Walter M. Murphy Company

Cars with bodies by Walter M. Murphy Company

The car itself is credited to its chassis manufacturer. Open a car to see its individual chassis.

• No licensed photo yet

  Duesenberg

  Model J 'Disappearing Top' Convertible Coupe by Murphy

  25 Built

  Ultra RareCoachbuilt

• No licensed photo yet

  Duesenberg · 1929

  Model J Sport Sedan by Murphy

  2 Built

  Ultra RareCoachbuilt

Key facts

Founded

1921 (began in earnest)¹ Independently researched

Founder

Walter M. Murphy¹ Independently researched

Headquarters

Pasadena, California, USA¹ Independently researched

Status

c. 1932¹ Independently researched

History

The firm began in earnest in 1921 in Pasadena, California, with early income from a Simplex dealership and later from dealing early Leland-built Lincolns. Walter Murphy encouraged a distinctly Californian design expression, and the company built more bodies for the Duesenberg Model J than any other coachbuilder while also selling the brand. The Great Depression hit the business hard, and by 1932 it was gone; former employees Christian Bohman and Maurice Schwartz then founded their own coachbuilding firm.

Milestones

1. 1921
   The company began in earnest in Pasadena.¹
2. 1932
   Murphy, as it had been known, was gone; Bohman & Schwartz were founded by former employees.¹

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   The Magic of Murphy Bodies Level C Old Cars Weekly

   • began in earnest during 1921 in Pasadena, Calif.
   • By 1932 Murphy, as it had been known, was a thing of the past
   • Founder Walter M. Murphy
   • The Magic of Murphy Bodies

   Accessed 2026-11-13