‘Great Gatsby’ A Scavenger Hunt for Car Spotters

And yes, you heard correctly — Gatsby has switched from the British Rolls-Royce he drove in the book to American iron in the latest film version. This breach of faith to Fitzgerald’s original work has caused a stir in literary circles and among classic-car enthusiasts who think the Rolls is really a better fit for the character.

While Duesenbergs, especially the big, powerful Model Js, are arguably more coveted by collectors today than old Rolls-Royces, weren’t they a bit nouveau riche in the 1920s — sort of like a Hummer 10 years ago? Perhaps it just seems more like the kind of car that would run down Myrtle Wilson.

The automotively inclined will no doubt have a good time trying to spot models that were manufactured after the period of the story, and finding other alleged problems with car casting.

I imagine viewing parties years from now at which classic-car geeks will compete to see who can identify and write down more makes and models, especially the now-defunct ones. Was that an Essex parked over there? A Franklin? Or maybe a Duryea?