This 1929 Duesenberg Model J is a Town Limousine built by Murphy and originally purchased by George Whittell Jr., the flamboyant millionaire known for commissioning a fleet of custom-bodied Duesenbergs. This particular car stood out for its dramatic design: doors that curved into the roof, an angled windshield framed by slim “clear vision” pillars, and a striking Art Deco paint scheme. A polished aluminum beltline divided the black lower body from the white upper section, accented by chrome details on the hinges, tool doors, and battery covers. Instead of traditional hood louvers, it featured distinctive vent doors.

Whittell kept the car until 1939, when he sold it to his friend George Newhall Jr. Decades later, Newhall’s son restored it and showed it at Pebble Beach in 1971. The following year, it was acquired by collector William Harrah, and later passed through two more California owners. In 2015, Samuel Lehrman, heir to the Giant Foods fortune, became its seventh owner. The car was then restored to its original delivery condition by Chris Charlton and his team at Classic Car Services in 2017. In 2020, it won Best of Show at Amelia Island, cementing its status as one of the most significant surviving Duesenbergs.