This fine Model A was originally delivered to Los Angeles Duesenberg distributor Shafer-Harrigan-Cleveland, Inc., at 2900 South Figueroa Street. Shafer-Harrigan-Cleveland's principal was on the board of Duesenberg Motors and, as would be expected, the company enjoyed some success in Southern California with its advanced, powerful, and attractive machines. Like many luxury automobile dealers in the area, they would occasionally oversee custom work for their wealthy clientele, which in the case of this car included the lowering of the windshield and the fitment of a second cowl and windshield for rear seat passengers, both modifications made by the Don Lee workshops in Los Angeles.

It is believed that the car remained in Southern California, and in the mid-1940s was owned by the business partnership of Ted Cunningham, Ralph Fries, and C.M. Brewer. In August 1945, they sold the car to Will Johnson, who retained it until the late 1960s before selling it to the popular rock-and-roll duo the Everly Brothers, performers of “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” and other hits. Don and Phil Everly later sold the car to Tony Bill, the film actor and producer, who was also an avid enthusiast of interesting automobiles and a prolific trader in them during the years after his success with The Sting. From Bill the Duesenberg then moved to Texas, where it was part of the private museums of Jerry J. Moore, Sterling McCall, and John O’Quinn, before joining the Terence E. Adderley Collection in 2011.

Shafer-Harrigan-Cleveland, Inc. advertised in 1923 that the “Duesenberg ‘Straight-Eight’ is accepted as a member of the small coterie of cars internationally great.” This example of that small coterie still demonstrates why. It would be a worthy and notable addition to any collection of Indianapolis’ finest automobiles, or for one in California with a focus on cars with rich Golden State history.