1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Brougham de Ville

This Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer is one of just 28 Ascots built. It was sold new through J.S. Inskip to R. Griffin of Jersey City, New Jersey in August of 1929. It is believed that it was later traded for a Phantom II number 255 AJS, at which point it was sold to Bernard Heaton of Boston.

Heaton kept the car until 1946 when it was offered on consignment with Elliot Hawley and in February the following year it was sold to Peter Franz of Brooklyn.

Other owners include Henry Wing, who restored the car while in his ownership between 1953 and 1956. The next was William O'Connor, a prominent Veteran Motor Car Club of America member who used the car regularly. From O'Conner the car went to Paul Stern, whose business was the original Manheim Auto Auction, based in his hometown of Manheim, Pennsylvania. While in his ownership, the car was illustrated in the Rolls-Royce in American book by John Webb de Campi. Stern sold the car to Wally Rank of Wisconsin and he in turn sold the car to the current owner in the mid-1980s.
This Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Brougham de Ville wears coachwork by Barker & Co. It was built for Henry 'Chips' Channon, a unionist M.P. and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1938 and 1941.

This Barker built Brougham is unique and different from other examples built by Barker; this example has a severely raked windshield line that continues diagonally across the scuttle and then matched by the front of the Brougham. Most other Barker built Brougham's are more upright and stately. The fenders flow from front to back of the car. The interior features an art deco door and window handles. There are tool trays with a virtually complete set of tools located beneath the front seats. There are vanity mirrors but no luggage space. There is a fold down panel in the rear of the car used to carry large luggage.

The car was originally entirely black. Its new paint scheme is believed to been done in the 1950s. Also, the repaint is believed to be the only work done to the car, making it a very original example.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $46,800 inclusive of Buyer's Premium.
It has spent many recent years in storage.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction presented by Bonhams. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $172,000 inclusive of Buyer's Premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010