1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Fixed Head Coupé by Gurney Nutting
Chassis 170MY is a unique fixed-head coupé variant of the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, bodied by J. Gurney Nutting with a distinctive blind-quarter roofline and integrated sloping trunk. Commissioned in 1933 by Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen, president of British American Tobacco, it subsequently passed through several notable custodians including Bentley Boy racer Jack Lawson Dunfee and Formula 1 figure Bernie Ecclestone. A concours-quality restoration completed in 2009 by Steve Babinsky returned the car to its original delivery specification, after which it earned multiple major show honours.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$1,400,000 – US$1,800,000
- 1933 → 1935-12-01Factory deliverySir Hugo Cunliffe-Owenfull documentation
Original commissioner of the bespoke coachwork; delivery was handled via Jack Barclay's rather than the Owen dealership. He traded the car in December 1935 for a newer model.
- 1935 →Private saleDr. William Moir-Shepherdpartial documentation
Acquired after Sir Hugo traded the car in; no further details on length of tenure or disposition.
- → 1967Private saleJack Lawson Dunfeepartial documentation
One of the well-known Bentley Boy racing fraternity; retained the car until 1967.
- 1967 →Private saleC.J. Bellpartial documentation
Held the car from 1967 through roughly the mid-1980s.
- → 1991Acquisition unknownDonald R. Dixonpartial documentation
First American custodian; entered the car at Pebble Beach in 1984, where it won a notable trophy.
- 1991 → 1995Private saleSir Anthony Bamfordpartial documentation
Prominent collector and devoted enthusiast of the Phantom II Continental; later elevated to Lord Bamford.
- 1995 → 2007Private saleBernie Ecclestonepartial documentation
Formula 1 figure who held the car as part of a personal collection until its dispersal at auction in 2007.
- 2007 →AuctionCurrent ownersfull documentation
Purchased at the Ecclestone Collection sale; promptly commissioned a comprehensive concours-standard restoration by Steve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations in New Jersey, using original delivery photographs to reverse minor post-delivery alterations.
Competition
- 19841984 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceMontagu of Beaulieu Trophy winner
First concours appearance for the car, shown under the ownership of Donald R. Dixon.
- 20092009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance — Tour d'EleganceCompleted tour
Participated in the driving tour preceding the main concours judging.
- 20092009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance2nd in Class; Lucius Beebe Trophy
Post-restoration debut; the Lucius Beebe Trophy recognizes the most elegant Rolls-Royce on the field.
- 20092009 Hilton Head Concours d'EleganceBest of Show
- 20102010 Greenwich Concours d'EleganceBest of Show
- 20102010 Bay Harbor Vintage Car & Boat FestivalBest of Show
- 20122012 The Elegance at HersheyFounder's Trophy
Maintenance & restoration
- 2007RestorationSteve Babinsky's Automotive Restorations
Comprehensive concours-grade restoration covering all mechanical and cosmetic elements, carried out after the Ecclestone Collection sale. Surviving original delivery photographs guided corrections to minor bodywork alterations (removal of added landau bars and a second rear spare), returning virtually every detail to the 1933 delivery condition. Woodwork and aluminium sections in the roof required replacement; the rest of the structure was found sound and original. The complete tool kit was also assembled in a custom-fitted box.
Work undertaken in Lebanon, New Jersey. Completed car debuted at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
- —Modification
After the initial post-restoration show campaign, the owner chose to refit the second rear-mounted spare tyre, preferring the car's appearance with it in place.
This reversed one of the corrections made during the 2007–2009 restoration.
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