Equipment
Chrome wire wheels, 19 inch blackwall tires, black cloth covered trunk, flat windshield, steeply raked vee rear windshield, dual sidemounts with mirrors and chrome rings, Trippe lights, dual trumpet horns.
Condition
One of three in this style bodied by Murphy, originally delivered to John F. Howard, the 'Mayonnaise King' of Haverhill, Mass after he decamped to Mexico City. Stored many years in the parking lot of the Mexico City airport behind brick walls. In the present family ownership since 1962, restored shortly thereafter. Tired old repaint with surface rust worm tracks showing under the paint on some panels, cracks on others but still suitably protective and usable. Surface cracked but sound leather. Some weak trim chrome. Cleaned up but used and aged chassis. An honest old restoration with terrific coachwork and plenty of patina.
Market commentary
Reportedly sold by Christie's at Pebble Beach in 1998 for $717,500, which doesn't square up with the history above. Either way, this is one of the best coachwork designs Murphy ever executed on the super-sized Model J platform, a spectacularly beautiful and sleek automobile with proportions that bely the size of the Model J. It is a momentous automobile that fully deserves the momentous price it brought.