Along with six other Duesenbergs, this 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Berline was owned George Whittel, Jr. of Northern California. This car is the second of two Murphy Berline cars Whittel ordered both with similar yet different coachwork designed by Frank Hershey. On both cars, the doors extended into the roof. This car is more advanced than the first and is constructed primarily of aluminum. Upon purchase of this car, Whittell gave it to his mistress. Hence, this car has come to be known as the “Whittell Mistress Car.”

In 1958 this car was acquired by JB Nethercutt, who sold it to Bill Harrah in the 1970s. While in the Harrah Collection, this car had its original forest green paint and remained completely original and unrestored. All the while, Harrah owned the very similar Whittell 1929 Murphy J Berline car. The 1929 Murphy Berline was immaculate and beautifully painted in a very striking and elegant black and white. At the museum, the two cars were often presented side-by-side representing ‘restored’ and ‘unrestored.’

Following Bill Harrah’s death in 1978, this car, in its green and unrestored condition, was sold off the by Harrah Collection. Since then, it has been completely restored and painted a deep bluish purple. In 2006 this car was sold at auction for $1,650,000.

Still looking almost as sharp as it did 30 years ago, the black and (now) silver 1929 Murphy Berline was recently on display at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, CA as part of their special Duesenberg display.