Silver Duesenberg at Amelia Island Concours

Thanks! I, too, finally identified the car after its chassis number appeared on the information card at Pebble. I forgot I'd asked about it, however.

Prueitt & Sons did the restoration and has been representing the car at shows for the owner. A friend of mine who had been in the market for a J drove this car prior to the restoration, when RM had it for sale, and was not impressed with its mechanical condition. As you mentioned in your database report, it has "stories."

Much thanks again.

The same AL owner also had the car at PB this year. Did not place out of field of 6 cars.

Here is what I have in my data base:

Summary 2002: 2168/J147. LeBaron DC Phaeton Sweep Panel. This chassis 2168, had the Phillip Wrigley Murphy Convertible Coupe body, from 2177/J121, installed in 1931. Black with beige leather and tan carpets, dual driving lights, restored sometime before 1988 when Imperial Palace acquired it.

2006 May 24 H&H auction England. M CC Sold 330,000 pounds.
2006 May 11, ACD Web forum subject: Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe (J-147) Up For Auction. I thought you might like to know that we will be offering a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe (J-147) for sale by public auction on Wednesday May 24th 2006 at Syon Park, London. Registered new to H. Leslie Atlass (co-founder of WBBM Radio and later Vice-President of CBS), J-147 was subsequently owned by baseball legend Bill Veeck Jr. before passing through the hands of Bob Gottleib, Ken Buehring and Dean Kruse etc. An unusual car in that it underwent what must have been one of the first body swaps ever performed on a Model J chassis (it exchanged clothes with one of PK Wrigley's Duesenbergs in circa 1930), it is thought to have never undergone a total nut and bolt restoration. It carries a guide price of ?400,000 - ?500,000. For more information please visit www.classic-auctions.com Damian Jones H&H Classic Auctions Ltd
2000 October 6 Brooks Hershey A#319: Est. $480-$550,000. Murphy Convertible Coupe. Black/tan. This body was originally on Phillip Wrigley's #2177/J121. But Wrigley wanted a LeBaron Sweep Panel Phaeton, so traded the Murphy CC from his 1st Duesenberg 2177/J121 with Leslie Atlas, 1st owner of J147/2168. Bodies were swapped around 1931. Recently in Imperial Palace Collection, who did only cosmetic restoration and as needed mechanical maintenance. 67,534 miles. Sold for $530,500.with BP.
Dave Brownell report: #319-1929 Duesenberg, J Convertible Roadster. Body by Murphy. S/N 2168. Eng.# J-147. Black/tan leather. Tan fabric top. LHD. Odo: 67,527 miles. Headlamp shells need replating; top fit a bit off; no sidemount covers. Not a ?disappearing top? car. Older restoration still looks good but has lost first-prize-winning edge. Began life as LeBaron sweep panel phaeton, body swapped in early ?30s. Sold for $530,500. Ex-Imperial Palace car on short wheelbase chassis. Handsome J-Berg that brought #1 money for a #2 car. JRA has only photo of engine, all cars crammed into tent, not driven across block.
2000 April 30,. Alan Carey observation at Imperial Palace: Convertible Coupe. Displayed at Imperial Palace Collection 4/30/2000, [Owned by Dean V. Kruse Foundation.]
1999 August, PB Expo. J147/2168 Murphy Convertible Coupe, photo in catalog p19. "Fine example" no info. Not at Expo. .
1993 Malks p 45 lists J147/2168 as Murphy convertible coupe. Also lists J121/2177 as Murphy convertible coupe. And explains that with only 10,491 miles, a new LeBaron sweep panel phaeton body was installed in 1931. Page 176 lists 2177/J121 LeBaron Phaeton sweep panel style
1990 CCCA Roster Renick: Only has a 1932 Chrysler listed. 1996 through 1999 rosters, no cars.
1988, Imperial Palace acquired (see Brooks Catalog write-up.
1983 CCCA Roster p35 Phil Renick Fullerton CA. 1930 DC Phaeton LeBaron Senior #869
1976 August, C&P, Lewis Lazarus two page ad no photos, p83: J147 Fleetwood Roadster with RS. Nice older restoration. Drive anywhere, Maroon. $140,000. Note J147 isn't associated with a Fleetwood body in any otherreference I have found, is this a typo -should be J417 (same ad, J194, J409, J 452, sport coupe with no #)
1975 Elbert : #2177/J121, Murphy Conv Coupe. Changed to LaGrande Phaeton.
#2168/J147, Murphy Conv Coupe. p174. --But 2000 Brooks Hershey catalog says original body was LeBaron Sweep Panel Phaeton. Does Elbert have wrong info?

I have photos verifying engine and front frame rail numbers as above.

But mystery- the firewall number is 2565, from the "modernized" Judkins that was converted to traditional look before delivery. Judkins was parted out, chassis and engine survived. Became part of one of Keith Brown?s 1 out of 3 reconstructions. But why does 2168 have firewall 2565 ? Anyone know?

Car looks to be a new restoration, and was attended by guys from Pruitt & Sons, I believe. Between Amelia and PB gained chromed side mount covers.

Will post photos if anyone is interested.

That's the million dollar question at the moment.

Very nice
and what are the numbers?

Robert Perry of Birmingham. Thanks.

Does anyone know who had the Murphy Convertible Coupe there? It was a silver car owned by someone in Birmingham, Alabama.