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1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy SWB Convertible Coupe

  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Chassis Number: 2154
  • Engine Number: J132
  • Body Number: 830
The Duesenberg J chassis cost $8,500 which made it the most expensive car in America. This price tag did not include the coachwork (the body), which often drove the price into the neighborhood of $20,000. This was during the era when most family cars sold for $500.

The Duesenberg Model Js were impressive vehicles and were bred from Fred and August Duesenberg's history of racing. The brothers competed in the Indy 500 on 15 consecutive appearances with their first being in 1913. In total there were 70 Duisenbergs that competed on the legendary Brickyard circuit with 46 percent of them finishing in the top 10. The Indianapolis 500 was a 500-mile endurance race and finishing it was a major accomplishment in its own respect. With so many top-ten finishes for Duesenberg, their reliability and speed soon became legendary.

In 1921, Jimmy Murphy drove a Duesenberg to first place at the French Grand Prix at LeMans. For 1922, eight of the top ten cars were Duesenberg-powered machines, including the winning car driven by Jimmy Murphy.

In 1925, the Duesenberg Company was purchased by Errett Lobban Cord and added to his growing list of companies. This acquisition was intended to position the newly purchased Duesenberg Company at the height of luxury and to compete with the greatest automobile producers of the era, such as Rolls-Royce, Isotta Fraschini, Bugatti, Cadillac, and Hispano-Suiza.

The short-wheelbase Duesenberg J, accounting for most of the Model J production, measured nearly 12 feet long. The 420 cubic-inch straight-eight engine produced 265 horsepower which promised over 100 mph top speed.

This particular Model J is chassis number 2154 and engine number J-132. It has Murphy body number 830 and ACD Certification Number D-015. It began life as a much different vehicle than what it is now. It was originally a Derham-bodied Sedan and was sold new to William E. Schmidt. The next owner was H. S. Kehn, also from Chicago, who later sold it to Paul S. Johnson. While in Johnson's care, the rear portion body was removed with the intent of making it into a truck for his plumbing business. The conversion was never completed and later sold to Keith Brown of LaPorte, Indiana in October of 1957.

The Convertible Coupe body that this vehicle now carries was originally mounted on J-144. It was originally owned by Frank Gill of New York. Duesenberg re-acquired the car on April 30, 1932, and later sold to David Joyce of Chicago. (Joyce later owned J151, a Derham Tourster.)

Brown purchased the Murphy body in 1957 and had it mounted on J132 between 1957 and 1959. In September 1959, the car was sold to Homer Fitterling. It would remain in his care until being purchased by Ed Weater of Dalton, Georgia in 1989. In 1994, the car was purchased by RM Classic Cars of Chatham, Ontario, Canada and later sold to Berkeley, Massachusetts collector Jim King. It was later traded back to RM for another car. In 2006, the current owner purchased the car from RM.

In 2008 this 1929 Duesenberg J Convertible Coupe with coachwork by Murphy was brought to RM Auctions' Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook. It was estimated to sell for $750,000-$950,000. Bidding reached $748,000, including the buyer's premium, which was just under the estimated value but enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008

2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $750,000-USD $950,000 
Sale Price :
USD $748,000

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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