Legacy Metrics

1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe

2414roadUnited States
Colour
Cream with maroon chassis

A 1930 Murphy-bodied Duesenberg Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe, body number 921 on chassis 2414 with engine J-395, is among the most celebrated survivors of roughly 25 such examples built. Delivered in May 1930, the car retains its original matching components including the original crankshaft. Its colourful history includes decades as a Hollywood prop vehicle with Pacific Auto Rental — appearing in 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' — ownership by the Imperial Palace of Las Vegas, and a comprehensive restoration that earned First in Class at Pebble Beach in 2005.

Ownership

  1. Auction sale
    Estimate US$4,000,000 – US$4,500,000

    RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →

  2. Auction sale
  3. Auction sale
  4. → 1949-05-01Acquisition unknown
    Pacific Auto Rental (George Schweiger Jr.)
    partial documentation

    Hollywood prop-car supplier operating from South Berendo Street; the car was used in numerous film and television productions during this period in its distinctive pale yellow and green finish.

  5. 1949-05-01 → 1956Acquisition unknown
    Two brief owners in Coalinga, California
    none documentation

    Two separate short-term owners in Coalinga before the car returned to the Pacific Auto Rental fleet.

  6. 1956 → 1995Private sale
    Pacific Auto Rental (George Schweiger Sr.)
    partial documentation

    George Schweiger Sr. took over the business after his son's early death; the car remained in the rental fleet and appeared in multiple Hollywood productions through this period, and was featured in a 1970 magazine article.

  7. 1995 → 1995Auction
    Imperial Palace, Las Vegas
    partial documentation

    The entire Pacific Auto Rental fleet was acquired; select vehicles were retained while others including this car were sold at an outdoor auction at the Ambassador Hotel on 18 August 1995.

  8. 1995-08-18 →Auction
    Oscar Davis
    partial documentation

    Noted collector who purchased the car at the Ambassador Hotel auction; had it refinished in cream with a maroon chassis by Mike Fennel, then sold it back to the Imperial Palace as reportedly their 50th Duesenberg. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Category 1 Certification (D-146) was awarded during this period.

  9. → 1998Private sale
    Imperial Palace, Las Vegas
    partial documentation

    Car was reportedly acquired back as the 50th Duesenberg in their collection; dispersed when the fleet was sold off in 1998.

  10. 1998 → 2008Acquisition unknown
    Chris and Kathleen Koch
    partial documentation

    Well-regarded collectors who invested approximately $500,000 in a full restoration, including mechanical work by Brian Joseph's Classic & Exotic Service and cosmetic work by Steve Cooley; the car won First in Class at Pebble Beach in 2005 and achieved 18 concours victories over two years under their stewardship.

  11. 2008 → 2015Acquisition unknown
    Andrews Collection, Texas
    partial documentation

    Part of a celebrated Texas collection that included several other notable Duesenbergs and Full Classics.

  12. 2015 →Acquisition unknown
    Immediate prior owner
    partial documentation

    Commissioned comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic improvements at Brian Joseph's Classic & Exotic Service; had new carpeting, a correct-spec soft top, a rebuilt fuel system, and chrome restoration carried out. Selling due to a collection restructuring.

  13. Date unknownAcquisition unknown
    Blake Garner
    partial documentation

    Chicago-based investment banker and later Hollywood film producer; earliest documented custodian per Duesenberg historian records, noted as owner in 1936. Car was likely moved to Los Angeles during his tenure.

Competition

  1. 2005
    2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
    First in Class

    First major concours outing following the extensive Koch restoration; launched a run of 18 class victories over the following two years.

  2. 2024
    2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
    Third in Class

    Return to Pebble Beach roughly two decades after the prior restoration; noted as a strong result given the elapsed time since the last major work.

Maintenance & restoration

  1. Bodywork
    Mike Fennel

    Car refinished in cream with a maroon-painted chassis by Mike Fennel, commissioned by owner Oscar Davis.

  2. Inspection
    Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club

    Formal inspection and certification by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club, resulting in Category 1 Certification (D-146).

  3. Restoration
    Classic & Exotic Service

    Full mechanical rebuild carried out by Duesenberg specialist Brian Joseph's Classic & Exotic Service, with cosmetic restoration and final assembly completed by craftsman Steve Cooley; work reportedly totalled around $500,000.

    Cosmetic work and assembly handled by Steve Cooley of Tavares, Florida. Commissioned by Chris and Kathleen Koch.

  4. Mechanical
    Classic & Exotic Service

    Comprehensive mechanical sorting including valve and cam timing adjustment, gauge calibration, new front wheel bearings, rebuilding of Watson Stabilators, and fitting of a high-speed ring and pinion.

    Work undertaken shortly after acquisition by the immediate prior owner in 2015.

  5. Restoration

    New carpeting and a correctly designed replacement hood fitted; fuel system rebuilt; remedial work carried out on major chrome components.

    Completed during current ownership, after the mechanical sorting at Classic & Exotic Service.

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Each chassis record is compiled from public auction archives and links to its source material. Ownership, competition and maintenance entries are extracted from those catalogue listings by an LLM, which can make mistakes — please contact us with any corrections. The summary is Legacy Metrics’ own writing; we do not reproduce catalogue text.

“Full” and “partial” documentation labels indicate how well each entry is corroborated in the underlying sources, not an audit of the car’s physical paperwork. Names of recent or living owners are withheld for privacy.