Re: The Scale Model Thread Quote:
Originally Posted by V.Narayan ![Clapping](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Clapping.gif)
What a car. Clearly a symbol of playboy vanity of another era! Hearty congratulations on adding this immaculate piece to your collection. ![Thumbs Up](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbs up.png) |
Thank you Sir! Quote:
Originally Posted by am1m My god! That's the car Batman would wrest the keys out of his chauffeur's hands to drive when he misses the Batmobile but is being forced to make an appearance at a society event as Bruce Wayne! |
This car will turn heads like no other RR even today. Some background of this car, which once ruled the streets of our country.
This 1924 Rolls Royce Phantom-l with a convertible body by Hooper was commissioned by an American lady from Detroit. The car never got to the States however, and was subsequently purchased by the Raja of Nanpara (Bahraich distrin UP) Syed Mohammed Saadat Ali Khan. His Great Nanpara Estate had already contained a polished aluminum 40/50HP Silver Ghost when he ordered Rolls-Royce’s latest Phantom. It’s at this point that the vehicle was sent to the shop of Henri Jonckheere and his son Joseph Jonckheere. They were well known throughout Europe for making bodies on both cars and busses. The later of which is still in production today as VDL Jonckheere. Some reports suggest it was intended as a present for Prince Edward, but since all records from the factory were lost in the war and it is not even known who originally penned the fantastic Art Deco body shape. The Jonckheeres created an extravagant body which has just as much impact 75 years after its constuction as it did in 1935. The car was finished in time for the Concours on the French Riviera where it won the ‘Prix de Cannes’ award.
The original car was fitted with a 6-cylinder, 7.66L OHV inline six engine and a 4-speed manual transmission. The body was completely hand fabricated to include round doors, which are actually oval, required two half-moon pieces of glass that closed towards each other within a complex winding mechanism. Other details included sliding left and right sun vents, a sloping fastback profile and an enormous rear tail fin. It was also one of the few Phantom Is which featured a modified front grill. All told, the luxurious automobile was quiet enough to hold a conversation at speed and would easily travel at 100 mph (161 km/h).
The vehicle changed hands many times in the 40s and 50s until it ended up with American Max Opie, who restored it and painted it with six pounds of gold dust and lacquer. After life as a traveling sideshow, it disappeared until 1991 when it was purchased by a Japanese gentleman for US$1.5 million. In 2004 it was purchased by the Petersen Museum and restored to its first incarnation of black gloss exterior and red leather interior. The vehicle is a popular attraction at Palm Beach and other classic car concours events, but in a cruel twist is unfortunately not eligible for the top prizes at these gatherings as the original records are lost.
Pics of the original car from the web. ![Name: rollsroyce_phantom_1934_pictures_1_b.jpg
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