Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy background image

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Beverly Berline

  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Chassis Number: 2489
  • Engine Number: J-468
Fred and August Duesenberg were born in Germany and settled in Des Moines, Iowa. They were self-taught engineers and began producing cars in 1913. Eddie Rickenbacker drove a Duesenberg to a 10th-place finish in the 1914 Indianapolis 500. The company moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1919 and eventually settled in Auburn, Indiana after E.L. Cord added Duesenberg to his group of car companies.

Model J's were powered by straight eight, 420 cubic-inch, four-valve per cylinder engines, which produced 265 horsepower. It rode on a 153.5-inch wheelbase chassis and is capable of 89 miles per hour in second gear, with a top speed of 116 miles per hour.

The body was finished on May 31, 1930, and was installed on the chassis in late 1931. This long wheelbase chassis carries one of the Gordon Buehrig-designed Beverly Berline sedan bodies built by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California. The Chicago Brand sold it to William Hibbard of Hibbard, Spenser, Bartlett & Company. The car has had 20 owners including the famous Duesenberg dealer John Troka who owned it twice.

Hibbard and Darrin designed convertible sedans that influenced the unique sloped windshield with triangular sidelights as well as the shape of the door windows, which create a vee section in the area between the doors. The built-in trunk has interesting styling elements with the sidebar trim and hinge design and the sidebar design is repeated inside the body on the cabinetry behind the driver's seat. Within this cabinet is a radio with a speaker and tuner hidden behind doors. The rear seat is the armchair type with a removable center armrest to create a bench seat.

The windshield design is unique to the Beverly, of which only eight Murphy-bodied examples were built. This is one of four that retain their original body, engine, and coachwork. The engine block, crankshaft, and rods have the original J-465 markings.

No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J Murphy

(Data based on Model Year 1931 sales)
1931 DUESENBERG MODEL J DISAPPEARING-TOP CONVERTIBLE COUPE
Chassis#: 2365
Sold for USD$2,645,000
  2024 Gooding : Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2414
Sold for USD$4,295,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 DUESENBERG MODEL J CONVERTIBLE SEDAN
Chassis#: 2153
Sold for USD$2,205,000
  2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2363
Sold for USD$880,000
  2016 Auctions America : Auburn Fall
 
1931 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2414
Sold for USD$3,520,000
  2015 RM Sotheby's : The Andrews Collection
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Long-Wheelbase Coupe
Chassis#: 2478
Sold for USD$10,340,000
  2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy
Sold for USD$2,640,000
  2008 Automobiles of Amelia Island, RM Auctions
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 DUESENBERG J MURPHY CONVERTIBLE COUPE
Sold for USD$632,500
  2001 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2001
 

Duesenberg Model J Murphys That Failed To Sell At Auction

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $3,394,688 range.
1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster by Glaser
Chassis#:855007
Sold for $3,305,000
2024 RM Sothebys : The Junkyard : Rudi Klein Collection
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti
Chassis#:08343
Sold for $3,481,000
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport Noire
Chassis#:VF9SP3V31MM795322
Sold for $3,360,000
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1932 Delage D8 S Roadster by Pourtout
Chassis#:36009
Sold for $3,305,000
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
Chassis#:VF9SW3V35PM795072
Sold for $3,497,500
2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona
Chassis#:xx29j9b383276
Sold for $3,360,000
2024 Mecum : Monterey
2016 Koenigsegg Agera RSR
Chassis#:YT9ML1A21FA007123
Sold for $3,380,000
2024 RM Sothebys : Dubai
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider
Chassis#:16857
Sold for $3,305,000
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1990 Ferrari F40
Chassis#:ZFFGJ34B000084116
Sold for $3,360,000
2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami
2015 PORSCHE 918 SPYDER WEISSACH
Chassis#:WP0CA2A12FS800325
Sold for $3,525,000
2024 Gooding : Amelia Island
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy by Scaglietti
Chassis#:08259
Sold for $3,485,930
2024 RM Sothebys : Paris
2007 Maserati MC12 Versione Corsa
Chassis#:ZAMDF44B000029631
Sold for $3,302,745
2024 RM Sothebys : Paris
1956 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING COUPE
Chassis#:1980406500225
Sold for $3,410,000
2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ
1992 Ferrari F40
Chassis#:zffmn34a3n0092396
Sold for $3,410,000
2024 Mecum : Kissimmee
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti
Chassis#:16689
Sold for $3,391,680
2023 RM Sothebys : Munich
1966 FERRARI 275 GTB
Chassis#:08545
Sold for $3,415,000
2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1967 FERRARI 275 GTB/4
Chassis#:09909
Sold for $3,277,500
2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1990 Ferrari F40
Chassis#:ZFFGJ34B000084116
Sold for $3,305,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1933 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich
Chassis#:901360
Sold for $3,305,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy Berlinetta
Chassis#:08157
Sold for $3,410,000
2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey
1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Duesenberg Model J Murphy model years

1931 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Vehicle Profiles

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.