What-If - Some stories are so beautiful, you almost wish they were true. The Duesenberg Coupé Simone 'Midnight Ghost' is one of those tales—an elegant phantom in the world of automotive lore, floating between legend and reality. On the surface, it’s the perfect narrative: a mysterious one-off luxury car, crafted in secrecy, gifted out of passion, then lost to the shadows of war. But peel back the layers, and the picture becomes less clear… and far more interesting.
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| The Duesenberg Simone Coupé 'Midnight Ghost' isn’t a real car, but a 1:24 scale die-cast model created by Franklin Mint. (Picture from: CustomCarChronicle) |
The story begins with all the right ingredients. Set in the late 1930s, the Midnight Ghost was supposedly commissioned by French cosmetics magnate Gui De LaRouche as a romantic gesture for his lover, Simone. Built over three years by the fictional-sounding Emmet-Armand Coachworks of Green Brier, Pennsylvania, the car was to be Duesenberg’s swan song—a final triumph of Art Deco design and American muscle. |
| The Duesenberg Simone Coupé 'Midnight Ghost' isn’t a real car, but a 1:24 scale die-cast model created by Franklin Mint. (Picture from: CustomCarChronicle) |
According to the myth, the vehicle featured an impossibly long and graceful body, a 6.9-liter supercharged V8 pushing out 265 bhp, and even a clear crystal steering wheel. It dazzled on the streets of Paris, roared past 120 mph on a twilight drive, and vanished mysteriously during World War II—perhaps hidden from the Nazis, or lost to time forever. It’s a story made for film.
But here’s the twist: there’s no evidence the Midnight Ghost ever existed.
No production records. No factory photos. No surviving chassis numbers. Not even a credible period news article. What does exist is a 1:24 scale die-cast model made by Franklin Mint—a collector’s item, beautifully crafted, and seemingly inspired by nothing more than pure imagination. And that’s where things get complicated.
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| (Image shown for illustration purposes only.) In early 2023, TECfusions Fabrication—a Pennsylvania-based workshop led by renowned American autobuilder Greg Martin—announced plans to build a full-scale version of this elegant phantom in the very state where the story first began. (Picture from: Autoweek) |
Some enthusiasts argue that the existence of the scale model proves there was once a full-sized prototype. Others insist the model came first, along with the fantastical backstory, created to romanticize a limited-edition collectible. Franklin Mint has a history of doing just that—creating lore around their products to spark emotional connection and drive sales. So which is it?
On one side, we have dreamers and romantics who want to believe the Midnight Ghost lived once, if only briefly. After all, the design feels too emotionally charged to be purely fictional. It captures something real—the spirit of pre-war luxury, the boldness of Deco-era style, the kind of passion-fueled craftsmanship that defined the best Duesenbergs.
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| The bodywork of the Duesenberg Coupé Simone 'Midnight Ghost,' envisioned and brought to life in an ambitious effort by TECfusions Fabrication—a Pennsylvania-based workshop located in the very state where the story first began. (Picture from: TECFusions Fabrication in Facebook) |
On the other side, there are historians, collectors, and researchers who rely on documented facts—and the truth, as they see it, is straightforward: there’s no trace of such a car in Duesenberg’s official records. The names, locations, and events tied to its story have no verifiable links to actual automotive history. According to them, the Midnight Ghost is nothing more than a beautiful fabrication—likely a carefully crafted narrative designed to captivate diecast enthusiasts and drive collector interest.
So where does that leave us?
Interestingly, in a space where both perspectives might hold some truth. The Midnight Ghost may never have existed in metal and rubber, but it lives vividly in the imagination—born from a love of classic craftsmanship and compelling storytelling. Its design is admired, debated, even yearned for. And perhaps that’s exactly the point.
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| The bodywork process of the future Duesenberg Coupé Simone 'Midnight Ghost,' carried out by TECfusions Fabrication. (Picture from: TECFusions Fabrication in Facebook) |
While most cars are made to be driven, this one was made to be dreamed about. Whether it’s an elaborate narrative created to elevate a collectible, or an unrealized concept waiting for the right hands to build it, the Duesenberg Coupé Simone 'Midnight Ghost' captures something elusive—magic.
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| A closer look at the completed rear bodywork of the upcoming Duesenberg Coupé Simone 'Midnight Ghost,' built by TECfusions Fabrication. (Picture from: TECFusions Fabrication in Facebook) |
Interestingly, that dream almost began to take shape. In early 2023, TECfusions Fabrication—a Pennsylvania-based workshop located in the very state where the story was originally set—spearheaded by famous American autobuilder Greg Martin, announced plans to build a full-scale version of this elegant phantom. | Nu5cwgyzMbw |
Unfortunately, updates have been scarce. As time passes, no confirmed progress has emerged, and the Duesenberg Coupé Simone continues to drift as an unfulfilled promise, quietly suspended between fiction and reality. For now, we can only wait and wonder. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TECFUSIONS FABRICATION IN INSTAGRAM | DIESELPUNKS | WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG | ANGELFIRE | AUTOWEEK | CUSTOMCARCHRONICLE | CLASSICCARCURATION IN FACEBOOK | TECFUSIONS FABRICATION IN FACEBOOK ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
