For many enthusiasts, Murphy’s “Disappearing Top” Convertible Coupe coachwork is the most beautiful and renowned body style fitted to any Duesenberg chassis. Sleek, elegant, and sporting, approximately 25 examples were built, and this example ranks amongst the very best. Body number 921 was delivered to Duesenberg on 4 May 1930, and installed on chassis and firewall number 2414 with engine number J-395, tested that August. Amazingly, ninety-six years later, the car remains remarkably intact, retaining its original chassis, firewall, engine, coachwork and numbered crankshaft (395) since new.

According to the records of Duesenberg historian Dwight Schooling, J-395’s earliest known owner was Blake Garner of Chicago, noted as owning the car by at least 1936. Cyrus “Blake” Garner was a young, wealthy investment banker who later moved to Hollywood, becoming well-known as a film producer and as a playboy frequently named in the gossip columns as a companion and would-be husband of actresses. It is thought that J-395 likely moved to Los Angeles under his ownership. In Los Angeles, it was photographed by contemporary Duesenberg owner Jim Talmadge at a gas station finished in two-tone pale yellow and green paintwork, a livery which it would retain for over forty years.

Around this time the Duesenberg was purchased by George Schweiger, Jr., for his company, Pacific Auto Rental. Located at 310 South Berendo Street, Pacific Auto Rental was one of the go-to suppliers of prop cars to Hollywood. With a vast assortment of vehicles on hand, they supplied Norma Desmond’s Isotta Fraschini for Sunset Boulevard and Mercedes-Benzes for Hogan’s Heroes. The firm was, ironically, notably publicity-shy. George Schweiger, Sr., who succeeded his son following the former’s untimely passing, often told journalists interested in photographing his premises that “I get paid for photos of my cars.”

Sold by Pacific Auto Rental in May of 1949, J-395 passed through two subsequent owners in Coalinga, California, but would return to the Schweiger fleet in 1956. Its best-known appearance was in the 1962 psychological thriller, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? alongside Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, in which it serves as both a pivotal figure in the film’s opening scenes and as a symbol of diva starlet Blanche Hudson’s success. “I don’t get it,” one character says to another, admiring it on a film studio lot, “what do they make monsters like this for?” “For Blanche Hudson!” another answers.

As the Duesenberg remained with Pacific Auto Rental throughout the 1960s and 1970s, photos exist from this era of Jayne Mansfield posing with the car. During the 1970s it became a regular in the television series Bring ‘Em Back Alive, and in 1978 it made a cameo in the film Gable and Lombard. In August 1970, J-395 was even the subject of a feature article in Car Classics magazine, with photos for which, one would have to assume, Mr. Schweiger was well-compensated.

After Mr. Schweiger’s passing, the Pacific Auto Rental fleet in its entirety was sold to the Imperial Palace of Las Vegas. Some of the cars were hand-picked to remain with the Imperial Palace, while the rest were sold at a now-legendary auction held on the lawn of the Ambassador Hotel on 18 August 1995. The late collector Oscar Davis was the winning bidder of J-395, and he had the car refinished in cream with a maroon chassis before, ironically, selling it back to the Imperial Palace, reportedly as the 50th Duesenberg in their collection. Soon thereafter it was inspected by the ACD Club and awarded Category 1 Certification.

When the Imperial Palace collection was sold off in 1998, the car was bought by the well-respected collectors Chris and Kathleen Koch. The Kochs reportedly invested some $500,000 in restoration of the Model J, with a full mechanical rebuild undertaken by the acclaimed Duesenberg specialist Brian Joseph’s Classic & Exotic Service of Troy, Michigan, and cosmetic restoration and final assembly by noted craftsman Steve Cooley of Tavares, Florida. Following the completion of that work, the car earned First in Class honors at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This would be the first of no less than 18 concours victories it would accrue over the course of the next two years.

In 2008, J-395 was acquired by Paul and Chris Andrews of Fort Worth, Texas where it would join their sensational collection, sitting alongside other outstanding Duesenbergs and Full Classics. Sold as part of The Andrews Collection in May of 2015, J-395 was acquired there by another collector of pre-war American classics. It would return to Brian Joseph’s Classic & Exotic Service where it would be subject to a comprehensive mechanical sorting and some cosmetic improvements, including proper adjustments of the valve and cam timing, ensuring that all gauges function, installing new front wheel bearings, and properly rebuilding the Watson Stabilators. Most importantly, the car was fitted with a high-speed ring and pinion, so that, true to the Duesenberg mystique, it is a car which likes to go fast.

Acquired by the current owner via RM Sotheby’s three years ago, it has been well looked after ever since within a significant collection of pre-war American classics. In 2024, the convertible top was retrimmed in black to better match the car’s paintwork. More recently, it has received a large service which was carried out in house by the owner’s team of mechanics, and as such is ready to be driven and enjoyed on the concours lawn or this year’s Duesenberg Tour.

J-395 is certainly amongst the very best Murphy-bodied Disappearing Top Duesenbergs, and thus can be considered amongst the best Duesenbergs of any kind. Its wonderful originality, ACD Club Certification, and multiple show-winning resume only add to its alure.

Fast approaching its 100th birthday, this Duesenberg embodies the very best of pre-war American automobiles, and its next 100 years will surely be as exciting as the last century.