- 6,963
- South Africa
Okay here it is, one of the most stunning Rollers you'd ever likely to clap your eyes on:
I'm getting a mixed results as to the car's beginnings: Original Rolls Phantoms were built in Britain AND in the States, with British versions, built in Derby, were offered with customer-selected coachbuilt body, while the U.S. versions, built in Springfield, Massachusetts came off the "factory line" wearing standardized bodies from Brewster & Co.
One story goes like this: a lady from Detroit ordered a Phantom with a Hooper convertible body but she never got the delivery - instead it got shipped off to India by its new owner, Raja of Nanpara. Another story says that the Raja already had a naked Phantom chassis lyin' around.
Whatever the truth, both stories concur that it was the good Raja who saw fit to send this chassis to Roeselare, Belgium-based Jonckheere for a new body.
Apparently it was intended to be a gift to Prince Edwards, but thanks to World War 2, pretty much all records were lost when their factory burned down.
However I must be crystal clear here as although the original chassis was created in 1925, the Jonckheere body wasn't completed until 1935. You can blame the Raja for keeping the chassis to himself for so long.
After the war,it somehow made its way Stateside, and a man named Max Obie bought it. He painted in white gold (!!) and used it as a sideshow in fairs around the country. Sigh....
Thankfully, in the 1980s, the car was rescued and sold at auction. The description incorrectly listed it as “the 1954 World Motorsport winner in NY” and “Built for Prince of Wales”. With just 5000 miles on the odometer, it was picked up by a Japanese collector for $1,500,000 USD who retained the car for 20 years.
And now it reside in Peterson Museum, California. Whew.
Specs are as per normal Phantom: 7,668 c.c./ 468 cu. in. inline 6 making around 100hp.
If you are wondering who are Jonckheere, they don't do coachbuilding anymore but they do this:
Yeah, I know, right?
As usual, I'd appreciate if you've got more info. Thanks!
Edit: changed the year to 1935, from 1925.
I'm getting a mixed results as to the car's beginnings: Original Rolls Phantoms were built in Britain AND in the States, with British versions, built in Derby, were offered with customer-selected coachbuilt body, while the U.S. versions, built in Springfield, Massachusetts came off the "factory line" wearing standardized bodies from Brewster & Co.
One story goes like this: a lady from Detroit ordered a Phantom with a Hooper convertible body but she never got the delivery - instead it got shipped off to India by its new owner, Raja of Nanpara. Another story says that the Raja already had a naked Phantom chassis lyin' around.
Whatever the truth, both stories concur that it was the good Raja who saw fit to send this chassis to Roeselare, Belgium-based Jonckheere for a new body.
Apparently it was intended to be a gift to Prince Edwards, but thanks to World War 2, pretty much all records were lost when their factory burned down.
However I must be crystal clear here as although the original chassis was created in 1925, the Jonckheere body wasn't completed until 1935. You can blame the Raja for keeping the chassis to himself for so long.
After the war,it somehow made its way Stateside, and a man named Max Obie bought it. He painted in white gold (!!) and used it as a sideshow in fairs around the country. Sigh....
Thankfully, in the 1980s, the car was rescued and sold at auction. The description incorrectly listed it as “the 1954 World Motorsport winner in NY” and “Built for Prince of Wales”. With just 5000 miles on the odometer, it was picked up by a Japanese collector for $1,500,000 USD who retained the car for 20 years.
And now it reside in Peterson Museum, California. Whew.
Specs are as per normal Phantom: 7,668 c.c./ 468 cu. in. inline 6 making around 100hp.
If you are wondering who are Jonckheere, they don't do coachbuilding anymore but they do this:
Yeah, I know, right?
As usual, I'd appreciate if you've got more info. Thanks!
Edit: changed the year to 1935, from 1925.
Last edited:
