1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe

Pratt and Whitney were seeking an engine to spin a supercharger for the R-2800 aircraft engine. The engine produces 2000 brake horsepower from its nearly 46-liters of displacement and 18-cylinders. These engines would later be used for fighters and fighter-bomber planes, including the P-47, F6F Helicat, and several other planes.

At the time, there were no electric motors capable of generating the power required to turn the supercharger when they were separated from the 18-cylinder engine. An engine was required to help during the development and testing process. The engines required between 250 and 300 continuous brake horsepower to turn the R-2800 blowers at their rated speed.

Pratt & Whitney contracted with Inskip Inc. of New York to purchase four Duesenbergs for use with this testing program. Four cars were found, one being J573, a supercharged twin-carburetor example wearing a Rollston convertible, J472, a five-passenger sedan by La Grande, J401, a Castagna-bodied convertible sedan, and J327, a Murphy Convertible Coupe.

The engines performed their testing duties admirably, with only one failing after cool water was suddenly added to the coolant loop, causing one cylinder to seize. At the completion of the test program, Pratt & Whitney sold off the cars and parts. Two of the three running engines were sold to mechanic Jim Hoe. The last engine, J401, was re-installed in one of the original four cars - chassis 2340, the Murphy Convertible Coupe.

This car is chassis 2340 and was originally owned by Emory m. Ford of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. He sold the car a short time later to Walter Cook of New York City. By 1934, the car was in the possession of New York-based dealer Hilton Motors. In June of that year, the car was sold to Phillip Gossler, Jr., of New Jersey, who kept it until selling it to J.S. Inskip in January of 1943.

Robert J. Wilder purchased 2340, without an engine, along with J401, in 1946. A restoration was undertaken which included the installation of an original supercharger. The car was shown on many occasions, earning its AACA Senior National First Place Award, and making the cover of the CCCA Bulletin in the spring of 1956.

In October of 1965, the car was sold to Irv Tushinsky of California, for the sum of $23,000. Tushinsky spent an additional $40,000 in upgrades and restoration work. After this, it earned its second AACA Senior National First Place Award. Four years later, the car was sold to Roy Egidi, Jr., of New York. In 1971, the car was sold to Herb Wetanson, also of New York. It remained with Wetanson for just a year, before coming into the care of Richard Slobodien, of New Jersey. Slobodien removed the supercharger installed by Thurn. In March of 1973, Chris H.L. Owen of New York was the car's next caretaker, a duty he would perform for the next fourteen years.

In 1986, the car was sold to Noel Thompson of New Vernon, New Jersey. A year later, it was sold to Rick Carroll of Jensen Beach, Florida. Sadly, Carroll died in a tragic accident in 1990 and his collection was sold at auction by Sotheby's. The car was purchased by Sam Mann.

While with Mann, the car has been driven in the Colorado Grand, and two 1,000-mile CCCA CARavens. Recently, the car has been shown at the Wyoming Duesenberg Tour and the John Mozart Classic Car Tour.

Chassis number 2340 current has a 3.50:1 rear axle and is still capable of 100 mile-per-hour speeds. The car rides on 19-inch chromed wheels, has side exhausts, twin Pilot Ray driving lights, and twin Lorraine spotlights. It is painted in ivory with red leather and a polished chrome beltline. It wears an older restoration that has aged rather well. It is a 1930 vehicle, though it was not titled until 1932.

In 2008, chassis DUEJ40132 was offered for sale at the 'Automobiles of Amelia Island' presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $1,100,000 - $1,500,000. The lot was sold for $1,072,500, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009

The known history of this Duesenberg begins at its Los Angeles branch in 1930. It remained unsold for quite some time and was eventually transferred to the New York branch. In 1934, East Coast socialite J.W.Y. Martin acquired the car. Martin was a horse breeder and owner of racehorses. He returned the car to New York in 1935.

Eventually, the car passed to Richard Slobodian of New Jersey. During Mr. Slobodian's ownership, the car was given a comprehensive restoration that included the installation of an SJ supercharger, sourced from J-401. This supercharger came from the Castagna-bodied convertible sedan whose engine was used by Pratt and Whitney to run tests on the airplane engine superchargers they were building during World War II.

The Disappearing top roadster is one of the most enduring designs created by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena California. Mounted on the short wheelbase chassis and powered by the 320-horsepower supercharged, double overhead cam 32 valve engine, this car is one of the ultimate prestige automobiles produced in the mid-thirties.