1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Town Limousine

This distinctive Duesenberg J Town Limousine was ordered by Captain George Whittell Jr. and bodied by Murphy. Mr. Whittell was heir to a large California gold rush and real estate fortune and the ultimate playboy of his day who famously liquidated his entire stock portfolio (approximately $50 million at the time) just two weeks before the infamous stock market crash of 1929. A larger-than-life public figure in San Francisco society, Whittell engaged in numerous escapades with women, reckless street racing, and outrageous public appearances.

Whittell collaborated with Murphy Coach Builders for a fleet of custom Duesenbergs. This particular example is J-218, a Town Limousine by Murphy. The car's aluminum body, along with its rakishly angled windshield surrounded by Murphy's iconic 'Clear-Vision' window pillars, was designed by Franklin Q. Hershey. Among its many features are the classic Art Deco paint scheme, and a broad beltline of polished aluminum, seen on many of the Duesenbergs ordered by Whittell, but it has door vents in the hood rather than the usual louvers that are also a Whittell feature. The bare aluminum beltline was polished to a mirror finish to divide the black bottom from the white top. Chrome flashes such as the door hinges, tool and battery doors complete the look.

The Captain retained the car until 1939 when he sold it to his friend George Newhall Jr., whose son restored it before showing the car at Pebble Beach in 1971. A year later, the car was purchased by William Harrah, and two more California collectors followed. Its current owner became its seventh keeper in late 2015. The car has been freshly restored for its second appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2018.