1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy LWB Convertible Berline

This Duesenberg Model J was ordered as a long-wheelbase chassis with its Convertible Berline body built by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California. Although Murphy bodied many Model Js, this was an individual customer order and its body lines are subtly different than other body styles. It was ordered by Mr. Lewis 'Lew' Wallace, Jr., of Rye, New York, on June 24, 1930, and retained through 1934, when it was signed over to Maurice Cleary of Beverly Hills, California, in payment for a debt. About a year later, it was sold to Alexander 'Sandy' Hamilton of New York City.

The car was sold in 1936 by Hilton Motors, a New York dealer, to William E. Strong. Over the next two decades, the car would trade hands among various New York Metropolitan area owners. At some point, it was refinished in burgundy by Reuter Coachworks of the Bronx. The car entered the care of Forrest Brenneman of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 1964 who passed it on to Allen Bittner, then in 1972 to Earl Broyles, an enthusiast in Fredericksburg, Virginia. While in Mr. Broyles care, the car received Pilot Ray lights, 19-inch chrome wheels, and SJ-style external side exhaust and hood panels. In 1998, the Duesenberg was sold to Jack and Drena Miller of Fayetteville, Georgia.

To prepare the car for enthusiastic driving, the Model J's engine was rebuilt by Brian Joseph of Classic & Exotic Service in Troy, Michigan. The work included new Carillo rods and Arias pistons; a new high-speed ring-and-pinion set; and reinforced American Arrow wheels. The interior was also reupholstered.

The Millers drove this Duesenberg on many long-distance tours, from Georgia to upstate New York; participated in a 900-mile CCCA CARavan; the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival; and then was driven back to Georgia. The previous year (in 2003), the car was driven 2,900 miles in Sweden, Norway, Scotland, and England.

The car was acquired by the current caretakers several years ago. This Model J has never been fully restored and continues to wear the finishes applied to its body in the 1950s.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023

This unrestored Duesenberg (J360) is the most driven 'Duzie' in the world. In 2003, J360 toured 2,900 miles in Sweden, Norway, Scotland, and England. In 2004, the Duzie was driven from Georgia to upstate New York, participated in a 900-mile CCA Caravan, visited Cleveland, OH, and continued on to Auburn, IN, for the ACD Festival, then driven back to Georgia.

Technical appointments are 153 and 1/2 inch wheelbase, with a weight of 6,100 pounds and feature a custom body by Murphy. The double overhead camshaft engine features four valves per cylinder and a mechanical computer. The 420 cubic inch, 8-cylinder engine, develops 265 horsepower and gets 10-11 miles per gallon. With the current gearing, the car is capable of 88 mph in 2nd gear and 117 mph in 3rd gear. It originally cost approximately $17,000 or about the price of 35 new Ford automobiles. Of 480 Duesenbergs built between 1929 and 1937, about 280 are known to survive.

The original owner was Lew Wallace Jr. whose grandfather wrote Ben Hur, one of the most-read books of all time.