Duesenberg's French connection: the glamorous imports of Edmond Sadovich

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Diplomats do it confidentially, but business connections to support trade between continents, which may perhaps seem worlds apart, have always been there. The car seen here is, in fact, a prime example linking Europe and the United States. It's a Duesenberg with French coachwork and was conceived to promote the American marque in Europe.

We came across the following information: “In order to increase Duesenberg's appeal for European customers, the company teamed up with Paris-based importer E. Z. Sadovich. The rolling chassis were delivered to him and he then commissioned the Continent's finest coachbuilders to create bodies. At least two of these chassis were delivered to Joseph Figoni's workshop, who was best known for his Le Mans-winning lightweight and aerodynamic creations. For the Duesenberg chassis, he crafted a speedster and a Victoria body, and possibly also a sedan on a chassis that was first clothed by Franay.”

We understand that Edmond Z. Sadovich was rather successful in promoting the glamorous marque from Indiana. He had a showroom in Paris and came up with an impressive Duesenberg display at the 1931 Paris Salon, where he was the first to sell a car on the spot—a Duesenberg with Letourneur & Marchand faux cabriolet body which went to Prince Nicholas of Rumania, no less. Sadovich went on and managed to sell a total of 14 Duesenbergs in the next few months following the show. Meanwhile, he entered a Figoni-bodied speedster to the Paris-Nice rally and a Letourneur & Marchand faux cabriolet to the Paris-Cannes rally. He also made sure the cars were seen at all the major French concours. The one pictured here is one of these. The body is by Fernandez & Darrin and it is seen at the concours d’élégance in the Bois de Boulogne in 1932.

The lady with the car is not your everyday woman, either. She’s the French actress Amélie Paris, who became known under her stage name Suzy Vernon after having made her way to Hollywood. She was at her peak at the time and may well have been the most effective Duesenberg promoter... We understand the car survives, having found its way back to America, and was seen at Pebble Beach a number of years ago. Another Sadovich-imported and Fernandez & Darrin-bodied Duesenberg won Best of Show at the Hilton Head Island Concours last year.

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: National Library of France

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