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Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

  • Chris Summers
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27 Dec 2011 15:38 #21741 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Jan, the top photo is J-173 / 2194. The lower photo is J-190 / 2211.

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27 Dec 2011 13:18 #21740 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
show these two photos one and the same car?



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  • Tom Georgeson
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09 Dec 2011 18:42 #21598 by Tom Georgeson
Replied by Tom Georgeson on topic Location of the ACD Meet
The Meet was held at the Golden Tee in Morro Bay in the 60's. The 48 Tucker belongs to Gene Clarke a former President of the ACD Club.

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09 Dec 2011 07:44 #21594 by jrcurtright
Replied by jrcurtright on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

Steve Derus wrote: I have no idea where I got this image of 2290/J268 but I'm pretty sure it was taken at an ACD meet on the west coast. Looking closely at the photo you can see it is unfinished, no running boards and it looks like jack stands holding up the fenders under the sidemounts.


The picture of 2290 was taken at an ACD meet by Gil Curtright in 1972; on the website at duesey186.com/Gallery/frm1972ACD.htm

Jack Curtright
Car 2208, J-186

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  • Chris Summers
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09 Dec 2011 01:47 #21590 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Thanks, Randy.

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  • RandyEma
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09 Dec 2011 01:16 #21589 by RandyEma
Replied by RandyEma on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
The Car still has the same owner and is still in N Calif

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  • Steve Derus
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09 Dec 2011 00:49 #21587 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I have no idea where I got this image of 2290/J268 but I'm pretty sure it was taken at an ACD meet on the west coast. Looking closely at the photo you can see it is unfinished, no running boards and it looks like jack stands holding up the fenders under the sidemounts.

[/img]

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  • West Peterson
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09 Dec 2011 00:31 #21586 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I think I'll leave it... on both counts. <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->
Since it was done postwar, I don't consider that its history. Too long after the Classic Era closed. In fact, within my lifetime, and I consider myself a spring chicken, still :P

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  • Chris Summers
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09 Dec 2011 00:29 #21585 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I actually would hope the chassis is never rebodied, as the present body is in fact the first "real" body built for the chassis and has been on it long enough to have its own history. I think it's kind of attractive in its own way.

On the other hand, I think the Throne Car is good-looking, so take my opinion or leave it.

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  • West Peterson
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09 Dec 2011 00:27 #21584 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

Steve Derus wrote:

In regards to the Japanese Duesy, I hope the third iteration (if there ever is one) turns out a lot better than the first and second.


On page two of this thread Chris posted a photo of the car with what I guess to be the most recent coachwork.

[/img]


Yes. That's what I was talking about. I'm hoping that the next body that chassis gets (if there is a next), it'll have much better proportions. It's not what I'd call a pretty body. Better than the Japanese version, though, but that's not saying much. Also needs to have its original-type wheels put back on. I'm basing all my opinions on the photo. Perhaps something's been done to the car since the photo.

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  • Chris Summers
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08 Dec 2011 23:22 #21582 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
To the best of my knowledge the car presently has its German body. I have not heard anything of the car's whereabouts for many years. It was last known in CA. I'm sure Randy has more updated information.

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  • Steve Derus
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08 Dec 2011 22:54 #21580 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

In regards to the Japanese Duesy, I hope the third iteration (if there ever is one) turns out a lot better than the first and second.


On page two of this thread Chris posted a photo of the car with what I guess to be the most recent coachwork.

[/img]

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  • West Peterson
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08 Dec 2011 18:30 #21579 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I like the open grille, too, but a stone guard in front of it defeats the good looks. We used to own J-350, which had the open grille and no stone guard. A later owner put a stone guard on it. I don't have the patience to post a picture of it here. I'm too used to going and grabbing from my own computer and posting.

In regards to the Japanese Duesy, I hope the third iteration (if there ever is one) turns out a lot better than the first and second.[/img]

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  • Bob Roller
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04 Dec 2011 22:13 #21552 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic Exposed radiator cores
I agree,they are good looking and I saw a stone guard on the first Duesenberg I ever was involved with J487 and a real good front view picture of a similar one on J150.

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04 Dec 2011 22:07 #21551 by Bob Roller
Replied by Bob Roller on topic J268
It was the only one sold to a Japanese owner and the "coach work"was of Japanese origin. It was later rebodied in Germany at a trade school and was then owned by a U.S.Army officer. Where it is now or who owns it or what sort of body it now carries,I don't know. The car is listed in Volume One of Elbert's book from 1951 and the original owner's name is given (Mr.Fukuzawa?)
Melvin Clemans MIGHT have had some involvement with this car but again,I am not sure of that either.
If I wasn't so lazy,I'd go upstairs and look this one up.

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  • Chris Summers
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28 Nov 2011 01:31 #21500 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Randy, could you give some explanation, please? I was under the impression that J-356 was the original engine and that J-392 (not J-382 as I originally posted) is presently in the car, not the other way around. Your info contradicts what Matt Short told me when he gave me the serial numbers off the museum's database, as well as the Elbert and Malks books. Thanks.

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27 Nov 2011 18:28 #21499 by RandyEma
Replied by RandyEma on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
this car is 2383 present 356 ex392 property of the A.C.D mues

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26 Nov 2011 13:33 #21493 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I?d like to go back to the original topic.
Does anyone know whar numbers has this Convertible Sedan which was / is in the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan?

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  • Chris Summers
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10 Feb 2010 00:26 #15846 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
From Mike. Apologies for massive size, but a) PhotoBucket is misbehaving tonight and b) I like that the text is readable.


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  • Mike Dube
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09 Feb 2010 02:47 #15836 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Well,

I finally have the picture scanned &amp; saved, but in reading the FAQs, I can't figure how to put it in here.

Mike
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09 Feb 2010 02:47 #15835 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Well,

I finally have the picture scanned &amp; saved, but in reading the FAQs, I can't figure how to put it in here.

Mike
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  • Josh Malks
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05 Feb 2010 18:10 #15794 by Josh Malks
Replied by Josh Malks on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
[i:7t9r7hn2]Here's the piece from the book. (I'm allowed to reprint it because I wrote it :) ):[/i:7t9r7hn2]

Like many European countries, Germany has a formal apprenticeship program leading to certification in a trade. Students pass through several schools, taking proficiency exams before rising to the next level. The Meisterschule fur Handwerke in the city of Kaiserslautem is a school for master craftsmen, the final training before they are approved to become independent contractors. It would be the equivalent of a graduate level vocational school in the United States, if we had such a thing.

What does this have to do with Duesenbergs? Read on.

Model J chassis 2290/J-268 was purchased in 1929 by Kimakichi Fukuzawa, a member of the Japanese House of Lords. Extremely high import duties applied to a complete car, so the chassis was imported as "parts." This was the only Duesenberg chassis ever shipped to Japan.

Fukuzawa had a crude home-built body put on the car so that he could drive it occasionally. Anything more would have subjected him to retroactive fees.

In 1954, the car was purchased by Captain Charles Halbrooks. He replaced the crude body with one that he built himself, which he later described as being even cruder than the one he removed. Halbrooks took the car with him through several duty stations, including two in the United States. When he was shipped to Germany in 1958, so was the Duesenberg.

Unable to find a known coach builder to put a proper body on his Model J, Halbrooks was eventually referred to Herr Professor Wilhelm Holfermann, head of the school in Kaiserslautern. The new body was designed by the students, with input from the owner. How many trade schools do you know of that get a Duesenberg Model J as a project?

This was the last Duesenberg chassis to receive its coachbuilt body, albeit well after the "factory" period.

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  • Chris Summers
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05 Feb 2010 14:53 #15789 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
They weren't so much a coachbuilder as a school for craftsmen. In Josh Malks's Duesenberg book he describes them as something like "a graduate-level technical school."

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05 Feb 2010 14:37 #15788 by aymami
Replied by aymami on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
All I know is that I have it as Meiterschule fur Handwerke which means school for master craftspeople or something like this. I don't know this cachbuilder

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06 Nov 2009 20:57 #14906 by
By buying the car without a body, the guy saved a ton on import duties, and he built the thrown together body. It wound up in the hand of a air force captain who had it re-bodied in Kaisereslautern, Germany by some tech students. I think the body was done in 1958. Looked good. SIf I remember correctly it was a convertible coupe.

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06 Nov 2009 19:42 #14904 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Anyone who helps you on here is doing you a favor - free - and taking time out of their lives to do it. Appreciate it...please. Patience and a little tact would be a good start.

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06 Nov 2009 19:38 #14903 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

Mike Dube wrote: I will see about scanning the one in Roe's book tomorrow.


Mike,
tomorrow was on the 3rd :)

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  • Mike Dube
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02 Nov 2009 01:09 #14836 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I will see about scanning the one in Roe's book tomorrow.

Mike
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02 Nov 2009 00:58 #14833 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline

Mike Dube wrote: Oh you're still needed. Here's hoping someone scares up a photo or two.


I don't think I have any of that one, at least in its current form.

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02 Nov 2009 00:55 #14832 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Oh you're still needed. Here's hoping someone scares up a photo or two.

Mike
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01 Nov 2009 02:10 #14821 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I'm not needed, Mike, you're right on all counts. :D

The car still exists in the U.S.

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31 Oct 2009 20:21 #14817 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
According to Fred Roe's book, this was the only Duesenberg ever imported into Japan, where the first owner had this body built. It came back to the US after WWII where a much nicer looking convertible coupe body was built for it. There is a picture in Roe's book, but I haven't personally seen any other photos of it.

Chris?

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  • Tom_Parkinson
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31 Oct 2009 01:02 #14811 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Perhaps someone who didn't want to sign it....

With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

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30 Oct 2009 20:27 #14808 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
And who created the body?

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  • Steve Derus
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30 Oct 2009 20:12 #14807 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
J268/2290 is apparently correct. At least it matches the description in the Registry.

Steve

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30 Oct 2009 19:57 #14806 by Tom_Parkinson
Replied by Tom_Parkinson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
The file name on the photo says, "J-268-2290"

Dunno if that's correct or not.

<!-- s:? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_confused.gif" alt=":?" title="Confused" /><!-- s:? --> :rolleyes: <!-- s:?: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" title="Question" /><!-- s:?: -->

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With brakes, two cylinders are better than one.

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  • janst
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30 Oct 2009 19:38 #14804 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Hi,
can someone identify the ugly car above?
Jan

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  • Steve Derus
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26 Oct 2009 21:55 #14761 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I've always liked the open radiator look also. Makes the cars look somehow more menacing I think.




Well, maybe not always...........

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  • Mike Dube
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26 Oct 2009 20:36 #14760 by Mike Dube
Replied by Mike Dube on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
I love that early rad without the shutters!!

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26 Oct 2009 18:50 #14759 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
what about this Convertible Sedan?

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  • Steve Derus
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24 Oct 2009 23:58 #14746 by Steve Derus
Replied by Steve Derus on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Another case of confusing numbers. However you want to identify it, this is definitely Richard Law's Murphy Convertible Berline, it does have engine J-204 installed. I have seen this car in person many times and its a beauty. Mr. Law isn't at all afraid to drive it at freeway speeds.

Steve Derus

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24 Oct 2009 20:54 #14743 by janst
Replied by janst on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
and from this angle it is obvious, that it is long-wheelbase

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  • Chris Summers
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24 Oct 2009 20:29 #14742 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Josh's book lists J-355 / 2374 as a LWB Murphy Convertible Berline. This car traded engines with a SWB Murphy Convertible Sedan, J-204 / 2225.

I've always been intrigued by 2374, which appeared in "Giant" alongside the ex-Joe Penner Isotta Fraschini and Tom Mix's Rolls-Royce. (Plus James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson, but who cares when a Duesenberg is involved? :D ) It looks a lot like Murphy's Convertible TORPEDO Berline, including the molding along the tops of the doors, the way the leading edges of the front doors curve up into the cowl, and the slanted windshield. I think it lacks the built-in trunk of the Convertible Torpedo Berline, however, as from what I've seen of photos of 2374 its trunk has a fabric dust cover over it and appears to be removable.

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24 Oct 2009 20:22 #14740 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Well, "usually" the lwb cars have the triple set of running board ribs, but I know that is not always the case. I'm just wondering if this car is one of those lwb's with just two sets of ribs.

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  • Chris Summers
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24 Oct 2009 19:50 #14737 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Pretty sure. As always I welcome corrections. Always learning...

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24 Oct 2009 19:35 #14735 by West Peterson
Replied by West Peterson on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Are you sure that's a long-wheelbase car?

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  • Chris Summers
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24 Oct 2009 16:52 #14734 by Chris Summers
Replied by Chris Summers on topic Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline
Yes.

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24 Oct 2009 13:47 #14731 by janst
Murphy Convertible Sedan / Berline was created by janst
Hi,
isn?t this J-204/2374 Murphy LWB Convertible Berline?

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