Star Car: The On Screen and Off Road Legacy of Ginger Rogers’ Duesenberg

Not every car has a Hollywood resume. But not every car is a 1929 Model J Duesenberg once owned by Ginger Rogers herself. Elegant, commanding, and one-of-a-kind, just like the woman who once sat behind its wheel, this classic automobile has lived a life as cinematic as any of Rogers’ dance routines with Fred Astaire. Its screen debut in The Gay Divorcee is only one chapter in a story that spans glamour, innovation, preservation, and celebration.

Let’s take a joyride through time, revisiting the Duesenberg’s screen moment in the 1934 film, diving into its unique design pedigree, and exploring its life after the movie including its celebrated return to the spotlight at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

Ginger Rogers driving her 1928 Model J Duesenberg

Hollywood’s Golden Age on Wheels

By the early 1930s, the Duesenberg wasn’t just a car. It was a statement. With its commanding presence, custom coachwork, and top-of-the-line engineering, the Model J became the unofficial car of the stars. Gary Cooper drove one. Clark Gable did, too. But Ginger Rogers’ Model J Duesenberg was special.

Rogers’ Model J was the very first Duesenberg ever to be bodied by the Murphy Coachworks of Pasadena with a disappearing convertible top, which was a sleek and sophisticated innovation at the time. Finished with reptile-pattern embossed leather upholstery (sadly lost over the years, but carefully replicated by the car’s current owner), this car embodied Hollywood luxury.

At the time she acquired the car, Ginger Rogers was still a rising star in Hollywood. She’d made her Broadway debut in Top Speed in 1929, the same year the Model J was introduced. She had already filmed several features and musical shorts and was gaining a reputation for her wit, beauty, and unmistakable on-screen charisma. Within just a few years, she’d star in ten films with Fred Astaire, win an Academy Award, and become a symbol of Hollywood’s golden era.

The Gay Divorcee and a Scene-Stealing Car

In 1934, Ginger Rogers starred alongside Fred Astaire in The Gay Divorcee, their second film as a pair and the first in which they received top billing. Directed by Mark Sandrich and produced by RKO, the film was a box office hit, solidifying the Astaire-Rogers partnership as the gold standard of screen musicals.

The film is most famous for introducing “The Continental,” the song-and-dance number that became the very first winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Song. But for classic car lovers, there’s another scene that sparkles. Rogers’ character, Mimi Glossop, drives in style in her real-life Duesenberg.

Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and her Duesenberg in The Gay Divorcee

In that moment, the camera captures more than just a luxury automobile. It captures a symbol of old Hollywood opulence. And while the film is full of dance numbers, wisecracks, and high-society hijinks, the appearance of that convertible coupe is one of those cinematic Easter eggs that only true Astaire and Rogers fans can spot.

That cameo marks a rare instance where an actor’s personal car appeared on screen, playing a subtle supporting role in the creation of a lavish escape that Depression-era audiences went to the movies for.

What Makes a Duesenberg a Duesenberg?

Besides being in a classic Hollywood musical, just what made the Duesenberg so legendary?

Introduced in 1928, the Model J was built to be the finest car in the world. With a 265-horsepower straight-eight engine, it could hit speeds up to a staggering 115 mph. But raw power was only part of the appeal. Buyers of the Model J purchased a rolling chassis and engine and then commissioned custom coachbuilders like Murphy, Derham, or Rollston to design a bespoke body.

Each Duesenberg was, in essence, a work of art. And Rogers’ particular model—a 1929 Murphy-bodied Convertible Coupe—was doubly historic. Not only was it the first of its kind with the disappearing top, but it also bore the unique fingerprints of two innovators: Fred Duesenberg, who engineered the chassis, and Walter M. Murphy, who crafted the coachwork with his Pasadena-based team.

Only 481 Model Js were ever built, and few remain in such carefully restored condition. Rogers’ car is one of the rare survivors that has not only kept its shape but its story, too.

A New Owner and a New Spotlight

Fast forward several decades. After changing hands a few times, the Duesenberg eventually landed in the collection of John Groendyke of Enid, Oklahoma. Groendyke, known for his love of classic cars and passion for historical authenticity, treated the Rogers Duesenberg with the reverence it deserved.

He undertook a careful restoration, ensuring that the original reptile-pattern leather was faithfully replicated, and preserving the integrity of its coachwork and engine. It wasn’t just about keeping the car shiny. It was about honoring its Hollywood legacy.

In 2012, the car got its red carpet moment once again. The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world, featured the Rogers Duesenberg in a special showcase of Hollywood star cars. Sharing the field with Rita Hayworth’s Ghia-bodied Cadillac and Natalie Wood’s Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster, Ginger’s Duesenberg stole the spotlight.

Ginger Rogers’ Duesenberg at the 2012 Amelia Island Concourse d’Elegance

“Duesenbergs have a physical presence,” said Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the event. “Ginger’s stands out even in a group of Duesenbergs.”

That’s no small praise, considering the company it keeps.

Ginger and Her Duesie: Icons of Style

It’s easy to think of the 1930s in black and white, especially when so much of what survives from that era is on celluloid. But Ginger Rogers’ Duesenberg reminds us that color, style, and individuality were always part of the picture.

While Fred Astaire was known for his impeccable rhythm, Ginger had poise. She moved with grace and authenticity, the kind of star who could wear a feathered gown one minute and then win an Oscar for a dramatic role the next. Similarly, the Duesenberg was a master of duality: luxurious yet powerful.

Together, they reflected the very essence of golden-age Hollywood: a mix of polish, passion, and undeniable flair.

Ginger Rogers and her Duesenberg sharing the screen in The Gay Divorcee

Legacy on Four Wheels

When Ginger Rogers passed away in 1995 at the age of 83, she left behind a career that spanned more than 70 films, countless dance numbers, and a legacy of elegance and independence. Her Duesenberg, meanwhile, continued its own journey of preservation, admiration, and continued storytelling.

Today, the Model J is a piece of living history with connections to a time when movies had moxie, stars had style, and even the cars had charisma.

The appearance of the Duesenberg in The Gay Divorcee is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. But knowing that it was Rogers’ actual car adds a whole new layer of meaning. It’s a little Hollywood secret, hiding in plain sight.

Whether you’re a classic car lover, a Golden Age film buff, or just someone who appreciates a good story, the tale of Ginger Rogers’ Duesenberg is a fun trip.

It’s a story of craftsmanship and celebrity, of innovation and elegance, and most of all, of a woman who knew how to make an entrance, whether by tapping across a dance floor or driving up in a one-of-a-kind convertible coupe.

As Ginger once said, “Part of the joy of dancing is conversation.” Her Duesenberg speaks just as eloquently through its legacy.