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1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Clear Vision Sedan

  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Chassis Number: 2209
  • Engine Number: J187
Considered by many the finest automobile ever built, the metaphor 'it's a Duesie!' remains a part of the American lexicon to this day. Auggie and Fred Duesenberg were bicycle manufacturers from Iowa who developed a reputation for building the finest race cars beginning in the 1920s. Enter the dynamic E.L. Cord who purchased the company in 1926 and instructed the brothers to build the world's most magnificent automobile, cost be damned. And that, they did! Approximately 481 chassis were produced, all with custom coachwork. The close-coupled coachwork of this car features a short body on a long-wheelbase chassis including roll-down windows with a removable center post and narrow windshield posts. Known as 'clear vision,' it was developed by coachbuilder George Gangloff of Switzerland and executed by the Walter Murphy Co., of Pasadena, California.
This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Clear Vision Sedan has coachwork courtesy of Murphy, Inc., of Pasadena California. It was outfitted with a 420 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine capable of producing nearly 270 horsepower. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission while vacuum-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes provided ample stopping power.

The Model J was an exquisite car with a price tag that matched. The rolling chassis would set the buyer back nearly $9000 and completed versions approaching $20,000. Though this may not seem like a lot in modern times, in 1928 the average car cost $500. In other words, the rolling chassis alone was about 17 times more expensive than the typical car.

Each Model J was made specifically for its customers. Murphy bodied many of the Model J's including this one. The 'clear vision' term derived its name from its slim windshield pillars. This not only gave the driver better visibility and eliminated blind spots, it gave the car a sporty appeal.

This car was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auctions in Amelia Island and later brought to the 2009 Gooding & Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. At Gooding, the car was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,300,000.

On September 1st of 1929, a Clear Vision Sedan was delivered to law partners Arnold Lackersby and Noyes Avery of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The next owner, as recorded by the 1982 ACD Certification, was Dr. Woods who purchased the car in 1931 from Duesenberg's Michigan Avenue Showroom in Chicago.

The car's next caretaker may have been R.S. Pruitt of Chicago, Duesenberg's vice president. It was traded in 1935 to the Chicago Factory Branch where he took possession of J297. The car then went through four Illinois owners before being sold in 1953 to Dudley Waters of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. Waters sold the Clear Vision to Dr. Sidney N. Buka of Denver, Colorado. It was retained by Mr. Buka until around 1982, at which time it came into the possession of Paul Lapidus, a resident of New York City. It later returned to Indiana where it joined the collection of Joe Folladori. He kept it until June of 1991, at which time the car joined the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas.

While in the Imperial Palace Collection, the car was treated to a restoration. Upon completion, it was featured by Bob McEwan in Olds Car Weekly. In 1999, the car was purchased by Dean Kruse as part of a major deal including numerous other cars. Shortly thereafter, it was purchased by a renowned classic car collector. It was sold in 2006 to its current owner.

In 2009, the car was purchased at the Gooding & Company Auction for the sum of $836,000 including the buyer's premium.

In 2011, the car returned to auction, this time in Scottsdale, Arizona presented by RM Auction. The car was estimated to sell for $600,000 - $800,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $742,500 including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2011

2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $750,000-USD $1,000,000 
Lot was not sold

2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $900,000-USD $1,300,000 
Sale Price :
USD $836,000

2006 RM Auctions at Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $650,000-USD $850,000 
Sale Price :
USD $693,000

1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J Murphy

(Data based on Model Year 1929 sales)
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2265
Sold for USD$3,305,000
  2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan by Murphy
Chassis#: 2132
Sold for USD$1,710,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2165
Sold for USD$2,365,000
  2022 Mecum : Glendale
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J 'Butterfly' Dual-Cowl Phaeton by Murphy
Chassis#: 2169
Sold for USD$3,305,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2245
Sold for USD$2,365,000
  2021 Mecum : Monterey
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Torpedo by Murphy
Chassis#: 2199
Sold for USD$5,725,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2168
Sold for USD$1,430,000
  2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy
Chassis#: J259
Sold for USD$880,000
  2017 RM Sothebys : Santa Monica
 
1929 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2551
Sold for USD$1,540,000
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Motor City
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Torpedo Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2199
Sold for USD$3,000,000
  2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg J Convertible Coupe, Rumbleseat
Sold for USD$2,530,000
  2015 Morphy Auctions : Premier Automobile Sale
 
1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2134
Sold for USD$2,365,000
  2013 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton in the style of Murphy
Chassis#: 2201
Sold for USD$682,000
  2013 RM Auctions - St John's
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 DUESENBERG MODEL J CABRIOLET MURPHY
Sold for USD$1,319,888
  2013 ARTCURIAL MOTORCARS À RÉTROMOBILE
 
1929 DUESENBERG J MURPHY BERLINE CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: 2307
Sold for USD$725,000
  2013 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan by Walter M. Murphy Co.
Chassis#: 2163
Sold for USD$792,000
  2012 RM Auctions - Hershey, PA
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2134
Sold for USD$1,897,500
  2012 RM Auctions - Monterey
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2225
Sold for USD$522,500
  2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy Inc
Chassis#: 2307
Sold for USD$704,000
  2011 RM Auctions - Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1929 Duesenberg Model J Clear Vision Sedan
Chassis#: 2209 / J187
Sold for USD$742,500
  2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions
 

Duesenberg Model J Murphys That Failed To Sell At Auction

1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1929 Duesenberg Model J Clear-Vision Sedan by Murphy22092018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island $750,000$1,000,000
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan21942014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours $1,350,000$1,750,000
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy 2007 Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia $850,000$950,000
1929 DUESENBERG MURPHY ROADSTER 2001 Kruse Auction Scottsdale Arizona$625,000  

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1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy

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