Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe or Rolls-Royce round door is considered the most interesting, unique and strange car that Rolls-Royce has ever produced. With a length of more than 6 meters, a height of more than 1.8 meters and a weight of nearly 3 tons, making the Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe the largest and largest car in existence. If customers love unique classic cars, they can join Rolls-Royce World to learn some basic information about this car. .
What’s special about Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe?
Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe was produced based on the chassis and technical details of Phantom I (1925 – 1931). However, unlike the luxurious and dignified styles of the time, the Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe has an extremely unique and different round door design.
1. Origin of formation
Following the style of the 1920s and 1930s, Rolls-Royce will provide the chassis, engine and technical details. The body and interior designs will be constructed by body manufacturers appointed by the owner. Most of the car bodies built at that time expressed the wealth, luxury, style, class of the upper class, aristocrats and celebrities.
Contrary to this trend, Jonckheere is a body builder for motor vehicles and bus builders from Belgium, founded in 1881. With its popular designs and mid-range vehicle segment, Jonckheere was chosen to produce Rolls-Royce car bodies. However, Jonckheere modified the body of a 1925 Phantom I and created an extremely unique Rolls-Royce Round Door.
In May 1925, Rolls-Royce introduced the new Phantom (later renamed Rolls-Royce Phantom I) to replace the 40/50 model (later renamed Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost). In fact, Phantom I uses a 40/50 chassis with an improved engine, increased from 7,428cc to 7,668cc, and the brake system is also renewed to meet customer needs.
Changing the engine and braking system, as well as switching from side valves to top valves, makes the car’s bonnet a bit higher. This will affect the car body style.
Initially, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe was produced with a stately and luxurious Hooper Cabriolet body. The car was then sold to India and finally to Belgium in 1932. Two years later, in 1934, the car appeared at Jonckheere’s shop with a completely changed appearance.
With bullet-shaped headlights, strange fenders, elongated rear and large round doors, the car looked extremely unique, different from other designs of the time.
Although the car did not receive popularity from customers, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe nevertheless conquered the Concours d’Elegance judges. In 1936, the car received the Prix d’Honneur at the Cannes Concours d’Elegance.
2. Anonymous owner
In the years 1925 – 1930, very few designers considered modifying traditional designs as well as breaking through in vehicle style. However, Jonckheere changed this and created a round-door Rolls-Royce that is unique to this day.
Bullet-shaped headlights, rounded fenders and a long, downward-swept rear end complete the vehicle’s beautiful curves.
At that time, Figoni – a car body building company from France, was testing cars of the oval. However, Jonckheere has used unique, large round doors that work perfectly and allow passengers to enter either row of seats in the most convenient way.
Although this round door is relatively unique, it also causes some window problems. To solve this problem, Jonckheere created a two-piece window that simultaneously detaches like a pair of scissors inserted into the door.
With a length of about 6.10 meters, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe is the largest 2-door coupe in existence. However, a few years after its introduction, a fire destroyed Jonckheere’s records. Therefore, up to now, reviewers still do not know who the owner of the car is as well as the designer who created this unique masterpiece.
3. Serious damage and restoration
This round-door Rolls-Royce went through several owners before being shipped to the United States on the eve of World War II. In the United States, the car’s styling received high praise, but it was not well maintained, so the car fell into serious disrepair.
In 1950, this car was almost derelict and was found in a scrap yard in New Jersey (USA). A businessman with a passion for classic cars refurbished this car. The car’s new owner even mixed gold flakes into the paint to create maximum visual impact every time he sees the special car.
The car’s owner later claimed the car had once been owned by King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor. This helped the car become famous and it began to be driven around shopping malls and public areas for paid performance purposes.
4. Auction in 1991
Rolls-Royce Jonckheere Phantom, also known as Round Door Rolls, subsequently changed owners many times. In 1991, this unique vintage Rolls-Royce car was sold at an auction to a Japanese businessman for price up to 1.5 million dollars.
After that, the car was almost forgotten, not being displayed until it came into the possession of the Peterson Automotive Museum in 2001. The car was then brought to Los Angeles (USA), restored and painted black. .
Originally built in 1925, the chassis and powertrain components remain intact while the body and interior, including the gauges, have been redone, yet retain the style of the the years 1925 – 1930.
5. Won the Lucius Beebe Trophy
Since its first introduction, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe has been mainly used for display purposes. At the Meadow Brook Concours, the car was awarded the People’s Choice Award and the Lucius Beebe Trophy for Best Rolls-Royce at Pebble Beach.
Currently, the Rolls-Royce Round Door is owned by the Petersen Museum and is considered one of the valuable antique Rolls-Royces owned by the museum.
Engine and performance of Rolls-Royce Round Door
Similar to the Rolls-Royce Phantom I, the Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe uses a straight-six engine, overhead valve (OHV), made up of two groups of 3 cylinders with a single head. Removable. The engine uses a 4¼ in (107.9 mm) bore and lower bore, 5½ in (139.7 mm) stroke for a total displacement of 7.7 L (7,668 cc).
The design has a very low ground clearance that fits the overall shape, but this also makes it difficult to approach ramps or speed bumps, due to the long rear overhang. The car has high seating arrangements, providing excellent visibility for front passengers, but the sloping rear roof cuts into rear passenger space, which can make customers uncomfortable and leave no space. Comfortable ceiling.
Although the design is not practical, this car really makes a strong impression when traveling at low speeds. Surely the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe will attract the eyes of all passersby every time it appears.
Since it was first introduced, the Rolls-Royce Round Door has gone through many owners and is currently on display at the Peterson Museum.
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