elegance of the 1933 Duesenberg Rollston JN Convertible Coupe to the sleek, sporting presence of the 1930 Cord L29 Roadster owned by Brook Stevens, each of these automobiles reflects an era when style, craftsmanship, and engineering were inseparable. Add in the stately sophistication of the 1933 Duesenberg Derham-bodied Model J and the dramatic performance pedigree of the 1935 Duesenberg Model SSJ Roadster, and you have four vehicles that represent some of the finest design work of the Classic Era.
What makes them even more enjoyable to appreciate today is that Minimarque captured all four in gloriously detailed scale models. These are not just miniature cars; they are thoughtful tributes to some of the most beautiful and significant American automobiles ever built. From the sweeping fenders to the distinctive proportions and elegant coachwork, Minimarque managed to preserve the character of each original in miniature form.
That achievement would be impressive at any time, but it is even more remarkable when you consider these models are now almost 30 years old. Their level of detail, presence, and fidelity still stand out today, which says as much about the quality of the models as it does about the timeless appeal of the cars themselves. In both full size and scale, these four classics remain unforgettable.
24/04/2026 9:23 pm
As usual, nice write-up about some nice looking cars, both 1:1 and 1:43.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
25/04/2026 7:13 am
Such an incredible era of automobile design history...just gorgeous!
GDH and Christopher Moroni reacted
25/04/2026 9:55 am
Holy smoke - you got me! I thought, "Wow, Randy's got four models that match the four actual cars perfectly!"
Needless to say, those are terrifically stagged 1/43 pics, very conniving - and yes, remarkable detail & presence considering they were manufactured before or around the turn of the century! 😳 😳
25/04/2026 4:54 pm
Thanks for the great pictures! I couldn't agree more with your opinion on MM43 models.
Here two pics of the Derham with top down. The interior is absolutely stunning.
Ralf Buyer
Wiesbaden, Germany
25/04/2026 7:41 pm
If only their headlights and whitewalls would hold up with time....
25/04/2026 10:32 pm
How about these 2, some of my favorite 1:43s
26/04/2026 9:11 am
Thank you, Randy, Ralf, and Chav for the great pics, and another great write-up, Ralf.
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
26/04/2026 9:13 am
@mg-harv RE the whitewalls - has anyone thought about using toothpaste to whiten the whitewalls? That is all I ever used on whitewalls and the results on a 1:1 are excellent. It was a trick one of the oldtimers taught me, though I don't know if it would work for these models.
Jack Dodds and Christopher Moroni reacted
26/04/2026 9:19 am
@gdh It does not. Deluded hydrogen peroxide and UV light work best, however, 99% of the time disassembly, to free the tires, is required. Many collectors simply repaint them - or - just live with it. 😫 😔
Jack Dodds and GDH reacted
26/04/2026 9:21 am
@chris Good to know. I was looking over a model I liked but the 'yellowing' of the whitewalls held me back. I have a couple of projects on the menu already so I think I will pass on this one. Thanks for tip.
Christopher Moroni reacted
