1930 Rolls Royce Phantom I Trouville Antique Vintage Classic Automobile

1930 Springfield Rolls Royce Phantom I Trouville

JOSEPH SCHENCK’S QUINTESSENTIAL HOLLYWOOD PREMIER CAR

The original owner of this 1930 Springfield Rolls Royce Phantom I Trouville was the famous film producer Joe Schenck, President of United Artists and later chairman of 20th Century Fox. During the Golden Age of Hollywood he was one of the most powerful and influential people in the film business. His personal Rolls Royce (now offered for sale) has attended many Hollywood Premiere events, and transported countless celebrities and stars of the silver screen.

NORMA TALMADGE

Schenck was husband to the famous silent movie star Norma Talmadge. They married on Oct. 20, 1916. During the 1920’s Talmadge was amongst the highest paid silent movie film actors. Schenck and Talmadge were original investors in Sid Grauman’s Chinese Theater. She famously turned the first spade of dirt for the construction of the now historic theater and future home of many grand Hollywood movie premieres; including the renowned Academy Awards ceremonies. Norma Talmadge’s impact upon the silent film industry inspired the character Norma Desmond in the seminal 1950 film Sunset Boulevard (directed by Billy Wilder, starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson). Both Schenck and Talmadge have been honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They later divorced in April of 1934.

THE INVADER

Joseph Schenck enjoyed socializing and entertaining Hollywood celebrities. Besides transportation to Hollywood premieres he undoubtedly used his Rolls Royce to transport his guests to and from his beautiful 160 ft. sailing vessel, the Invader. The magnificent steel-hulled racing vessel was constructed on the East Coast during 1905. Mr. Schenck purchased the Invader in 1929 from the famous Hollywood custom car builder, Don Lee. The Invader was used as a getaway for private parties. Mr. Schenck sold the Invader in 1935. Recently the Invader was completely restored in Italy for a cost of $8,000,000.

MARILYN MONROE

In 1947 Mr. Schenck formed a close relationship with an aspiring young actress; Marilyn Monroe. During the late 1940’s and through the 1950’s she was a regular guest at his palatial Hollywood estate, known as Owlwood. During this time Schenck and Monroe were frequently photographed together at a variety of social events.

RESTORATION

This vehicle has not been modified and all of its components are original. It has always been stored in an indoor climate controlled environment. The restoration of the chassis has included careful cleaning, bead-blasting, machine work, painting and some new metal plating. Only original authentic Rolls Royce parts have been used during its restoration.Every bolt, nut and screw on its chassis has been cleaned and many were re-plated.

ENGINE

One of the prior owners, Mr. Joe Stankey had the original 6 cylinder overhead valve engine fully and professionally restored; including the carburetor; generator; starter-motor; Delco distributors; and water pump. The engine was removed and held out of the car in safe storage for approximately 40 years before being reinstalled. The engine compression has been tested and meets the manufactures recommended standards. It runs very smoothly and quietly, does not over heat, and maintains good oil pressure. The rebuilt engine has undergone approximately 10 hours of testing operation.

The exhaust manifolds are fully restored including new coating black porcelain. A new, quiet, high-quality, and efficient exhaust system has been professionally fabricated and installed.

The fuel tank has been cleaned and seal-coated. An electric fuel pump has been installed for easy starting and reliable use. An authentic Rolls Royce Auto-Vac vacuum tank is mounted on the firewall, but is not functional.

CHASSIS

The front and rear axles have been restored. The brakes on all four wheels and the brake servo mechanism have been carefully restored and adjusted. The brake system has been tested and works very well. The steering box, torque tube, u-joint, transmission, clutch, and clutch-brake have all been fully restored. Every bearing in each chassis assembly has been replaced with new or new old stock of the best quality. All assemblies have been carefully hand-fitted and tested for full and proper function. The original shock absorbers have been cleaned, painted and installed, but are unrestored. Both front and rear bumpers have been professionally chrome plated. The Bijur chassis lubricating device, fittings and oil lines are in place, but remain to be restored.

WHEELS

All six 21” Buffalo wire wheels have been restored and painted. The wheels are exceptional, free of rust, and straight. The locking rings have been professionally chrome plated and are superb. The original hubcaps have also been mechanically restored and are beautifully chrome plated. All six wheels have been fitted with new 7:00 x 21 tires, flaps and tubes. The original locking Buffalo hubcap wrench is included.

BODY

The custom, hand-made, all-aluminum body and hood are in excellent condition. The body wood is in very good original condition and is free of rot or deterioration. All four doors open, close and lock efficiently. The door chain-drive regulators and the regulator for the center divider have been restored and function properly. The center divider glass is new. The windshield and door glasses are either new or in very good condition; except for one door glass needs replacement. The wood dash board is complete and in very good unrestored condition. All instruments are included.

Some of the upholstery has been removed, but all has been reserved for use as patterns. Most of the wood veneer covering for the vanity/divider was removed and lost by a previous owner. Fortunately detailed original pictures are included with the vehicle for patterning. One drawer, two pulls and other small hardware parts are also included. The jump seats are in place and functional.

The original wood running boards and their decorative metal strips are in very good unrestored condition. The luggage rack has been cleaned and installed but still requires plating. The original luggage trunk is included as well. The top covering fabric is damaged and is in need of replacement. The head lights, fender lights and the tail light assembly are in very good unrestored condition.

An authentic 1930 three trumpet Sparton musical horn is included and is in perfect operating condition. The original Flying Lady hood ornament has been professionally nickel plated and is in pristine condition. Also included is original correspondence, reference books, manuals and additional literature.

RESTORATION WORK NEEDED FOR COMPLETION

The following are in need of restoration: Upholstery; top covering; additional metal plating; wood veneer; cabinetry for vanity/divider; dash board and instruments. The complete original wiring harness is included but should also undergo restoration.

PROVENANCE

Mr. Schenck purchased his new Springfield Phantom I Trouville enclosed town car on April 16, 1930. The original sales price of the Phantom I Trouville was $19,965.00; more than ten times the average yearly income in the 1930’s! The original salesperson is listed as Duncan C. Pell, Jr., which is verified in John Webb de Campi’s Book ROLLS ROYCE IN AMERICA (page 244).

The vehicle identification is No. S-441-MR and the engine is stamped #22419. The body plates are Brewster, New York. Our research indicates that the body was possibly subcontracted to and supplied to Brewster by Hibbard & Darrin. The body number is B-5735

An article from the April 1965 issue of THE FLYING LADY written by Dr. John V. Neff, titled: DARRIN – COACHBUILDER FOR KINGS, contains a direct quote from an interview with Howard “Dutch” Darrin,“I don’t have the company records for reference… but I remember creating bodies on Rolls Royce chassis for Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jack Warner of Warner Brothers, Joe Schenck of Fox Studios, Lord Louis Montbatten, Countess do Frasso, Julius Fleishmannn, Elliot White Springs, and I always had my own Rolls-Royce as an example of our work.”

CHRONOLOGY OF SALES

• April 16, 1930 Original Sales Date
• 1949 Jim Talmadge, Mr. Schenck’s nephew, acquires the Rolls Royce. According to notes written by James R. Drimmel (who later purchased the vehicle) he had a conversation with Norma Talmadge’s nephew Jim Talmadge on January 4th, 1970. Mr. Drimmel wrote that Jim Talmadge stated that “… the car had belonged to both his aunt and Joseph Schenck until they divorced and after that Joseph Schenck retained the car until 1949.” Drimmel’s also noted that Joseph Schenck sold the car to his nephew in 1949 for $200.
• 1949 W. M. Plummer (2973 Mc Allister, Arlington, CA) acquired the Rolls Royce from Jim Talmadge shortly after it was sold to him by his uncle.
• August 25, 1951 S. C. Timson (8814 Second Ave, Inglewood Ca) purchases the Rolls for $425 from W.M. Plummer.
• November 14, 1951 Joseph Susnir (8100 Atlantic Ave., Bell CA) purchases the Rolls from S. C. Timson.
• October 10, 1952 Robert C. Berry (5646 Green Bush Ave., Van Nuys, CA) purchased the Rolls from Joseph Susnir.
• November 16, 1954 David C. and Grace M. Almon (3645 E. Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA) Purchased the Rolls from Robert C. Berry.
• January 18, 1955 title was transferred to Robert H. McCoy or Edgar A. McCoy (115 Grand View Ave., San Francisco, CA) from David C. and Grace M. Almon
• 1970 James R. Drimmel (355 West Baltimore Ave. Larkspur, CA 94939) purchased the Rolls from the McCoys.
• November 5, 1972 Robert J. Heyn (6933 Monte Casino Way, Sacramento, CA) purchased the Rolls from James R. Drimmel. The Rolls was partially disassembled for restoration. The chassis and body were in need of restoration, however the vehicle was very solid and sheet metal was free of rust.
• April 14, 1975 Joseph J. Stankey (1125 Lake Glen Way, Sacramento, CA 95822) purchased the Rolls Royce from Robert J. Heyn. Mr. Stankey had the engine and its accessories professionally rebuilt and restored.
• June 3, 2012 Glenn R. Wood (799 Entler Ave, Chico CA 95928) purchased the Rolls Royce from Joseph J. Stankey. Mr. Wood restores chassis, paints body, and reassembles the entire vehicle.

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