A Royal Beginning
Commissioned in 1925 by Anne Dodge, widow of a Dodge Motors co-founder, the Phantom I initially wore a Hooper Cabriolet body. However, Dodge never took delivery. Instead, the car was sold to the Raja of Nanpara, an Indian prince under British rule, joining his collection of luxury vehicles. By the early 1930s, financial turmoil from the Great Depression forced the car into circulation, eventually landing in Belgium in 1932.
The Jonckheere Transformation
In 1934, the Phantom I arrived at Jonckheere, a Belgian coachbuilder known for avant-garde designs. Stripping the original body, Henri and Joseph Jonckheere crafted an Art Deco masterpiece. The coupe featured aerodynamic lines, a sloping radiator, twin sunroofs, and a dramatic rear fin. Its most iconic detail? Oval "round doors" with split glass panels—a mechanical marvel requiring custom winding mechanisms. The redesign earned accolades, including the 1934 Prix de Cannes at the French Riviera Concours d’Elegance.
A Turbulent Mid-Century
Post-WWII, the Phantom I resurfaced in a New Jersey junkyard, battered and neglected. Enter Max Obie, an entrepreneur who restored the car in metallic gold and showcased it as a curiosity, charging spectators $1 to view the "automotive oddity." By 1991, it sold at auction to a Japanese collector for $1.5 million but languished in obscurity until the Petersen Automotive Museum acquired it in 2001.
The Petersen Museum embarked on a meticulous restoration, returning the car to its 1936 glory. Tired Iron Works of California rebuilt the body, reviving its black exterior and red leather interior. The Phantom I debuted at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, dazzling enthusiasts with its blend of Rolls-Royce pedigree and Jonckheere audacity.
With only one example featuring round doors, the Jonckheere Coupe is a rolling sculpture. Its history—from royal garages to concours stages—reflects the resilience of artistry. Today, it resides in the Petersen Museum’s Vault, a testament to innovation and the enduring allure of automotive storytelling.
From the Raja’s estate to postwar sideshows, this Phantom I proves that even legends can reinvent themselves.
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