Vehicle Description
Within moments of the Duesenberg Model J's debut at the New York
Auto Show on December 1, 1928, the world's business moguls, movie
stars, and social elite lined up for their chance to own the
glamorous new "supercar" from Indianapolis. At the heart of the
Model J lay a 420 cubic-inch, Lycoming-built inline eight-cylinder
engine featuring twin overhead camshafts and four valves per
cylinder, rated at an astonishing 265 horsepower in naturally
aspirated form. The Duesenberg brothers paired their magnificent
engine with a highly advanced chassis featuring powerful,
cockpit-adjustable hydraulic drum brakes and fully automatic
chassis lubrication that operated every 30-60 miles - features
years ahead of their time. The Model J vanquished nearly everything
else on the road and was the fastest, most exclusive, and most
expensive car in America. Unfortunately for E.L. Cord, the car
arrived on the eve of the Great Depression, and at nearly $10,000
for a chassis alone, and Cord's dream of 500 vehicles per year was
shattered. In reality, production topped off at just 481 cars in
total, and sales gradually trickled on through the late 1930s.
Today, the Model J and its derivatives stand as the Gold Standard
of Classic Era automobiles. They hold a place of pride among the
most iconic and desirable motorcars ever produced in America and
are an enduring symbol of the style and grandeur of the 1930s.
Chassis number 2377/J-360 is a uniquely appealing Model J that
benefits from decades of enthusiastic use. Many enthusiasts know
this car as the "Ben-Hur Duesenberg" as it was purchased new by Lew
Wallace Jr., grandson of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace, a Civil War-era
Union General and author of the classic benchmark novelBen-Hur: A
Tale of the Christ. Historical records show this is one of fourteen
long-wheelbase Model J's originally fitted with Murphy's handsome
Convertible Berline coachwork. As a 9th series car, it was custom
ordered and built to the buyer's exact specifications. Today it
retains its original, numbers-matching engine, original crankshaft,
chassis, firewall, and coachwork and is offered with a marvelous
patina earned through years of driving enjoyment. In fact, in the
20-plus years with its most recent custodian, 2377 has racked up an
estimated 35,000 miles, touring all over the United States,
England, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. According to marque
historians, Lew Wallace Jr. took delivery of his new Duesenberg on
June 24, 1930, costing him an estimated $17,500. Wallace Jr. had a
considerable inheritance from his grandfather, which included
royalties from various stage and film productions ofBen-Hur.
Unfortunately for Wallace, even he was not immune to the staggering
effects of the Great Depression, and while his family was better
off than many, they were forced to economize, and by 1934, the
Duesenberg and a Weymann-bodied Stutz were sold - replaced by a
1932 Ford Sedan! Wallace sold his Duesenberg J to Maurice Cleary of
Hollywood, allegedly for $1,000 - a rather painful depreciation
curve over four years. Records indicate it passed through three
additional caretakers in short succession, ending up with William
Strong in 1936. Strong owned the car until 1945 when he sold it to
Gerald Clark, who continued caring for the Model J and preserving
its superb original condition. Clark had the car maintained by
Marshall Merks, who had previously acquired spares, drawings, and
records from the shuttered Duesenberg factory. While in the care of
Hobart Winfield Betts (after 1952), 2377 was repainted in its
current burgundy color scheme by Reuters in New York City, along
with some restoration of the chrome plating and additional
mechanical service. Subsequent ownership changes are well
documented in the accompanying history file, and photos from the
1930s through today reveal it was always well maintained, never
damaged, and the original Murphy coachwork survived the decades
virtually unscathed. In 1972, 2377/J-360 was acquired by Mr. Earl
Broyles. Early in his tenure, he purchased the outside exhaust
pipes and the necessary hood panels from Merks. He also fitted the
steerable Pilot Ray lights and 19-inch chrome wire wheels supplied
by Don Sommer's legendary shop, American Arrow Corp. Broyles
lovingly cared for the Duesenberg and maintained its remarkably
well-preserved condition over his 25-year ownership stint. The most
recent owner acquired 2377 directly from Mr. Broyles in 1997. At
the time, it showed 48,000 miles, which was believed to be
accurate, and it retained the original tan leather interior and
finely preserved 1950s paintwork. A cursory inspection after
getting it home revealed it was still running its original aluminum
connecting rods. While the engine ran exceptionally well, the owner
decided to rebuild the engine with new Carrillo high-strength rods
and Arias pistons to avoid potential failure. The owner entrusted
the work to the marque experts Classic & Exotic Service in
Michigan, who, during the teardown, noted that the engine had
likely never been apart! They also installed a "high-speed"
ring-and-pinion set to improve cruising performance and had the
instruments rebuilt by Don Sears. With reliability in mind,
American Arrow supplied a new set of wheels with heavy-duty spokes.
Additional work included restoring the interior and various sorting
to ensure everything worked and the car was reliable for touring.
Once dialed-in, the new owner wasted no time in racking up the
miles. They thoroughly enjoyed using the Model J as intended -
participating in Duesenberg tours and events across the United
States, Canada, Scandinavia, and Great Britain, adding some 30,000
miles to the clock in the process. Today chassis 2377 is offered in
fantastic condition, with a refreshingly honest patina to the paint
and interior earned through years of use. It has been inspected by
the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and certified as a Category 1
Original car. As a testament to its quality, 2377 was shown at the
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and at the 2015 CCCA Annual Meet
in Savannah, Georgia, where it won a 1st Prize award, Touring
Division. Chassis 2377 represents a rare opportunity to acquire a
Model J with desirable coachwork and fascinating provenance that is
also tour-ready and certain to provide many miles of joy to its
next caretaker. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7157-1930-duesenberg-j-murphy-convertible-berline/
