1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformable Phaeton by Hibbard & Darrin
- Colour
- Medium green metallic with gold flake
A Springfield-built Rolls-Royce Phantom I (chassis S317KP) bodied by Hibbard & Darrin of Paris as a dual-cowl Transformable Phaeton, one of only five such examples constructed. Purchased by Paramount Studios as a gift for Marlene Dietrich upon her Hollywood arrival in 1930, the car appeared in her debut Paramount film Morocco before being transferred formally to Dietrich later that year. After passing through several American collections, it underwent a comprehensive multi-year restoration and subsequently earned class awards at leading American concours events.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$390,000
- 1930-04-14 → 1930-11-26Factory deliveryParamount Studiosfull documentation
Vehicle acquired as a gift for Dietrich and used in the production of her debut film before formal transfer.
- 1930-11-26 →Private saleMarlene Dietrichfull documentation
Studio transferred ownership to Dietrich per factory records on file. She preferred a chauffeur rather than driving herself.
- → 1995InheritanceCreighton family heirspartial documentation
Car passed down within the Creighton family and was sold in 1995 in a partially disassembled, highly original condition.
- 1995 → 2007AuctionIntermediate owner(s) between 1995 and 2007none documentation
Car was sold in 1995; the identity of any owner(s) during this interval prior to O'Quinn's purchase is not specified.
- 2007 →Private saleJohn O'Quinnpartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough multi-year restoration by marque specialist Rick Hamlin to return the car to factory specifications.
- → 2015Acquisition unknownThe Mitchell Collectionpartial documentation
Montgomery, Texas-based collection that acquired the car from O'Quinn's estate and exhibited it at major concours events.
- 2015 →Acquisition unknownTerence E. Adderley Collectionpartial documentation
Current owner from whose collection the car is now being offered at auction.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJ.R. 'Bob' Creightonpartial documentation
Pioneering collector who acquired the car after Dietrich; it subsequently remained within his family by descent.
Competition
- —Hilton Head Concours d'EleganceClass award
Exhibited and won a class award during ownership by the Mitchell Collection.
- —Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceClass award
Exhibited and won a class award during ownership by the Mitchell Collection.
- —Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceClass award
Exhibited and won a class award during ownership by the Mitchell Collection.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007RestorationRick Hamlin
Comprehensive, multi-year, six-figure ground-up restoration to original factory specifications, including complete disassembly of the coachwork and meticulous recreation of the original gold-flaked Medium Green Metallic paintwork.
Carried out in Wellington, Kansas. Restoration revealed constructional details of Hibbard & Darrin's patented coachbuilding method. Commissioned by John O'Quinn.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.