1926 Duesenberg Model A Custom

1926 Duesenberg Model A Custom (from the author's collection)

I purchased this photo at Hershey last year. On the back is hand-written "Auburn". Of course, it is not an Auburn, but a Model A Duesenberg that was customized in the day for Theodore Koslov (often spelled Kosloff). The car is currently offered for sale by Mark Hyman - the asking price is $695,000.

Hyman describes the car as being commissioned in 1933 with the work done by Bud Lyons, a Hollywood based custom shop of the period. The photo appears to show the car wearing a 1934 California license plate and may show Theodore Koslov in the background - the man standing farthest to the right? I've been able to find little on Bud Lyons, however Hyman notes that the car utilizes a 1934 Oldsmobile hood and taillights. 


Theodore Koslov (1882-1956) was born in Moscow and started as a professional ballet dancer. Arriving in the United States in 1909, Kosloff was introduced to Cecil B. De Mille and began working as an actor. Soon Kosloff was also in demand as a choreographer on Broadway as well as in films. Kosloff's acting career was in decline about the time this car was built as he was not able to make the jump to "talkies" due to his Russian accent. However, the LA Times noted, "Kosloff, for his part, was clever, or lucky, enough to take Paramount stock in lieu of salary early on. And having invested wisely in L.A. real estate, the onetime starving artist became an arts entrepreneur."

Koslov sold the car not long after this photo and the car traveled through many hands, even having it's engine swapped for a Marmon V-16 (around the time of WWII).  The car stayed in LA until being rediscovered by Ray Radford in 1979 who commissioned the current restoration with help of Strother MacMinn.

Today the car is a bit different than the original in detail. If you look closely you see a number of small deferences, including the color.

The Duesenberg Model A Custom today (photo credit: velocityjournal.com)