1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe Roadster

Around 60 Convertible Coupe bodies were produced by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, CA for the Model J Duesenberg chassis. The disappearing top models were all fully custom and were individually built for their original owners. The history of this particular example began in Chicago in 1934 with one of the earliest Model Js built. The car had returned back to the Duesenberg Factory Branch in that city by its original owner, O.W. Hunke, to have its Derham Sedan body updated and mounted on a new supercharged chassis. The remaining gently used chassis and engine required new coachwork. For this, the Los Angeles Factory Branch adopted a Murphy 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe body, number 922, which was in stock at the time. It had several unusual specially ordered features which included a full trunk instead of a rumble seat. The interior of the luggage compartment was finished in polished woodwork. Since that time, the car has since been reconfigured with a rumble seat.

After the Murphy body was installed, the car was sold to P.P. Willis. Over the years, it would be owned by several other Chicago-area owners, including the used Duesenberg dealer John Troka. In the late 1940s, it was purchased from James E. Hanger III of Leonardtown, Maryland, by Melvin Clemans. In need of restoration, the Murphy Convertible Coupe was rebuilt with frame number 2551 and firewall number 2577.

In 1963, ownership of the Duesenberg passed to Elmer DiPiero of Ohio, then through the hands of Allen Bittner and Dr. Patrick J. Frank in Pennsylvania. It later spent several years in New Jersey, including time in the collection of Gifford Oborne.

The Model J was eventually acquired from Mr. Oborne by Eric Bardeen of Deland, Florida, and retained the car for over a quarter-of-a-century. In 2010, the Duesenberg was driven from Florida to Auburn where the ACD Club was celebrating the Year of the Duesenberg. After returning back to Florida, the car was given a restoration, which included new maroon paintwork and a fresh leather interior.

Recently, the car has been treated to a comprehensive serving.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2016