A palace on wheels: One-of-a-kind vintage Rolls-Royce bought by American Woolworths financier as a surprise gift for his wife up for $900,000 at auction

  • A Rolls-Royce commissioned in 1926 and inspired by Marie Antoinette is set to sell for £700,000 at auction
  • Phantom I ordered by Woolworths’ financial director Clarence Gasque as a surprise gift for his wife, Maude
  • Ten-month project resulted in a car described by experts as being ‘nothing less than magnificently palatial’
  • Features makeup cabinet, lavish interior lights, hideaway seats, French ormolu clock and veneer panelling

An art-filled Rolls-Royce regarded as a palace on wheels and one of the finest British cars ever made is expected to sell for £700,000 at auction. The one-of-a-kind Phantom I was commissioned in 1926 by Woolworths’ financial director Clarence Gasque as a surprise gift for his wife, Maude, and was inspired by Marie Antoinette. And to ensure she was suitably impressed, Mr Gasque set out on a no-expense-spared project which resulted in the rear seats costing more than the average home.

The car, known as The Phantom of Love, took ten months to complete - three times the normal period for a Rolls-Royce
The car, known as The Phantom of Love, took ten months to complete – three times the normal period for a Rolls-Royce
The Phantom I was commissioned by Woolworths' financial director Clarence Gasque as a gift for his wife, Maude (pictured)
The Phantom I was commissioned by Woolworths’ financial director Clarence Gasque as a gift for his wife, Maude (pictured)
The Phantom I was commissioned in 1926 by Woolworths' financial director Clarence Gasque as a surprise gift for his wife
The Phantom I was commissioned in 1926 by Woolworths’ financial director Clarence Gasque as a surprise gift for his wife
To ensure she was impressed, Mr Gasque set out on a no expense spared project which resulted in the rear seats costing more than the average home. To relax on their chauffeur-driven journeys the couple could make use of the drinks cabinet
To ensure she was impressed, Mr Gasque set out on a no expense spared project which resulted in the rear seats costing more than the average home. To relax on their chauffeur-driven journeys the couple could make use of the drinks cabinet
Ten-month project: Mr Gasque, a London-based American, bought the chassis and drivetrain from Rolls-Royce for £1,600
Ten-month project: Mr Gasque, a London-based American, bought the chassis and drivetrain from Rolls-Royce for £1,600

The ten-month project resulted in a car described by experts as being ‘nothing less than magnificently palatial’.

Mr Gasque, a London-based American, bought the chassis and drivetrain from Rolls-Royce for £1,600.

He gave it to Wolverhampton coachbuilder Charles Clark of Wolverhampton, headed up at the time by a Mr Barnett, with the demand the car’s design must be French.

While struggling for inspiration, Mr Barnett visited London’s Victoria and Albert Museum where he came across a sedan chair which once belonged to Marie Antoinette.

This created the spark which saw Barnett commission craftsmen from Aubusson, France, to spend nine months working on a the tapestry for the rear seats, costing £500 at the time.

While struggling for inspiration, Mr Barnett visited London's Victoria and Albert Museum where he came across a sedan chair which once belonged to Marie Antoinette
While struggling for inspiration, Mr Barnett visited London’s Victoria and Albert Museum where he came across a sedan chair which once belonged to Marie Antoinette
The Rolls-Royce is pictured
The Rolls-Royce is pictured
The £6,500 car, known as The Phantom of Love, took ten months to complete - three times the normal period for a Rolls-Royce - and was delivered to the London-based couple in April 1927
The £6,500 car, known as The Phantom of Love, took ten months to complete – three times the normal period for a Rolls-Royce – and was delivered to the London-based couple in April 1927
As passengers sit on the bench, which has scenes depicting the Rococo / late Baroque period, they could gaze upwards at the naked cherubs painted on the ceiling
As passengers sit on the bench, which has scenes depicting the Rococo / late Baroque period, they could gaze upwards at the naked cherubs painted on the ceiling
Other luxurious features included gilt bronze mounts hand cast by Birmingham-based silver manufacturer Elkington
Other luxurious features included gilt bronze mounts hand cast by Birmingham-based silver manufacturer Elkington
There is a makeup cabinet, lavish interior lights, hideaway seats, a French ormolu clock and satinwood veneer panelling

There is a makeup cabinet, lavish interior lights, hideaway seats, a French ormolu clock and satinwood veneer panelling

As passengers sit on the bench, which has scenes depicting the Rococo / late Baroque period, they could gaze upwards at the naked cherubs painted on the ceiling.

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