Jay Leno explores a true automotive “unicorn”—the only 1966 Duesenberg Model D ever produced. While the legendary Duesenberg nameplate famously vanished during the Great Depression, this mid-60s revival attempt was the ultimate “what if” story of American luxury.
Backed by the blessing of Augie Duesenberg and designed by the visionary Virgil Exner, this prototype was meant to be the “best of the best,” priced at nearly triple the cost of a Rolls-Royce. After sitting in museum oblivion for decades, new owner Tom Shannon has completed a world-class, ground-up restoration, even finishing the 5% of development work that Ghia left incomplete in Italy.
In this episode, Jay and Tom explore:
The “Superpower” Spirit: Why this car perfectly captured the mid-60s American zeitgeist of optimism and unabashed size.
Exner’s Design Brilliance: A deep dive into the “Regency” style lines, the 82-inch hood, and the delicate roofline that masks the car’s 6,000lb bulk.
The Chrysler Bones: Why the team chose the ultra-strong Imperial chassis and 413 cubic inch V8 (despite common myths that it was a 440).
Over-the-Top Luxury: The use of gold-leaf instrumentation, an aircraft-style altimeter, and custom cashmere and timber interiors.
The “What Could Have Been”: How the project collapsed just before production, despite holding deposits from Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis.
Watch Jay take this “living room on wheels” out for a drive and witness a piece of history saved from the brink.
