See inspection report, full photos, videos and more at
classicpromenade.com. Robert Redfords Gatsby Rolls. This is one of
the very few cars ever to hold co-star status within a great
American classic novel, an iconic movie, and an actor such as
Robert Redford. This 1928 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I Ascot Dual
Cowl Sport Phaeton is nearly perfect after benefiting from a
thorough restoration with marque experts with a total investment of
about $1.2 million. We believe it is safe to say that between its
provenance on the silver screen and the restoration, this is one of
the most important Rolls-Royces in existence. F. Scott Fitzgerald
selected a Rolls-Royce as the car to be featured in his classic and
timeless novel, The Great Gatsby. The car was described in detail
in the novel and was an important highlight in the movie as well.
And with an all-star cast selected by Paramount studios, it was
important that the Rolls-Royce was equally as stunning. Robert
Redford starred alongside Mia Farrow to create this all-time
classic movie. S304KP was just the right car to co-star with Robert
Redford. It had been owned by Ted Leonard who was a well known
collector from Seekonk, Massachusetts. The Rolls is likely the only
Ascot sport phaeton built as a dual cowl. And this was one of the
details F. Scott Fitzgerald included in his description of Jay
Gatsbys Rolls: He saw me looking with admiration at his car. Its
pretty, isnt it, old sport! He jumped off to give me a better view.
Havent you ever seen it before? Id seen it. Everybody had seen it.
It was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and
there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and
supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of
wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns. Sitting down behind many
layers of glass in a sort of green leather conservatory, we started
to town. After being selected as The Gatsby Rolls, S304KP required
its livery repainted in the creamy yellow combination and its
leather interior to be dyed in an elegant green. The result was
perfect. Chassis S304KP was originally a Town Brougham delivered to
Mildred Loring Logan of New York City, and was later owned by
American Tobacco Company president, George Washington Hill. There
is no documented history in the Rolls-Royce factory Schoellkopf
Cards from 1929 through 1964. The research determines that the
Ascot body was originally mounted onto chassis S240RM and that the
body was moved onto chassis S304KP sometime during or after 1945.
The history of the Rolls is well researched and documented, and
copies of the related factory and historical information accompany
the motorcar. Mr. Leonard acquired the car just in time for the
starring role as The Gatsby Rolls. The Leonards maintained
ownership of S304KP for the next 36 years. In 2009, The Gatsby
Rolls was sold at auction from Leonards estate to John OQuinn of
Houston, Texas. Mr. OQuinn died suddenly a few months later, and
the car was eventually sold to the current owners, for whom a
ground-up restoration was completed from 2011 through 2019. Many of
the leading experts were involved in the restoration. Steve Littin
from Vintage & Auto Rebuilds in Chardon, Ohio did the full
mechanical restoration and the paint and body restoration was
performed by Shawn Robinson from Yesterdays in Tyler, Texas. The
Gatsby Rolls is nearly perfect today after a total investment in
the restoration of about $1.2 million. It would be welcomed at any
concours event throughout the world, and had been invited to be
shown at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours. The elegant cream paint is
excellent in all respects and is accented by the abundance of
concours quality chrome. The green leather interior is complimented
by the tan Haartz cloth canvas convertible top and the beautiful
wood dashboard with chrome bezels. The Ascot body is widely
considered one of the most stunning designs of the classic period.
It is both sporty and elegant. We have an appraisal for The Gatsby
Rolls supporting the asking price. But more importantly, we believe
this Rolls is priced well. It is well known that such iconic
classics that are indelibly fixed into our memories and culture,
are sought after the world over. This explains the values for such
items as the decrepit Bullet Mustang selling for $3.74 million in
January 2020 and Paul Newmans Rolex selling for $17.8 million in
October 2017. The Great Gatsby as a book has sold about 30 million
copies and the number of people who have watch the classic movie is
beyond estimation. This is an important fixture in Americas
culture. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire
one of the most important Rolls-Royces in the world. The Gatsby
Rolls is owned by The Chamberlain Foundation, a not-for-profit. Its
purpose is to help educate future restorers of collector cars and
watch makers. Certain tax advantages may be available to the
purchaser of the motorcar. The Gatsby Rolls is available for
viewing and inspection in Texas. Please call, text or email Harry
Clark at 1.602.245.7200 or
[email protected].