The Peninsula Hotels, one of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious hotel groups, has announced the 1935 Duesenberg Model J Speedster as the winner of the 2023 Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. This prestigious award is given to a classic car selected from among those that have won significant awards at major automotive competition events in the previous year.

The Duesenberg Model J Speedster comes from the classic car collection of the late U.S. Air Force Brigadier General William Lyon. Bill H. Lyon stated that receiving this award on behalf of his father is a great honor. The Peninsula Best of the Best Award is recognized as one of the highest symbols of appreciation among classic car collectors.

Recognized as one of the most powerful and luxurious American automobiles of its time, this special model is one of only 38 supercharged versions produced out of the 481 Duesenberg Model Js. Designed specifically for Indore Maharaja Holkar, the vehicle was equipped with royal touches and made several significant journeys before being delivered to India. Currently housed in the Lyon Estate Car Collection, the car has been meticulously restored throughout this process.

Among the finalists for the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best 2023 were extraordinary automobiles such as the 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aerodyne, the 1937 Bentley 4¼-litre Rothschild Sedanca Coupe, and the 1937 Bugatti 57S Roadster. Other contenders for the award included the 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta, the 1955 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder, and the 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica “Superfast” Coupe.

The Peninsula Hotels Chairman and founding partner Sir Michael Kadoorie emphasized that the 2023 finalists are of extraordinary caliber and that each vehicle represents a significant achievement in automotive engineering and design.

The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award was chosen by a prestigious jury composed of automotive enthusiasts and design experts. Notable names such as Chris Bangle, Nick Mason, Anne Asensio, Ralph Lauren, and Jay Leno served on the panel to determine this year’s winner.

About the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award

The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Awards were initiated in 2015 by Sir Michael Kadoorie, William E. (Chip) Connor, Bruce Meyer, and Christian Philippsen. The award aims to celebrate the best in the automotive world by bringing together the distinguished “Best of Show” winners from around the globe.