Restoring Duesenbergs in a Detroit Bowling Alley Backroom

Former garage rocker Tim Purrier and business partner James Chaney have a doozy of a business in a place you might not expect.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:00pm

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An abstract, motion-blurred image of a 1920s Duesenberg Model J luxury car, its chrome grille and sweeping fenders transformed into vibrant streaks of color against a dark background, conveying the power and speed of this iconic American automobile.The restoration of rare, multi-million dollar Duesenberg classics requires skilled hands and a commitment to preserving automotive history.Today in Detroit

In a nondescript industrial building in suburban Detroit, former garage rock musician Tim Purrier and machinist James Chaney have built a thriving business restoring and repairing some of the rarest and most valuable classic cars in the world - Duesenberg Model Js. Their shop, Straight Eight, is a hidden gem filled with millions of dollars worth of automotive history, where the duo work to keep these 1920s and 30s-era luxury cars on the road.

Why it matters

The Duesenberg brand represents the pinnacle of American automotive engineering and design in the pre-war era, but with only around 375 Model Js still in existence, finding skilled mechanics capable of properly restoring and maintaining these multi-million dollar vehicles is a major challenge. Purrier and Chaney's shop has become a critical resource for Duesenberg owners and enthusiasts, helping to preserve an important piece of automotive history.

The details

Purrier got his start fixing up the terrible cars of local Detroit musicians before transitioning to classic car restoration, eventually partnering with Chaney to purchase a shop that specialized in Duesenbergs. Now, their 15,500-square-foot facility, Straight Eight, houses 10-12 Duesenbergs at any given time, with the duo performing full restorations, repairs, and fabricating hard-to-find replacement parts. They estimate having done significant work on around 138 of the 375 remaining Model Js. The shop also supplies parts to other restoration businesses, with Chaney's machine shop producing everything from freshly cast engine blocks to specialized components like Klaxon horns.

  • Purrier got his start fixing up cars for local Detroit musicians around 2002.
  • Purrier and Chaney purchased the classic car restoration business that would become Straight Eight in 2019.
  • The annual Duesenberg Tour, which Straight Eight supports, puts around 1,000 miles on 22 cars each year.

The players

Tim Purrier

The co-owner of Straight Eight, Purrier got his start fixing up the cars of local Detroit musicians before transitioning to classic car restoration, eventually partnering with James Chaney to purchase a shop specializing in Duesenbergs.

James Chaney

The co-owner of Straight Eight and manager of the shop's machine shop, Chaney is a skilled machinist who came to the business a dozen years ago. He oversees the production of hard-to-find replacement parts for Duesenberg Model Js.

Duesenberg

An American luxury automobile manufacturer that produced the iconic Duesenberg Model J, considered one of the finest and most valuable classic cars in the world. Only around 375 Model Js remain in existence today.

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What they’re saying

“The last Duesenberg Tour had 22 cars, and they put 1000 miles on them. They need to be reliable.”

— Tim Purrier, Co-owner, Straight Eight

“We do nearly $3000 per week in internet sales, plus in-house repair and replacement parts, plus supplying other restoration shops.”

— James Chaney, Co-owner and Machine Shop Manager, Straight Eight

What’s next

Straight Eight plans to continue expanding its production of hard-to-find Duesenberg replacement parts, with the recent addition of freshly cast engine blocks being a major new offering.

The takeaway

In an unassuming industrial building just outside Detroit, a pair of passionate car enthusiasts have built a thriving business dedicated to preserving some of the rarest and most valuable classic cars in the world, ensuring these Duesenberg masterpieces can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.