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
![](https://dailychronicle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FB_IMG_1710805791264-747x1024.jpg)
- 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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B695100000578-0-image-a-44_1476803027772.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/22/398044B300000578-3848344-image-a-1_1476827776013.jpg)
![The Phantom I was commissioned by Woolworths' financial director Clarence Gasque as a gift for his wife, Maude (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/17/397C2AB600000578-3848344-The_Phantom_I_was_commissioned_by_Woolworths_financial_director_-m-126_1476807350743.jpg)
![The Phantom I was commissioned in 1926 by Woolworths' financial director Clarence Gasque as a surprise gift for his wife](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B69B900000578-0-image-a-45_1476803039975.jpg)
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B69C300000578-0-image-a-48_1476803045536.jpg)
![Ten-month project: Mr Gasque, a London-based American, bought the chassis and drivetrain from Rolls-Royce for £1,600](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B675500000578-0-image-a-49_1476803052474.jpg)
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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B663D00000578-0-image-m-95_1476803748391.jpg)
![The Rolls-Royce is pictured](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B664500000578-0-image-a-96_1476803753721.jpg)
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B673100000578-0-image-a-61_1476803126252.jpg)
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B674D00000578-0-image-a-63_1476803129939.jpg)
![Other luxurious features included gilt bronze mounts hand cast by Birmingham-based silver manufacturer Elkington](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B665D00000578-0-image-m-97_1476804015999.jpg)
![There is a makeup cabinet, lavish interior lights, hideaway seats, a French ormolu clock and satinwood veneer panelling](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/10/18/16/397B696B00000578-0-image-a-98_1476804021237.jpg)
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.