Duesenberg Model J chassis 2223 carries one of the celebrated Convertible Coupe bodies created by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California. Murphy was the most prolific of all Duesenberg coachbuilders, producing approximately 140 bodies for the Model J, more than any other firm. Among the roughly 481 Model Js built in total, only about sixty were fitted with some form of Murphy Convertible Coupe coachwork, making this both a desirable and relatively uncommon configuration.

As the 99th Model J produced, chassis 2223 retains several important early-production features. It still wears its original V‑shaped radiator, a hallmark of the first Model Js before the introduction of the later grille with additional cooling louvers. This example also features the early non‑disappearing top, a design used before Murphy introduced its famous “disappearing top” roadsters and convertibles.

In 1959, the car entered long-term institutional stewardship when it was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago by Arthur L. Montgomery, president of the Atlanta Coca‑Cola Bottling Company. Montgomery’s gift preserved the car through an era when many Model Js were still being modified, dismantled, or lost.

The car carries a 1950s-era restoration, representative of the restoration practices of that period, and has been stored for many years, creating a fascinating time-capsule condition. As it sits today, J‑2223 remains a notable early Model J survivor with original Murphy coachwork and authentic early-production features—an elegant example from the formative years of America’s most legendary luxury automobile.

Price when new: $15,000