1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Hooper Boattail Speedster
- Engine
- 7.7L OHV inline-six, ~160 bhp
- Colour
- Black with scarlet
Rolls-Royce Phantom II chassis 23GN is a uniquely sporting open tourer bodied by Hooper & Company to exacting personal specifications for Sir Julien Cahn, a prominent cricket patron and businessman, in 1930. The coachwork features a tapered boattail rear deck, a hidden rear seat with its own soft-top, and no bumpers — a configuration unlike any other Phantom II. After wartime military donation and post-war sale, the car passed through several British owners before crossing to the United States, where it received a comprehensive restoration and won the Lucius Beebe Memorial Trophy at the 1997 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$800,000 – US$1,000,000
- 1930-04-01 →Factory deliverySir Julien Cahn, 1st Baronetfull documentation
Original commissioner of the car; retained it until donating it to the British military war effort in the late 1930s. Died in 1944 before the car was returned.
- → 1946Acquisition unknownBritish Ministry of War Transportpartial documentation
Vehicle was held by military authorities after Sir Julien's death and ultimately disposed of through a sale in 1946.
- 1946 → 1957Acquisition unknownH.S.N. Adamspartial documentation
- 1957 → 1964Private saleR.D. Linfordpartial documentation
Held the car for approximately seven years before passing it on.
- 1964 →Private saleJohn L. Mackinlaypartial documentation
Long-term custodian who regularly participated in Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club activities in the UK with the car.
- 1988 → 1991Acquisition unknownCharles Howardpartial documentation
Described as a prominent British broker; retained the car for three years before selling it to an American buyer.
- 1991 → 1997Private saleKen Behringpartial documentation
American real-estate developer and collector; the car underwent a thorough professional restoration and color change after leaving his collection.
- 1997 →Acquisition unknownDavid Hoguepartial documentation
Exhibited the car at Pebble Beach immediately after restoration and pursued further mechanical and cosmetic improvements through 2005.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownWest Coast private collectorpartial documentation
Identity not disclosed; held the car for an unspecified period after Hogue's tenure.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Houses the car among a significant collection of Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles; commissioned a mechanical restoration by UK specialist Graham Moss during this period.
Competition
- 19971997 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceLucius Beebe Memorial Trophy winner
Car was shown immediately following its restoration to the current black and scarlet livery.
- 20052005 Pebble Beach Motoring ClassicCompleted the full tour
Finished the roughly 1,500-mile touring event without mechanical difficulty; subsequently featured in a December 2005 Road & Track article.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1997Restoration
Full professional restoration carried out, with the car refinished in its current black and scarlet colour scheme.
Restoration appears to have been completed around the time of the ownership transition to David Hogue.
- 2004Maintenance
Both convertible tops replaced; correct all-leather spring gaiters fitted by the original Rolls-Royce supplier; a Laycock heavy-duty overdrive unit installed.
Multiple distinct work items carried out in the same year, encompassing soft-top replacement, period-correct trim, and drivetrain upgrade.
- —MechanicalGraham Moss
Mechanical restoration undertaken by a noted British Rolls-Royce restorer during the current ownership; supporting receipts accompany the car.
Lucas P100 headlamps and a correct Phantom II tool kit were also fitted or sourced during the current ownership period.
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