Expensive Bodies

One day last week a big, bullet-shaped touring car nosed out of the Derham Custom Body Co.'s plant at Rosemont, Pa., and headed for Manhattan and glory. Army drab -colored, dark -green -leather -upholstered, fitted with a special top that folds down flat so that guests' may sit thereon in comfort to be admired, the sleek, custom-built Chrysler Imperial was destined to be the personal car of the president of the New York World's Fair, the greatest greeter of his time, Grover Aloysius Whalen.

Like all cars the Derham Brothers turn out, Mr. Whalen's is a synthesis of the automaker's science and the body-builder's art. It seats nine people comfortably (aside from any on the top), is equipped with fog lights, radio, streamlined glass wind-wings, many another luxury, including extra-depth cushions for Fair visitors who may be as tender as they are distinguished. It contains $1,850 worth of chassis and engine, $5,150 worth of body and design.

Philadelphia's Derhams are three, all sons of the late Joseph J. Derham, a wheelwright and carriage maker who came from Ireland and set himself up on Philadelphia's swank Main Line in 1887 to build victorias, broughams, phaetons and surreys for the Drexels, Pauls and Cassatts. Before long the automobile began to cut into the carriage maker's business. After a haughty but futile effort to ignore the new invention, Joseph J. Derham gave in and adjusted his trade to the times.

James P. Derham was trained by his father to head the company, Enos J. to design bodies and Walter to tend to the shop. They do three or four big jobs a month, keep some 30 men busy in their stone and red-brick plant on Lancaster Pike. Most of their orders come from the automobile manufacturers, who get queer specifications from great and eccentric customers. At present the Derhams are designing a big grey limousine for Joseph Stalin, a duplicate in black for President Vincent of Haiti, a town car for Mrs. Henry B. du Pont and 15 open cars for a Bagdad Moslem who will rent them to Mecca-bound pilgrims.

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