Vehicle Description
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I All-Weather Cabriolet by Barker This
beautiful Phantom I represents a brilliant statement of what the
collaboration of an automobile builder, a styling house and its
client could achieve, particularly when money was no object. In
this case that was certainly true, the client being an extremely
interesting character, Alfred Loewenstein, a financier of Belgian
origins who made his fortune with pioneering investments including
in electric power and faux silk manufacturing. Sources state that
he was the third wealthiest man in the world in this era.
Loewenstein's Barker Rolls-Royce is one of their brilliant fully
convertible all-seasons cars, which as for carriages were termed
Cabriolets. Technically quite complicated and yet beautifully
engineered it provided its owner with a series of configurations,
be it fully enclosed with wind up windows, an open Sedanca de Ville
option with the chauffeur publicly on display and the passengers
hidden, or to take advantage of sunny days, perhaps at the horse
races, the entire top collapses opening all passengers to the
day.When Mr. Loewenstein took delivery of the car in 1926 he would
have been at the height of his success, and yet he had his
detractors also, such that when he died in what can be termed as an
aircraft accident, many would call foul play. The morning after
Independence Day 1928, readers of The New York Times would learn of
his bizarre passing in this way - "Capt. A.Lowenstein falls from
plane; drowning in sea; Belgian Financier Was Crossing the English
Channel on his Way to Brussels. Opened the wrong door. Accident Is
Not Discovered Till the Aircraft Nearly Reaches Its Destination.
Known as 'Mystery Man'. Offered $50,000,000 Loan to His Country
Without Interest --Narrowly Escaped Death Here. Made Big Fortune
Swiftly. Planned to Return Here in Fall." The somewhat odd
circumstances were that he disappeared while crossing the modest
void of the English Channel in his own private Fokker trimotor
plane, with rumors ranging from an absent-minded incident of his
opening the wrong door when attempting to find the bathroom and
plunging to his death (!), to someone ensuring that he vacated the
plane under duress. The perpetrators are suggested as mobsters or
even members of his family. Whatever the cause, the result was that
his news of his passing spooked the markets for his various
ventures immediately.Lowenstein's Rolls survives some 95 years
later owing to its careful preservation and sensitive restoration
in a series of sympathetic ownerships. It arrived in the USA in the
1960s, spending a long time with Californian owners, including time
with a Dick Lyon of Balboa. Mr Lyon knew the immediate former owner
Charles Gillet very well having served in the Navy with him, and
Gillet had long admired the car. Ultimately, he was able to make a
takeover bid for it in the late 1980s.The Rolls moved East into
Gillet's collection and would be restored early on in his
ownership, returning briefly to California for the work to be
carried out by White Post Restorations. On its completion it was
shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1991, a big year
for the marque, with their National taking place on the Peninsula.
There on the 18th Fairway it secured the Lucius Beebe Trophy and
would follow this up with AACA Grand National First Prize and CCCA
Premier Awards. Even to this day as a 30 plus year old restoration
it continues to display well. The previous owner acquired the car
from Mr. Gillet's estate a few years ago, joining a diverse stable
of collectors' cars. A mechanically strong driver, the car
currently runs and drives excellent. One of the most luxurious of
its time, the car has always been cherished and would grace any
collection, while its fascinating ownership provenance will always
be something worth regaling. 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom I All-Weather
Cabriolet Coachwork by Barker & Co. CoachbuildersChassis no.
30TCEngine no. UT65 Ordered new by Capt. Alfred Lowenstein once the
3rd richest man in the world An exceptionally high quality fully
convertible Rolls-Royce Long term care in the custody of the late
Charles Gillet Offered with copies of factory records Mechanically
Strong Driver
