Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 2228
Firewall No. 2228
Engine No. J-208
The Murphy Convertible Sedan
The Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California, was the
single most prolific builder of coachwork on the Duesenberg Model J
chassis, which was appropriate. The grand 265 horsepower Duesenberg
was a powerhouse automobile, truly the car of the stars, and
Southern California was, after all, where the stars were. Murphy's
coachwork was true to the spirit of the chassis and its owners,
with a clean, unadorned simplicity of line that emphasized the
performance of the Duesenberg beneath. Over the first three years
of Model J production, the firm turned out numerous distinctive
styles, including the especially popular Convertible Coupe and
Convertible Sedan designs that were cataloged by the Duesenberg
factory and sold extremely well even on the opposite Coast!
Historians believe that about forty-five examples of the Murphy
Convertible Sedan were produced, the majority of them mounted to
the 142�-inch short-wheelbase Model J chassis, resulting in
sportier, more close-coupled lines. They are considered some of the
most beautiful bodies of their kind on the Duesenberg platform.
J-208: A California Car
According to the records of longtime Auburn Cord Duesenberg (ACD)
Club Duesenberg Historian, Ray Wolff, the Murphy Convertible Sedan
with engine number J-208 was originally born with frame and
firewall number 2228, as it retains today. Wolff indicates that the
car was originally used as a demonstrator, for test drives by
prospective clients, at the Duesenberg Factory Branch in New York
City. After this use, on March 14, 1931, it was sold to the
original owner, Joseph T. Powers of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Powers' ownership of J-208 was quite brief. In September 1932
it was sold by his estate to Arthur Hopkins, returning it to New
York City, but was soon acquired by "a rich San Francisco family"
and moved West - where it has spent the vast majority of its life
since. Owned briefly by a Mr. Ryan in Los Angeles, it was then
acquired in 1934 by one of the most notable figures in its history,
Cedric Gibbons. While not a household name today, Mr. Gibbons was a
major player in Hollywood's Golden Age, as one of the industry's
leading art directors and production designers. An early proponent
of Art Moderne in set design, he is also credited as a lasting
influence in that style's expansion into theatre design during the
1930s. He was one of the 36 original founding members of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and designed for them
the iconic Oscar statuette; he would be nominated for his own award
39 times and won eleven. Mr. Gibbons was married from 1930 to 1941
- a time period that encompassed his ownership of the Model J - to
the fiery Mexican actress, Dolores Del R�o, whose mystique has long
been applied to this Duesenberg. Indeed, an autographed photo of
her remains in the car's history file!
Following its Gibbons ownership, J-208 was owned by the prolific
early Duesenberg dealer Bob Roberts, as well as well-known
Mercedes-Benz aficionado and mechanic to the Hollywood stars, Joe
Reindl. After World War II it was purchased by Frank Ehrlin of Palo
Alto, then in 1956 by Ed Bernhard of Coronado, California. The car
remained quietly in Mr. Bernhard's ownership until 1977, when it
was sold to Phil Renick of Fullerton, California, then one of the
West Coast's most prolific Duesenberg acquirers and restorers,
responsible for the purchase and restoration of several fine
examples. When Mr. Renick got out of the Duesenberg hobby, J-208
passed in 1980 to Byron Tarnutzer of San Diego.
In 1986 the car was purchased by legendary enthusiast Bruce Meyer
of Beverly Hills, a name that needs no further introduction. Mr.
Meyer submitted J-208 to the renowned Duesenberg historian and
restorer Randy Ema's shop in Orange, California, which undertook a
complete restoration to concours standards in rich two-tone red
with a tan leather interior and canvas top. At the completion of
the restoration in 1987, the car won its class at the renowned
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, then went on to claim many other
awards up and down the West Coast.
Mr. Meyer owned J-208 until 1989, when it was sold to Andy
Granatelli, the legendary and colorful figure of Indianapolis team
and STP fame. Mr. Granatelli was at the time assembling a small,
select collection of fine Classics with the goal of eventually
opening a small museum. Plans for this museum fell through, and in
the late 1990s his cars were sold en masse to the Milhous brothers.
The Milhouses sold several of the automobiles but elected to keep
J-208, which for over a decade would stand as one of the
centerpieces of their magnificent private museum, housed in a
wonderland-like building in Boca Raton, Florida, amidst elaborate
streetscapes and a vast collection of mechanical musical
instruments.
In 2012, J-208 was acquired by the Academy of Art University, as
one of the first Model J Duesenbergs in their impressive automobile
collection. It has remained extremely well-preserved within the
collection, and to admire it today is to be impressed with the
quality of its restoration, which has lasted remarkably well for
nearly 35 years; the paint remains in largely excellent condition,
and the interior and top both show only the tiniest signs of aging.
Even some of the original body wood remains intact, with a Murphy
"9" stamp visible in one of the door sills.
Indeed, even the engine compartment and chassis remain very clean
and in fine condition. J-208 retains its original frame and
firewall, as well as its original Murphy coachwork. Its engine was
exchanged in the early postwar era, by Roberts or Reindl, with
J-488; its period replacement crankshaft 222 remains in the car
today, but, thanks to the diligent efforts of Randy Ema for Mr.
Meyer, the original bell-housing, J-208, was exchanged back on the
car years ago, much improving its purity. Overall the impression is
one of quality work and good care, resulting in a very satisfying
automobile to admire, accented by dual horns, flamboyant SJ-style
chromed side exhausts, and Marchal headlamps, the latter a touch
believed to have been fitted in the car's early life.
Most significantly, J-208 has remained largely secluded in recent
years, which leaves numerous new opportunities open to the new
owner. These include the possibility of a return to the concours
circuit, as well as appearances in AACA and CCCA competition. The
car would also, of course, be warmly welcomed to ACD Club events,
and would make for an outstanding automobile to enjoy with friends
on the Duesenberg Tour.
An appealing and beautifully presented example of the Murphy
Convertible Sedan, with wonderful rich provenance and recent years
spent on display in one of California's finest collections, J-208
is ready to once again take its star turn.
