1931 Duesenberg Model J

This magnificently restored Duesenberg features a Murphy body on the long wheelbase chassis. The Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California built more than 140 bodies for the Model J Duesenberg chassis; far more than any other body builder. The Murphy Convertible Coupe was the single most popular body built for the Model J Duesenberg. A Murphy designed body was part of the first Duesenberg offering at the Auto Salon held in New York in December, 1928. In all, sixty were produced with fifty-two of them mounted the “short” chassis of 142.5 inches. The most famous variation of the Murphy Convertible Coupe body was the “disappearing top,” which is featured on this vehicle. When the top is down, it is stowed under the deck lid so that none of the fabric or folding mechanism is visible. The Model J chassis alone cost $8,500. As new the convertible coupe cost $14,500.