Rolls-Royce Phantom (1932)

A fabulous, handsome, imposing and well specified car, in lovely condition, having been owned and cared-for by an enthusiastic RREC member for the last 25 years. Only advancing years persuaded him to part with it. He drove the car to us at the Annual Rally at Burghley House, and we drove it back to North Wales from there, thereby adding about 400 miles over a few days, with no trouble at all. The car drives particularly well, and benefits greatly from renovation and improvement work carried out over the years, including a modified camshaft design, which was a very positive move. Desirable features include a silver plated dashboard, with a lovely set of instruments, including an altimeter, louvred bonnet and scuttle, twin side-mounted spare wheels, six 'Ace' wheel discs, very nice P100 'bullseye headlights, large rear-mounted trunk with fitted tool tray, and much more besides. This really is an impressive, well sorted, ready to go car, and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a good looking PII in ideal condition to use and enjoy. Comes with a large history file too!

SALE AGREED

Chassis No. 40JS Reg No. GT 3830 Price £120,000

Snippets: From a Waitress to a Wealthy Widow.
Laura Mae (Whitlock) Corrigan (1895/1948) was the widow of James Corrigan, the son of J. W. Corrigan who was the co-founder of Corrigan-McKinney Steel. In 1907 Laura secured a job as a Society Report for a Chigaco newspaper which helped her gain entry to Cleveland High Society where she meets both her future father-in-law J. W. Corrigan Snr (died 1908) & her first husband Duncan R. MacMartin a society dentist. In 1913 Laura met & became involved with James Corrigan which led to her divorce and in 1916 their subsequent “secret – no scandal” wedding at which James present Laura with her 1st Rolls-Royce. During her life-time Laura owned no less than 6 Rolls-Royce Phantoms. Marriage to James was short as he died in 1928, however his wealth was more than enough to sustain Laura to life-style to which she aspired as her annual income was guaranteed at $800k. Failing to capture the hearts of the Cleveland society ladies Laura tried those in New York – and failed. Her solution was to move to Europe with a home in Paris (The Ritz) and several addresses in London – Pall Mall, Mayfair and Brook Street included. During WWII whilst residing at The Ritz she was unceremoniously ousted from the Imperial Suite by none-other than Reichs Marshall Hermann Goering! By now (due to wartime regulations) her income was restricted to just $500 per month and Laura resorted to selling her private possessions – jewels, furs, artwork etc in order to feed & support French partisans – it is said that many items were purchased by Goering himself. One example of her fabulous wealth is her 1933 African Safari – 3 airplanes were used to transport all her needs & the relevant personnel – a newspaper reporter, a photographer, a movie camera man, 2 secretaries, 2 maids, a doctor, a nurse, 2 cooks, 3 waiters, a hairdresser, a manicurist and a dressmaker!! Now that takes some beating.

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