For Sale at Auction: 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom in Carmel, California

Chassis No. 178PY
Engine No. BL95

Off test on 21 December 1933, this 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II was commissioned new by James Geoffrey Hart Esquire, first registered 6 February 1934. It featured Barker & Co. Sedanca de Ville coachwork tailored to the owner's specifications. Hart requested "springing must not be too heavy" and "bonnet with louvers and rear ends sloped at an angle of 11 degrees," giving the car a distinct profile. His personal mascot, a hart deer, was mounted to the cowl after taking delivery of the car and carries a branch from the Royal Oak of England in its mouth.

Tragically, Hart was killed in 1939 during the Second World War, and the car was stored by his widow for many years. It was later passed to Donald Alex Dale and then Anthony Elon Crowther in 1963. Subsequently the car was brought to the U.S. when it entered Hollywood service with Filmways Studios, where it made an appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies in white and later on Green Acres in black. The heart deer mascot makes the Phantom II's Hollywood provenance easily identifiable.

Mark Tuttle of Los Angeles, a producer of The Beverly Hillbillies, later acquired the car from the studio. He later remarked that this car sparked his passion for collector cars, and he went on to serve as a judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on numerous occasions. In 1969, Tuttle regretfully sold the car to David H. "Mr. Phantom II" Scheibel of Toledo, Ohio. Under his care, Ned Herrmann's Vintage Auto Shop in Cincinnati completed a three-and-a-half-year restoration, returning the car to period concours standards.

It earned major honors, including the 1972 Shamrock Trophy, 1973 Frost Trophy, and 1974 Blenheim Trophy from the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club. Later, it achieved Best Phantom II at the 1978 National Meet and the Rolls-Royce of England Trophy, Pre-War in 1981 at French Lick. This high honor marked the car as the finest pre-war car on show at the highly competitive meet. In 1985, it received the Royce Memorial Trophy in Toronto and was driven extensively across North America to every show it attended.

Jeffery P. Broderick acquired the car in 1987 and undertook a full restoration completed in May 1990 by Fountain Inn Coachworks. Finished in two-tone Midnight Blue over Black with exquisite interior trimming, it returned to concours success immediately, earning a National First Place at the 1990 Southeast Spring National and a perfect score at the Classic Car Club of America Grand National, as well as awards at Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance and shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2010, it was awarded Best Foreign Car at St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance.

Today, this Phantom II stands among the most compelling examples within the canon of prewar Rolls-Royce motorcars, uniting distinctive Barker coachwork with its instantly recognizable hart deer mascot, remarkable Hollywood provenance, sustained concours success across more than seven decades of active use. Magnificently restored and consistently exhibited at the highest level, it remains a distinguished expression of the Phantom II's elegance and entry to the most prestigious automotive events worldwide.