To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Arizona
event, 17 - 18 January 2019.
Estimate:
$200,000 - $300,000
- Offered from the Calumet Collection
- A fully coachbuilt creation; one of two left-hand-drive
examples built
- Featured when new in Hooper's corporate advertising
- Accompanied by a report from Rolls-Royce historian Diane
Brandon
- Excellent overall cosmetic and mechanical condition; 7,228
miles
In the late 1970s, Hooper & Company, the revered British
coachbuilders once favored by the Royal Family, was revived under
new management and ownership. The new Hooper produced highly unique
coachbuilt creations in limited series, based upon modern
Rolls-Royce and Bentley models, including coupes and limousines.
They were sold to a wealthy and discerning worldwide clientele.
Among Hooper's offerings was the Empress II, a two-door coupe based
upon the architecture of the long-wheelbase Bentley Turbo RL, with
fully unique streamlined aluminum coachwork that borrowed virtually
none of its features from the stock sedan. A sumptuous interior
featured power-adjustable front and rear seats, a unique sports
steering wheel, a glass �sunshine roof,' an Alpine 12-speaker
stereo system, and a rear seat whose passengers could enjoy a
cocktail cabinet and an Asprey silver vanity set. Only five
examples were built, and just two of them had left-hand drive.
The car offered here was the fourth Empress II made and one of the
two left-hand-drive models. Finished in an eye-catching Tudor Red
over Magnolia interior, it was used by Hooper in their advertising,
after which one of their investors took it to Los Angeles. It was
eventually acquired by the Calumet Collection, where it resides
alongside other significant coachbuilt Rolls-Royce and Bentley
models, and remains in excellent condition. Featuring the original
and striking chrome wire wheels, it remains in largely original and
unrestored condition, and is in superb order throughout, with 7,228
actual miles noted at the time of cataloguing. Further, it is
accompanied by its original luxury accessories, including the
original cocktail set and Asprey vanities.
Including assorted build and historical documentation, as well as a
report by Rolls-Royce expert Diane Brandon and a clean CARFAX
report, this is inarguably the finest surviving example of this
modern coachbuilt rarity.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19.
