Design by Murphy
Smart.
In Late 1927 Murphy of Pasadena, Ca was contracted by Hudson to
Smart would put into production.
Murphy built six prototype cars for Hudson. (Murphy also built some
one off Hudsons for Joe public in the late 20's and early thirty's)
The six prototypes built and submitted to hudson in late 27 were, the
Seven Passenger Sedan, Custom Landau Sedan, Convertible Sedan,
Convertible Coupe, Victoria, and the LWB Coupe.
Of the six cars proposed,(three) were approved for production and
built by Biddle & Smart of Amsbury Mass. The Seven Passenger Sedan,
(my car) The Custom Landau Sedan, (Sids Car) The Victoria, (Pete
Welzbacker, Eldon Hostetler)
The thing that seems most confusing to most is that these cars
displayed the Murphy body tag. To clear this up I will attemt to
scan and post photos of the two very different body tags by Murphy.
The "Murphy coachbuilders pasadena" was worn by the prototypes and
one off's built by Murphy. The "designed by Murphy pasadena" tags
were worn by the Biddle & Smart produced 1928 Custom LWB cars.
Perhaps the contract between Murphy and Hudson for the design of
these cars included reconition for the design, thus Murphy tags on
Biddle cars.
Biddle began displaying Biddle tags on thier cars in 1929. Prior to
1928 Hudson was keeping the name of the custom coachbuilder a secret.
I have some factory photos to show some differences between the
Murphy prototypes and the slightly changed version of those designs
that were produced by Biddle but they will not scan well enough for
you to see,
however if you look at The cars that Hudson built by John A. Conde
and look closely at the Landau Sedan by Biddle pg. 67 (upper left)
and the Landau Sedan by Murphy pg. 68 (lower right) you will see
that the Murphy car has a nickle plated ALL ONE PEICE windshield A
pillar assembly with the wiper mounted low at the upper cowl, a
consealed B pillar with three nickle plated door hinges per side
(shared by front and rear doors) Low mounted door handles with the
right side key cyl. in the door above the handle to name a few
differences.
compared to the Biddle car with the nickle plated winshield frame IN
a painted A pillar/header assembly with the wiper mounted up high in
the windshield frame, an obvious B pillar with six door hinges per
side (three per door), door handles mounted just below the belt line
with the right side key lock IN the door handle, to name a few.
You can see the same type differences in the Seven Passenger Sedan by
Biddle pg 66 (lower right) and the Murphy Seven Passenger pg 68
(upper right)
Anyway, look for the Scanned photos of the two different body tags
forthcoming, and look at the badge on the car in question. Murphy
coachbuilders passadena tags are extreemly rare unless its a Murphy
bodied Duesenburg. (Same tag) The designed by Murphy tags are what
you will see most of on a custom Hudson.
P.S. The designed by Murphy tag is from my 1928 Biddle @ Smart Hudson
Super Six Seven Passenger Sedan, and the Murphy coachbuilders tag is
from Eldon Hostetler's 1928 Murphy Hudson Super Six Convertible Sedan
Any questions?
Chris Purdum
0
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