Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Aerodynamic Coupé

Information

This car was constructed in 1925 with a Hooper Cabriolet body for its first owner, Mrs. Hugh Dodge-Dillman of Detroit, widow of Horace Dodge and one of wealthiest women of the time, however, she declined delivery of the car. It appears never to have left England and was re-sold when still virtually new to the Raja of Nanpara. In about 1934 an unknown owner sent the car to Jonckheere of Belgium to be fitted with fashionably aerodynamic coachwork complete with twin sunroofs, round doors, a large fin, and a sloping radiator shell. The concours-winning car then passed through the hands of several other owners before being discovered in New Jersey in the early-1950s in near-derelict condition. Max Obie later acquired the unusual Rolls-Royce, had it painted gold, and charged curious individuals one dollar to enter a special enclosure to look at the car. The Phantom I then spent time on the East Coast of the United States and in Japan suring which it was painted a dull dirty white before coming into the possession of the Petersen Automotive Museum in the spring of 2001, where it went under an extensive restoration during which in addition to metallic gold paint, robin's egg blue paint was also found and was eventually painted a period correct gloss black.