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1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe

  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Chassis Number: 2340
  • Engine Number: J401
  • Body Number: 938
  • Registration Number: ACD Cert No: D-107
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.

2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,100,000-USD $1,500,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,072,500

1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Duesenberg Model J Murphy

(Data based on Model Year 1930 sales)
1930 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2369
Sold for USD$3,855,000
  2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 2228
Sold for USD$1,380,000
  2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy
Chassis#: 2377
Sold for USD$1,490,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy
Chassis#: 2294
Sold for USD$3,525,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2369
Sold for USD$3,965,000
  2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2167
Sold for USD$1,132,500
  2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline
Chassis#: 2305
Sold for USD$2,040,000
  2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy
Chassis#: 2345
Sold for USD$1,105,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : The Guyton Collection
 
1930 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton by Murphy
Chassis#: 2366
Sold for USD$2,090,000
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Hershey
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 DUESENBERG MODEL J TOWN CABRIOLET
Chassis#: 2401
Sold for USD$1,254,000
  2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1931 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2388
Sold for USD$2,640,000
  2016 Gooding & Company : The Amelia Island Auction
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 DUESENBERG MODEL J DISAPPEARING TOP ROADSTER
Chassis#: 2346
Sold for USD$2,868,312
  2015 Bonhams : The Frederiksen Auction
 
1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Berline Convertible
Chassis#: 2315
Sold for USD$1,425,000
  2014 Mecum - Monterey
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy
Chassis#: 2388
Sold for USD$2,200,000
  2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 2310
Sold for USD$2,640,000
  2012 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Walter M. Murphy Co
Chassis#: J331
Sold for USD$962,500
  2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline by Murphy
Chassis#: 2305
Sold for USD$1,705,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 Duesenberg Model J Arlington Five-Passenger Club Sedan
Chassis#: 2261
Sold for USD$506,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
 
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy
Sold for USD$1,072,500
  2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy image  
1930 DUESENBERG J ARLINGTON SEDAN
Sold for USD$660,000
  2007 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2007
 

Duesenberg Model J Murphys That Failed To Sell At Auction

1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High

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1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
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Chassis#:2132
Sold for $1,710,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#:198.040.5500243
Sold for $1,710,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona
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Chassis#:198.040.5500801
Sold for $1,710,000
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1933 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM II SPECIAL BROUGHAM BY BREWSTER
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1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  
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1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy vehicle thumbnail image  

1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy

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