Famed 1931 Duesenberg Whittell Coupe on the block at Gooding Pebble Beach auction

Gooding & Co. is set to auction what it claims is "America's most elegant automobile," a 1931 Duesenberg Model J by Murphy, at the company's 2011 Pebble Beach auction in August.

Not to be confused with any run-of-the-mill Duesenberg Model J, this particular car is known as the Whittell Coupe after its owner, California playboy Captain George Whittell Jr. Whittell worked closely with Murphy designer Franklin Q. Hershey to pen one of the most dramatic car designs of all time. Says Gooding's David Brynan, the Whittell Coupe is "one of the few automotive designs that is perfectly proportioned from every perspective." We're inclined to agree.

And that interior? Breathtaking. Quite possibly blinding too, especially in the California sunshine, with black patent-leather seating, Bakelite trim and half an acre of polished and engine-turned aluminum.

Enjoy the Duesenberg Model J Whittell Coupe shots in the gallery, and be sure to look for more in August when AutoWeek will be on the ground at Pebble Beach with a complete live report.

Full press release below:

America's Most Elegant Automobile, the Whittell Coupe, will be Presented at Gooding & Company's Prestigious Pebble Beach Auctions

A Duesenberg originating from a West Coast playboy's gilded past, the sensational Whittell Coupe returns to California to be offered at public sale for the first time at the world-renowned Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auctions this August 20 & 21

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 23, 2011) – Gooding & Company, the world's leading auction house for collectors of rare and exceptional cars, is delighted to announce that it will be presenting “the most elegant American Classic ever created” at its Pebble Beach Auctions this summer. A bespoke Duesenberg Long Wheelbase Model J, the Whittell Coupe was originally designed by Murphy Coach Builders under the direction of one of America's outlandish Roaring Twenties bad boys, Captain George Whittell Jr. Beautifully-restored and boasting just 12,000 original miles, the automotive masterpiece captivates admirers with its striking and glamorous black, red and chrome livery. Originally purchased in 1931 for $17,000, the Whittell Coupe is now considered to be one of the most extraordinary and valuable Duesenbergs in existence.

“Historically, Duesenberg Model J owners were among the most powerful and worldly of America's pre-war elite and, with six model Js in his collection, George Whittell was Duesenberg's best customer of all time, even surpassing Clark Gable and Gary Cooper,” said David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. “In my opinion, the Whittell Coupe we are presenting in Pebble Beach is the most elegant custom-bodied American Classic ever created and among the finest automobiles built prior to World War II.”

Captain George Whittell Jr., a Wild Man of the Wild West

Captain George Whittell Jr. was heir to an impressive California Gold Rush and real estate fortune, and the ultimate playboy of his day, who famously liquidated his entire stock portfolio (approximately $50 Million at the time) just two weeks before the infamous stock market crash of 1929. A larger-than-life public figure in San Francisco society, Whittell engaged in numerous escapades with women, reckless street racing and outrageous public appearances, like the time he famously showed up to a local tavern with Bill, his pet lion. Whittell's love for exotic beasts, along with his appreciation of technology, influenced his many private collections and the creative design of his legendary 40,000–acre Lake Tahoe estate, Thunderbird Lodge.

The Legendary Designer, Franklin Hershey

The Whittell Coupe is the result of a unique collaboration between Captain Whittell and legendary automotive stylist, Franklin Q. Hershey, who began his career at Murphy Coach Builders just before Whittell commissioned the renowned Pasadena firm to create this Duesenberg. The Whittell Coupe was one of Hershey's earliest projects and its brilliance helped launch him on a successful design career. Recognized for his great influence in the automotive community, Hershey was elected to be an honorary judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1988, a role he served for nearly ten years.

“The entire car is a masterpiece and one of the few automotive designs that is perfectly proportioned from every perspective,” adds Gooding & Company Specialist David Brynan. “And the interior, in and of itself, is a work of deco-era art, which is a key feature that makes the Whittell Coupe stand apart.”

The Whittell Coupe

The culmination of Whittell's visionary ideas of proportion and detail resulted in one of the most exquisitely-executed Classic cars of all time. Under his direction, the powerful two-passenger, sporting coupe was constructed atop a long-wheelbase chassis, which added a dramatic 11 inches to the standard Model J frame. The most distinguishing feature of the Duesenberg is its low-slung, brushed-aluminum roof, designed with a complete folding top mechanism and exterior “bows”, to mimic the closed fabric top of a convertible coupe. The car is enhanced with numerous unique characteristics including a chrome-plated gas tank, port and starboard lights inspired by the Captain's love of boats and a polished chrome “waterfall” adorning the rear deck. The Whittell Coupe also boasts a lavish black patent leather interior, decorated with a polished-aluminum and black Bakelite cockpit, as well as a brilliant red undercarriage, just as it did when Whittell took delivery in 1931. With the turn of its key, the Whittell Coupe's mighty 420 cubic inch, inline eight-cylinder engine springs to life with a low rumble, and the gentleman's car smoothly transitions from a still beauty to a powerful mechanical masterpiece.

The 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 20 & 21 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, located at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. Preview days will start on Wednesday, August 17 and will continue through Sunday, August 21. The auctions will commence at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions catalogues are available for $100 and admit two to the viewing and the auctions. General admission tickets to the viewing and auctions may be purchased on site for $40. Auctions are broadcast live from Gooding & Company's website on www.goodingco.com/auction. Bidder registration forms, press credentials and additional auction information are also available on http://www.goodingco.com or by calling (310) 899-1960. For additional vehicle information and up-to-the-minute results, follow Gooding & Company on Facebook and Twitter @GoodingCompany.

About Gooding & Company

Gooding & Company, internationally celebrated for its world-class automotive auctions, provides unparalleled service in the collector car market, offering a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals and collection management. At its Scottsdale and Amelia Island collector car auctions earlier this year, Gooding & Company realized more than $52.85 million in combined auction sales while achieving 18 world records from 191 sold lots of 214 presented. In 2010, Gooding & Company was responsible for selling the world's top three most valuable cars at auction that year and setting ten world records. www.goodingco.com.

By Andrew Stoy