1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton

This Duesenberg Model J is one of the three Dual Cowl Phaetons built by the coachbuilder Walter M. Murphy of Pasadena, California in 1930. This Model J was delivered directly to the home of its first owner, John F. Howard, in Mexico. He sold the car in 1945, but it remained in Mexico and had several short-term owners before it was sold in 1950 to a film studio there. The next owner put the car in storage at the Mexico City Airport, where it was discovered in 1962 still in original condition and with only 44,000 miles on the clock. After its restoration by a new owner, the car was enjoyed by multiple generations of his family for 54 years and was also displayed at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. The current owners acquired this car in 2016.

Chassis # 2366 and engine # J-347 were bodied by Murphy as a dual-cowl phaeton and delivered to John F. Howard. Howard was famous as 'The Mayonnaise King' having made millions from salad dressings produced to his wife's recipes in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He moved to Mexico where he secured a divorce and it was there that the Model J was sent from its birthplace in Southern California.

The dark purple finish and red leather interior are both well-preserved but have a rich patina. The interior retains a steering wheel from a Mercedes-Benz of the 1930s, a feature the car has had for decades and which has become something of a signature.

The Duesenberg dual-cowl phaeton design incorporated a Murphy signature, a vee'd rear windshield mounted on a center-hinged two-piece tonneau. Adjusting one side of the windshield allowed the tonneau on that side to be lifted so that one passenger could exit without disturbing the other. A bonus was that the so-called 'butterfly' windshield which gave the Murphy dual-cowl phaeton a lightness of line.

The Duesenberg J was unabashedly advertised as 'The World's Finest Motor Car' and the only copy used in many of the company's advertisements was simply, 'He (or she) drives a Duesenberg.' The list of Duesenberg owners was a Who's Who of Holly elite along with captains of industry. No wonder - a bare chassis began at $7,500.00 before coachwork was supplied. Most cost between $15,000 and $20,000 fully equipped (a Ford Model A in 1929 cost about $400).

This Duesenberg wears a Dual-Cowl Phaeton body by Murphy. When new, it was delivered to John F. Howard. Mr. Howard later relocated to Mexico and the car accompanied him. This was the first of two Duesenbergs that Mr. Howard would own - the other example being a Willoughby-bodied Model SJ limousine that no longer exists.

Just three examples of the short-wheelbase Model J were given original Murphy dual-cowl phaeton bodies. A fourth long-wheelbase car was also bodied by Murphy. Murphy ceased operations in April 1932, but not before bodying 144 Duesenberg chassis, more than any other coachbuilder.

All three of the Murphy-bodied short-wheelbase dual-cowl phaetons differ slightly in detail. This particular example has windows in the front doors, which, when raised, served as 'wind wings.' When lowered, the windows hide completely from sight.

This car's next owner was Antonio Llegoreta Gonzalez, via a Mexico City dealership, who purchased it in February of 1945. This was followed by a succession of short-term Mexican owners. In 1950, it was acquired by the ALTA film studio. The car's next owner put it into 'storage', in the parking lot of the airport in Mexico City where it was surrounded by a short brick wall, which helped preserve it from theft. In 1962, it was discovered by Raymond Wolff. At the time, it was still walled up.

Mr. Wolff purchased the car and brought it back to the United States, via Monterey. At the time, the car showed 43,832 miles. A short time later, the car was sold to the father of its current owner. It remained in their family for the next 54 years.

The car currently wears its original restoration by John Griffin, which the family displayed at Hershey in October of 1963. It is finished in dark purple with a red leather interior. There is a wooden steering wheel from a Mercedes-Benz of the 1930s.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2016