1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Sold for $524,000 at 2012 Bonhams - The Scottsdale Sale, Az.
Sold for $742,500 at 2015 Bonhams Amelia Island Auction.
It was 1925 and the fabled Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which had been launched in 1906, was being retired. After seven years of testing, the six-cylinder Phantom chassis was introduced. The New Phantom, as it was called, received the Phantom I designation retrospectively when the Phantom II appeared on the scene in 1930. From 1926 until as late as 1931, Phantom I's were built in Springfield, Massachusetts, in addition to those in England. Of the total 3,340 Phantom I's produced, 1,241 were built stateside.

This Hibbard and Darrin Rolls-Royce is unique because it is a 'one of a kind' body. The windshield is not only split, but it is also 'vee' shaped. It is believed Hibbard and Darrin built this car to be unique under the instruction of Joseph Von Sternberg, Marlene Dietrich's director, who was responsible for bringing her to Hollywood. He purchased the car under instructions from Paramount Studios, who paid for it. The car was presented to Miss Dietrich along with a dozen roses and $10,000 in a checking account when she arrived in Hollywood. The car was used in several of her movies, including 'Morocco.' The green gold-flaked paint is the original color, which was duplicated by PPG and applied to the car. With a powerful 7.7 liter, 113 horsepower, six-cylinder engine and luxuriously appointed interior, it is no wonder this car remained her favorite car for many years.

This is one of 35 Phantom I's to wear coachwork to varying styles by Hibbard & Darrin. Howard 'Dutch' Darrin designed and held a patent for the Torpedo Transformable Phaeton of this model, which features distinctive trapezoidal-shaped side windows.