Ralph De Palma's Murphy-Bodied Roadster

Ralph De Palma and Marion Leggett with theMurphy-bodied roadster, believed to be taken behind the Hal Roach studio in Culver City, California, July 1932. Photo courtesy of eBay.

The Murphy-bodied roadster as it was found in California around 2009-2010. The wooden frame skinned in aluminum and the underslung chassis are still intact. Photo from The Les Heller Collection.

Rear view of the Murphy-bodied roadster as found, showing the hand-formed aluminum bodywork and curved rear end. Photo from The Les Heller Collection.

Custom roadster believed to have been bodied by the Walter M. Murphy Co. of Pasadena, California, a coachbuilder best known for their work on Duesenbergs. The car features a wooden frame skinned in aluminum and an underslung chassis. According to Les Heller, the frame rails are all one piece and may be European in origin, likely taken from a donor car.

Ralph De Palma and Marion Leggett

A black and white publicity photo taken for the General Petroleum Company shows racing legend Ralph De Palma and Marion Leggett sitting in the roadster. The photo is believed to have been taken behind the Hal Roach studio in Culver City, California in July of 1932. According to a clipping from Time Magazine dated July 18, 1932, De Palma and Leggett were married on that date, suggesting the photo may have been taken on their wedding day.

According to Les Heller, the photo was taken just prior to De Palma and his wife going on tour with the race car to promote General Petroleum products.

Found in California

The roadster was found somewhere in California around 2009 or 2010 by an anonymous collector. Les Heller of Minnesota contacted Kustomrama in January of 2011 on behalf of the owner, seeking help identifying the car. The owner wished to remain anonymous.

As of 2011, the car survived with its aluminum body and underslung frame intact.