Coachwork by Walter M. Murphy Company

Engine - 420 cubic-inch dual overhead-cam inline eight
Transmission - Three speed manual
Horsepower - 265
Production - 481

“The Mightiest American Motorcar”

The Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California was in operation from 1920-1932 and is remembered today largely due in part to the coachwork they produced for the Duesenberg Model J chassis. Murphy Company designs are recorded to have been applied to roughly 125 Duesenberg Js, a considerable percentage of the 481 total Duesenberg J and J variants produced. Of all the Murphy bodied Duesenbergs, Murphy convertible sedan coachwork was a popular choice among Duesenberg’s customers with 45 ordered before the coachbuilder ceased operations in 1932.

This 1930 Duesenberg Model J-269 (Duesenbergs are typically referred to by their engine number) was delivered on February 28th, 1930 to Robert Grant Jr. of New York City, where it remained until 1939. In 1940 it is reported that J-269 was sold to Kalman Dirhan of Pennsylvania and driven for five years before it was put into long term storage. In 1966 J-269 was acquired by Tiny Gould of Milford, Pennsylvania, a pioneer in the collector car and restoration industry. In 1972 the car was purchased by Dr. Richard K. “Doc” Clements of New York City, a well-known East Coast collector. Clements enlisted Ted Billing of Massachusetts to restore J-269 to its original condition, but with one caveat; he was to do whatever work that could be done for $500 a month. This resulted in a steady yet slow restoration that spanned over two decades until Doc’s passing in 2004. J-269 was purchased from Clements estate and restoration efforts continued. J-269 was finally receiving the restoration it long deserved.

Upon completion of the restoration J-269 was exhibited at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance where it received a Best in Class award in the Duesenberg Class. This convertible sedan retains its original frame, firewall, engine, and Murphy coachwork. Some of the Murphy design features included front and rear folding armrests, a lockable umbrella cabinet, and the coachbuilder’s famed narrow Clear-Vision windshield frame.