Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
After E.L. Cord bought Duesenberg Motors in 1926, he decided that he wanted to build the ultimate motorcar. Known as the 'mightiest American motorcar,' the Duesenberg Model J was created to compete with high-end European marques such as Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza. It debuted on December 1 at the New York Car Show of 1928, represented by a sweep-panel, dual-cowl phaeton, with coachwork by LeBaron. The luxurious and powerful Model J became a status symbol: Advertisements showed wealthy individuals with a simple caption: He - or she - drives a Duesenberg.
The 420 cubic-inch, DOHC, straight-eight engine was based on the Duesenberg brothers' successful racing engines of the 1920s and produced 265 horsepower. . The car was powered by a Lycoming-built straight-eight of Fred's design, with such innovations as twin overhead camshafts operating four valves per cylinder, true hemispherical combustion chambers, and an estimated 250 horsepower, more than double that of its competition. Its top speed was over 100 mph (it could achieve almost 90 mph in second gear). The rolling chassis of the Model J could be purchased for $8,500 and sent to a custom coachbuilder for a magnificent, one-of-a-kind automobile with prices sometimes rocketing high above the average American's yearly salary. In 1929 money, that was the equivalent of 50 Ford Model As, and in today's money, it's about a million dollars. Only 470 chassis and 480 engines were built between 1929 and 1936.
This example sports a striking convertible coupe body by the Walter M. Murphy Co. of Pasadena, California. It is one of only about 25 convertible coupes by Murphy with a standard, 'non-disappearing' top. It was originally owned by CBS executive H. Leslie Atlass of Chicago, Illinois, and can boast a string of other well-known owners. Its recent owners have had it expertly restored to its original condition.
This Duesenberg was delivered, as a 'sweep panel' dual-cowl phaeton by LeBaron, on July 29th of 1929 to H. Leslie Atlass. Mr. Atlass had a friend named Philip K. Wrigley who had a Model J with a Murphy convertible coupe J-121. The two men came to prefer the bodies of one another's automobiles and arranged to trade the coachwork between their two cars.
Ownership later changed to Bill Veeck Jr, also known as 'Short Shirt Bill.' He enjoyed his Duesenberg until the start of World War II, at which point it was traded on a Mercury. Subsequently, frost damage to the engine was repaired by Chicago specialist John Troka with the block and crankshaft of J-245; that car's firewall, 2253, was also installed at the same time.
In 1950, the car came into the care of Dave Farr of Hinsdale, Illinois who maintained the car for 13 years. Later long-term owners included Jack Siler of Ohio. In 2007, the car was purchased by Robert Perry of Birmingham, Alabama, who submitted for a full restoration. The completed car was shown at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2011, it won an Amelia Award at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
In 2016, the car was driven on the Duesenberg Tour in Northern Michigan. It is recognized by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club as a Category One Certified car, having been inspected and certified by the Club no fewer than three times over the years.
The 420 cubic-inch, DOHC, straight-eight engine was based on the Duesenberg brothers' successful racing engines of the 1920s and produced 265 horsepower. . The car was powered by a Lycoming-built straight-eight of Fred's design, with such innovations as twin overhead camshafts operating four valves per cylinder, true hemispherical combustion chambers, and an estimated 250 horsepower, more than double that of its competition. Its top speed was over 100 mph (it could achieve almost 90 mph in second gear). The rolling chassis of the Model J could be purchased for $8,500 and sent to a custom coachbuilder for a magnificent, one-of-a-kind automobile with prices sometimes rocketing high above the average American's yearly salary. In 1929 money, that was the equivalent of 50 Ford Model As, and in today's money, it's about a million dollars. Only 470 chassis and 480 engines were built between 1929 and 1936.
This example sports a striking convertible coupe body by the Walter M. Murphy Co. of Pasadena, California. It is one of only about 25 convertible coupes by Murphy with a standard, 'non-disappearing' top. It was originally owned by CBS executive H. Leslie Atlass of Chicago, Illinois, and can boast a string of other well-known owners. Its recent owners have had it expertly restored to its original condition.
This Duesenberg was delivered, as a 'sweep panel' dual-cowl phaeton by LeBaron, on July 29th of 1929 to H. Leslie Atlass. Mr. Atlass had a friend named Philip K. Wrigley who had a Model J with a Murphy convertible coupe J-121. The two men came to prefer the bodies of one another's automobiles and arranged to trade the coachwork between their two cars.
Ownership later changed to Bill Veeck Jr, also known as 'Short Shirt Bill.' He enjoyed his Duesenberg until the start of World War II, at which point it was traded on a Mercury. Subsequently, frost damage to the engine was repaired by Chicago specialist John Troka with the block and crankshaft of J-245; that car's firewall, 2253, was also installed at the same time.
In 1950, the car came into the care of Dave Farr of Hinsdale, Illinois who maintained the car for 13 years. Later long-term owners included Jack Siler of Ohio. In 2007, the car was purchased by Robert Perry of Birmingham, Alabama, who submitted for a full restoration. The completed car was shown at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2011, it won an Amelia Award at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
In 2016, the car was driven on the Duesenberg Tour in Northern Michigan. It is recognized by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club as a Category One Certified car, having been inspected and certified by the Club no fewer than three times over the years.
2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,400,000-USD $1,700,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,430,000
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 Sport Sedan by Murphy Chassis#: 2132 Sold for USD$1,710,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 2165 Sold for USD$2,365,000 2022 Mecum : Glendale | |
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 Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 2245 Sold for USD$2,365,000 2021 Mecum : Monterey | |
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 Convertible Coupe by Murphy Chassis#: 2168 Sold for USD$1,430,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
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 Disappearing Top Torpedo Convertible Coupe by Murphy Chassis#: 2199 Sold for USD$3,000,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
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 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 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 Sport Sedan by Walter M. Murphy Co. Chassis#: 2163 Sold for USD$792,000 2012 RM Auctions - Hershey, PA | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 2134 Sold for USD$1,897,500 2012 RM Auctions - Monterey | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 2225 Sold for USD$522,500 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
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 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.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1929 Duesenberg Model J Clear-Vision Sedan by Murphy | 2209 | 2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan | 2194 | 2014 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 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $1,578,456 range.
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#:198.040.6500214 Sold for $1,572,500 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 Siata 208S Spider Chassis#:BS518 Sold for $1,572,500 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction | |
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Chassis#:07767 Sold for $1,586,250 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction | |
1962 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER Chassis#:198.042.10.003105 Sold for $1,572,500 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Chassis#:WP0ZZZ95ZHS900057 Sold for $1,563,355 2021 RM Sothebys : London | |
2012 Aston Martin One-77 Chassis#:SCFGFXXX3BGS17725 Sold for $1,589,298 2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland | |
DJ DEADMAU5s 2015 MCLAREN P1 Chassis#:SBM12ABA6FW000236 Sold for $1,567,500 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Sold for $1,567,500 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1983 Ferrari 126 C3-068 Formule 1 Chassis#:068 Sold for $1,575,488 2020 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Chassis#:198.040.6500206 Sold for $1,581,250 2019 RM Sothebys : Abu Dhabi | |
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Chassis#:06887 Sold for $1,572,500 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1931 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster Chassis#:50123 Sold for $1,581,340 2019 RM Sothebys : Villa Erba | |
2005 Maserati MC12 Chassis#:ZAMDF44B000017561 Sold for $1,575,000 2015 Mecum : Monterey | |
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Chassis#:198.042.10.002530 Sold for $1,567,500 2015 Gooding & Company - Arizona | |
2003 Ferrari Enzo Chassis#:ZFFCZ56B000132653 Sold for $1,580,320 2014 RM Auctions - London | |
1948 Tucker 48 Chassis#:1036 Sold for $1,567,500 2014 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
1934 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Sedan by LeBaron Chassis#:2515 Sold for $1,567,500 2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1969 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 Sports Racer Chassis#:105 800 23 Sold for $1,591,628 2012 RM Auctions at Monaco | |
1953 Siata 208 S Spider Chassis#:BS 514 Sold for $1,567,500 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Berlinetta Chassis#:0452MD Sold for $1,567,500 2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey |
1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Duesenberg Model J Murphy model years