J-505A about to be moved for the first time in fifty-two years.
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Mrs. Cade (owner for the past 61 years) bids the car farewell.
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Ready to travel to her new home in Rhode Island.
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Just arrived at the Shappy estate.
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Headlights and front bumpers are finally back from plating and fitted to the car.
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Horns replaced, wired and working.
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Trunk restored and re-fitted to body.
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Work on side mount hardware and wheel well trim completed.
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Hood pin striping finished.
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Engine being assembled to determine inventory of parts. (left side)
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Engine being assembled to determine inventory of parts. (rear view)
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Engine being assembled to determine inventory of parts. (right front view)
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Body after it was washed and the original chrome was polished.
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Correct bumper found and fitted to car.
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Rear view showing top before cleaning.
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Newly chromed wire wheels and tires. (right side)
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Newly chromed wire wheels and tires. (left side)
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Fenders, hood, and other body parts have been removed, and the car is being moved to the paint shop.
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Fenders, hood, and other body parts have been removed, and the car is being moved to the paint shop.
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Frame showing original paint. The frame will be kept original and will not be repainted.
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Frame showing original paint. The frame will be kept original and will not be repainted.
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Rear brake drums have been "turned"
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Brian Joseph has supplied new Kevlar brake shoes.
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Body being prepared for primer.
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Body being prepared for primer.
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Body being prepared for primer.
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Body work completed and primer applied.
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Body work completed and primer applied.
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Body work completed and primer applied.
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Body work completed and primer applied.
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New paint on body before clear coating and micro sanding.
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New paint on body before clear coating and micro sanding.
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New paint on body before clear coating and micro sanding.
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New paint on body before clear coating and micro sanding.
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Headlights and front bumpers are finally back from plating and fitted to the car.
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Rear bumpers back from plating and installed. Bumpers were supplied by Randy Ema.
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Engine completely rebuilt after many tedious hours of preparation.
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Engine completely rebuilt after many tedious hours of preparation.
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Sean Brayton hearing engine run and performing the fine tuning.
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Micro sanding, clear coating, and buffing complete. Wow!!!!
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Micro sanding, clear coating, and buffing complete. Wow!!!!
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Micro sanding, clear coating, and buffing complete. Wow!!!!
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Duesenberg engine being loaded on flatbed for journey back to Brock's paint shop to be reunited with car.
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Duesenberg engine being loaded on flatbed for journey back to Brock's paint shop to be reunited with car.
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Engine being installed in J-505 after a fifty two year separation.
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Engine being installed in J-505 after a fifty two year separation.
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Engine being installed in J-505 after a fifty two year separation.
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With the engine newly installed, J- 505 is ready for the trip back to the Shappy facility, where restoration will be completed.
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J-505 arriving at the Shappy shop.
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J-505 arriving at the Shappy shop.
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Home at last.
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Left side showing polished aluminum and original chrome. Also check out the original paint on the chassis.
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Right side showing polished aluminum and original chrome.
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Dick Shappy speaking with world renowned Duesenberg expert and historian Fred Roe at the Newport Concours de Elegance held at Newport, Rhode Island May 26-28, 2006. Fred's book, "Duesenberg The Pursuit of Perfection" is regarded as the most informative and accurate compilation of Duesenberg history put in print to date.^P
(note: Fred's book is almost impossible to find. Dick informs us that he was able to acquire one online recently after extensive searching at a cost of $350.00)
(note: Fred's book is almost impossible to find. Dick informs us that he was able to acquire one online recently after extensive searching at a cost of $350.00)
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J-505 arriving at "Nick the Russian's" trim shop.
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Front and rear seats upholstered and ready to be installed.
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Old original leather provides a good pattern but must be replaced.
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Dick Shappy and Randy Ema posing in front of J-505. In mid May, noted Duesenberg historian and expert Randy Ema from California, visited the Shappy restoration facility and offered his expert advice pertaining to the Duesenberg's restoration. Thank you Randy, it was indeed a pleasure to have you here to share your knowledge with us.
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Front seats after installation.
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Back of front seat and rear floor rug after installation.
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Left front door panel completed.
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Before rugs are installed, "underlayment" must be applied
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Rear seats and arm rests installed after underlayment and rugs.
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Left rear section complete and ready for rug.
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Left front "kick pad" installed.
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The dashboard has been removed from the car, and the old wiring harness has been detached. The next step will be to remove and clean all the gauges.
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New green porcelain exhaust manifolds finally fitted to engine.
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Dashboard with new leather covering and restored instruments in place. The original chrome plating is in such fine condition it required only a thorough cleaning.
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Nick, the upholsterer, applies new leather to the "above dash" area.
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Brock is fitting the newly painted and dent-free gas tank cover.
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Tail light with new wiring in place.
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Brock fitting the freshly painted rear fender on body.
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The left rear fender mounted with fender welting in place.
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Front view of restored left front fender.
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Side view of left front fender and side mount wheel bracket.
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Left sidemount trim and running board restored and in place.
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Headlight bar replated and attached to newly painted fenders.
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Freshly painted hood being placed on car.
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She is really beginning to look like a lady.
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Frontal view with "new" hood
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Left running board (minus outer molding) and original fender spears in place.
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Hood side panels completed and attached.
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All body work completed.
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September 13th 2006 is a very important day for J-505 as this is the first time that this car moved under it's own power in fifty four years (1952). We were tempted to take her for a short cruise through the neighborhood but decided to wait until the front seat backs are installed. She is scheduled to return to the upholstery shop in the next week for interior completion and new top.
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Right rear interior section and arm rest wrapped in new leather.
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Top had to be removed to allow seat back top to be wrapped.
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Left rear interior section including arm rest completed.
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Exterior view of completed right rear arm rest.
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Top fabric and metal brackets and top irons removed and ready for new chrome plating. Note: This is the first time we have seen J-505 without her top.
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New leather applied to kick pad and cowl vent interior. Also note new cowl vent screens and leather covered steel door holds.
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New rug applied to driver's compartment floor area.
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Door panels complete.
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Rear seat area almost complete.
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New snaps for top installed on right side.
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Rear of front seat upholstery work nearly complete.
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All top hardware and irons have been replated, painted and are ready for installation.
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Right rear door window crank gear had to be reproduced to make window operational.
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Bob Dwyer nearly finished with rear top bow duplication.
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Front floor compartment and under dash areas are complete.
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New top header bow with restored chrome brackets are now in place.
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This very complex top is finally reassembled after new chrome and paint and leather has been applied.
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The new rear top bow has been attached to the top assembly. Over one hundred twenty hours have been logged to date in the top restoration phase not including chrome plating.
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We decided to restore the door sills to compliment the beautiful new interior.
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Newly painted header bow cover.
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Rear top bow with new leather covering attached to restored top irons.
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The very complex top assembly after restoration and ready for the finishing canvas.
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View of left side of completed top assembly.
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Nick, preparing the rear window on the top liner.
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Top canvas cut and ready to be fitted.
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All the walnut interior wood after receiving the first varnish coat.
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Nick Pitcu inspecting the new top.
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Top interior showing rear window and leather wrapped top bows and irons.
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Left rear view of completed top.
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Interior mahogany door trim before the final coat of varnish is applied.
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Finished mahogany, window crank, door handle and door panel in place on driver's door.
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Rear seat instrumentation fitted to restored rear compartment mahogany.
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Rear view of completed car.
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Restored Duesenberg Derham J-505 displayed at the Dick Shappy residence, June 2007.
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Dick Shappy posing with his Duesenberg Derham J-505 at the Newport Concourse D'elegance in Newport Rhode Island July 27 to 29th 2007
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Duesenberg trunk upholstery completed by Nick "The Russian".
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