Duesenberg was a subsidiary of the Cord Corporation. It was originally founded in 1921 by Fred and August Duesenberg in Indiana. Duesenberg neared bankruptcy in 1926, which is when Cord bought it and in December of 1928, Duesenberg debuted the Model J at the New York Autoshow. The car was the most powerful and expensive vehicle that could be purchased in the country. The short lived Bugatti Type 41 was the only thing that could be made to cost more, but it wasn't as powerful or as fast as the Duesenberg. Duesenberg made 481 J and SJ's, closing its doors in 1937.