One of the revered Duesenberg Model Js, J-360 was ordered as a long-wheelbase chassis and bodied as a convertible berline by the renowned Walter M.

Murphy Company of Pasadena, California.

While Murphy was the most prolific coachbuilder on the Model J, this body was an individual customer order, as identified by its “900-series” body number, rather than a stock order by Duesenberg.

The body bears similarities to other long-wheelbase convertibles produced by the coachbuilder but all of its lines are subtly different throughout, making it unmistakable even when compared against its scarce brethren.

THE BEN-HUR DUESENBERG The car was originally delivered on 24 June 1930 to Lewis “Lew” Wallace, Jr., of Rye, New York.

Wallace was the grandson and namesake of Lewis Wallace, a lawyer who served as both a Union general in the Civil War, governor of the New Mexico Territory, and in numerous other political and diplomatic roles.

His family’s lasting financial health was assured by his 1880 ...