1929 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Town Car
- Engine
- 6.9L (420 cu. in.) DOHC straight-eight, 265 bhp
- Colour
- Black and metallic silver with pewter striping
Chassis 2531 with engine J-295, this Duesenberg Model J wears one of only six Murphy Town Car bodies and was dispatched to Philadelphia in March 1934. Its first owner was Ethel Dorrance, widow of the Campbell Soup Company founder. Acquired in near-new condition with roughly 1,800 miles in 1947, the car passed through several notable enthusiast hands before receiving a full restoration by Mike Fennel and appearing twice at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, in 1990 and 2010.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,200,000 – US$1,400,000
- 1934-03-22 →Factory deliveryEthel M. Dorrancefull documentation
Widow of Campbell Soup founder John Dorrance; the car saw very little use after an incident in Philadelphia prompted her to retire it to a garage, accumulating just over 1,800 miles.
- 1947 → 1948Private saleBayard Badenhausen Jr.full documentation
Purchased the near-new car from a Philadelphia garage for $1,300; used it for his 1948 wedding and honeymoon before selling to a friend.
- 1948 →Private saleJim Hoepartial documentation
Friend of Badenhausen and noted Duesenberg mechanic operating Hoe Sportcar Garage in Weston, Connecticut.
- → 1956Acquisition unknownTwo Philadelphia-area enthusiastspartial documentation
Two successive short-term owners in the Philadelphia region before the car passed to Harold Johnson.
- 1956 → 1981Private saleHarold S. Johnson Jr.partial documentation
Retained the car for roughly 25 years and commissioned its initial full restoration, finished in bright off-white.
- Date unknownPrivate saleWilliam G. Harriganpartial documentation
Based in Fulton, Alabama; the car passed to his widow upon his death.
- Date unknownInheritanceHarrigan's widowpartial documentation
Sold the car to the Kughns following her husband's death.
- Date unknownPrivate saleRichard and Linda Kughnpartial documentation
Prominent Detroit collectors who actively showed the car at ACD Club and CCCA events in Michigan; owned it until the early 1990s.
- Date unknownPrivate saleWest Coast collectorpartial documentation
Acquired the car shortly after it moved to the West Coast in the early 1990s; commissioned a restoration by Mike Fennel and showed it twice at Pebble Beach.
Competition
- 1978ACD Club National Reunion, Auburn, Indiana
Exhibited by Richard and Linda Kughn at the Auburn meet.
- 19901990 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
First of two appearances at the Pebble Beach Concours following the Fennel restoration.
- 20102010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Second Pebble Beach appearance in the current restored livery of black and metallic silver.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
First full restoration carried out during Harold Johnson's ownership, finished in a vivid off-white colour.
Commissioned by Harold S. Johnson Jr., who owned the car from 1956 for approximately 25 years.
- —RestorationMike Fennel
Comprehensive restoration to the car's present appearance — black and metallic silver with pewter striping, black leather to the chauffeur's compartment, and grey cloth to the rear — carried out by respected restorer Mike Fennel.
Completed prior to the car's 1990 Pebble Beach appearance; Fennel is described as late and well-regarded in the field.
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