Description
This car is Lot 123 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at the Goodwood Members' Meeting Sale on the 13th April, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Saturday 12th April from 09:00 until 17:00 and Sunday 13 April from 09:00, at Goodwood Members' Meeting.
Lot 123
Offered from the estate of the late Sir Brian Williamson CBE
1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Four-light Saloon
Registration no. YH 5921
Chassis no. 65LF
First owned by Rear Admiral Louis Josephthal
Extensively campaigned on the Continent
Present at Windsor Castle for Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002
Took part in the Lord Mayor's Show in 2006
Chassis number '65LF' was built at Derby in 1927 to carry a limousine body, ordered by Rear
Admiral Louis Josephthal, Commanding Officer of the New York State Naval Militia. Beginning his career in the State Naval Militia in 1891 as an ordinary seaman, Josephthal eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral, to which he was commissioned in February 1925. He served as naval aide on the staffs of seven Governors of New York: Dix, Sulzer, Glynn, Whitman, Smith, Miller, and Roosevelt. He was a member of the American Legion, Military Order of the United States, and the Order of the United Sons of American Wars. The Government of Romania gave him the grand cross of the military order of Romania, the highest award in its gift, for his services to that country. He was married to Edyth Guggenheim, who bore him two daughters.
'65LF' was taken by ship from England across the Channel and then to Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris, where the coachbuilding company Saoutchik had their works. Louis Josephthal was keen to have a right-hand drive 'open sports saloon' suitable for an owner driver and had chosen Saoutchik, which had earned a reputation for its attractive designs and meticulous high quality work. The Phantom's steering rake had to be changed from 'B' to 'C' to accommodate this change in body design, with parts being supplied by Rolls-Royce. Unfortunately, there are no available images of the finished car, and sadly the Admiral died at the age of 60 in 1929, having had only a short time to enjoy it.
In October 1931, Louis Josephthal's widow married Clarence Bussey Hewes, another wealthy
American. The two lived separate lives: he in Washington and she in New York. Meanwhile, the car was recorded, in April 1932, in the ownership of Mrs Hewes, whose addresses were shown as Hotel de Californie, Rue de Berri, Paris; Le Bristol Hotel, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris; and Claridge's of Brook Street, London. She arranged for the car to be brought to England, where Cooper Motor Bodies of Battersea modified it. The roof line, the Marchal lamps, the brocade dowager straps and the ebony handles, all echo the original French body. It is probable that Mrs Hewes used the car on her visits to London and when touring on the Continent.
The next record of the car is in 1941 when '65LF' is shown from Rolls-Royce records to be in the custody of Messrs T Home & Co of Portland Garages, Newcastle. Its history immediately after WW2 has not been recorded.
In the late owner's care, '65LF' shuttled between Henley-on-Thames and St Moritz in
Switzerland where it has taken part in many Cresta Run celebrations. These included, in 2005, both the Uphill Cresta Run and a parade on the frozen lake of St Moritz. Rarely a year went by without another Alpine Pass being added to its log.
During the Millennium Monte Carlo Rally, the car's No. 1 cylinder failed. Erik Carlsson, the Swedish former rally driver, in awarding a very minor prize for 'overcoming adversity', witheringly explained that he had won the Monte twice in his Saab with less capacity than 'your one useless cylinder'. As part of repairs and renovation, a high-ratio rear axle and a long-distance reserve tank were fitted.
More recently, the Phantom appeared in the Rolls-Royce Celebrations at Windsor Castle for Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, and in John Stuttard's Lord Mayor's Show in 2006. The car is affectionately known as 'The Admiral' in honour of its first owner.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
