1930 Cadillac V-16 Murphy Custom Four-Door Convertible
- Engine
- V16
- Colour
- Algonquin Green

The sole known Cadillac V-16 bodied by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, this four-door convertible was designed by Franklin Q. Hershey and delivered new to Charles S. Howard Jr., eldest son of the celebrated West Coast Buick magnate and Seabiscuit's owner. Its coachwork combines Duesenberg-like elegance with sporting details including suicide front doors, fold-flush hood, and rear-seat instruments. After a succession of distinguished American collectors, a Brian Joseph restoration underpinned class victories at Meadowbrook in 1996, Pebble Beach in 1997, and a Best of Show Pre-War at the 2018 San Marino Motor Classic.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,500,000 – US$1,800,000
- → 1959Acquisition unknownDr. Robert N. Craycroftpartial documentation
Los Angeles-based early motorsport enthusiast who likely knew Howard personally; possibly acquired the car directly from the first owner. Transferred ownership to a friend around 1959.
- 1959 →Private saleBob Gillespiepartial documentation
Friend of Dr. Craycroft; received the car around 1959. The car subsequently ended up stored at Fazackerly Cadillac in San Francisco.
- 1961 →Private saleNorman Tauntonfull documentation
Purchased the car from a San Francisco dealership basement during his honeymoon in 1961 and documented the acquisition in a 1962 club magazine article. He repainted the car in the correct original green but otherwise left it largely as found, retaining original upholstery and hardware.
- → 1985Private saleDon Westerdalepartial documentation
Los Angeles-based owner who carried out the car's first comprehensive restoration before selling it in 1985.
- 1985 →Private saleJohn Mozartpartial documentation
Noted collector who acquired the car in 1985; described as renowned in the prose.
- 1994 → 2007Private saleJohn McMullenfull documentation
Lapeer, Michigan collector and the car's longest-tenured owner; commissioned a full restoration by Brian Joseph's Classic & Exotic Service in Troy, Michigan, which preserved original details including the Murphy floor stampings. The car won class honors at major concours events during his ownership.
- 2007 → 2015Private salePaul Andrewspartial documentation
White Settlement, Texas collector; the car served as a focal point of his personal museum for approximately eight years until his passing.
- 2015 →Private saleCurrent owner from Andrews Collectionpartial documentation
Purchased from the Andrews estate in 2015; commissioned a new interior and maintained the Joseph restoration to a high standard, earning Best of Show Pre-War recognition at the 2018 San Marino Motor Classic.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryCharles S. Howard Jr.partial documentation
Eldest son of prominent West Coast Buick dealer and Seabiscuit owner Charles S. Howard Sr.; believed to have kept the car into the postwar 1940s, with a photograph from the late 1940s or early 1950s showing the car in Mendocino County still in original green livery.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBrucker Familypartial documentation
Buena Park, California family associated with the Movieworld museum; acquired the car in the late 1960s and held it for roughly a decade before selling.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJim Kingpartial documentation
Beverly, Massachusetts owner; intermediate custodian between Mozart and McMullen.
Competition
- 19961996 Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance1st in class
Shown during John McMullen's ownership following restoration by Brian Joseph's Classic & Exotic Service.
- 19971997 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance1st in class
One of several concours honors earned while the car was in the McMullen collection.
- 20182018 San Marino Motor ClassicBest of Show Pre-War
Recognition earned under the current owner, highlighting the enduring quality of the Joseph restoration and subsequent upkeep.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1961Bodywork
Car repainted in its factory-correct Algonquin Green by Norman Taunton; all original interior components including red leather upholstery and period hardware were retained unchanged.
- —Restoration
First comprehensive restoration of the car, carried out during Don Westerdale's ownership in Los Angeles prior to his 1985 sale.
- —RestorationClassic & Exotic Service
Full restoration undertaken during John McMullen's ownership, with care taken to retain original details such as Murphy coachbuilder stampings in the floor woodwork.
Workshop operated by Brian Joseph, located in Troy, Michigan.
- —Bodywork
New interior fitted by the current owner as part of ongoing high-standard maintenance following acquisition in 2015.
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