This 1930 Duesenberg Model J, chassis 2401 with engine J‑381, is a rare and elegant example of a Murphy Town Car, representing one of the most refined formal body styles fitted to the legendary Model J chassis. Notably, it is believed to be one of only four such Murphy Town Cars in existence, placing it among the rarest closed-body Duesenbergs.

The body was crafted by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California, the most prolific coachbuilder associated with Duesenberg. Murphy’s designs stand apart for their lightness of line, modern proportions, and restrained elegance, qualities that contrast beautifully with the more traditional, heavier styling often seen on formal Town Cars.

A defining feature of Murphy’s work, evident on this example, is the use of exceptionally thin windshield pillars, part of the company’s celebrated “Clear Vision” design philosophy. This innovation enhances visibility while giving the car a lighter, more sophisticated appearance, even in such a formal configuration.

The result is a Town Car that retains all the dignity expected of a chauffeur-driven automobile, yet avoids the visual heaviness typical of the genre. Instead, it presents a balanced and harmonious design, where form and function are perfectly integrated.