1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V 'Rivers' Limousine by Chapron: One of One Produced
This 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V 'Rivers' Limousine by Chapron is one of one ever produced. It was designed by the American-born Osmond Rivers—formerly of British coachbuilders Hooper—for an American couple, Marty Martyn, a prominent Hollywood talent agent, and his wife Margaret. The Martyns were highly involved in the creation of their car, with Mrs. Martyn specified it to the finest detail. The actual creation of the design was carried out by Henri Chapron’s French atelier. Accoutrements included a built-in bar with crystal decanters, a three wave-length radio, a hidden umbrella slot, a drawer with compact and make-up mirror, and an air-conditioned humidor for cigars.
The Martyns took delivery of the car from Franco-Britannic Automobiles of Paris at a rumored cost of $54,000, which would have made it the most expensive automobile in the world by far, at the time. In 1961, they took the Phantom V to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and won their class, an honor that it repeated in 1962 and 1967. William Eagleton of California, a representative of the Martyns, exhibited it at the Rolls-Royce Owners Club Western Inter-Regional Meet in 1968, winning Most Elegant Formal Car, and at the Western-California Meet in 1971, winning the Hooper Trophy. Many other regional shows were attended as well, with trophies often received. Mrs. Martyn eventually gifted the car to the renowned Petersen Automotive Museum, its second owner.
Today, it remains in original condition throughout and is ideal for sympathetic freshening. Black over beige with tan leather interior and built in LHD. Mechanically sound, it runs and drives but requires paintwork at this time. An extremely intriguing and exciting one-off design that's striking from every angle.
It also retains almost all of its wonderful original accessories, including barware from Van Cleef & Arpels and Baccarat. Also accompanying the car is a delightful file including correspondence from Rivers to the Martyns, shipping documents from its European travels, and some of the canceled checks used in payment, as well as a vast collection of “extras,” including several full original factory carpet sets and additional factory spare parts—including spare book-matched veneers!—in their original crates. This one-off designed Phantom V 'Rivers' Limousine by Chapron represents a truly once in a lifetime opportunity.
Price: $129,500
