The cars go up for sale, separately, at RM Sotheby's Arizona auction in January.
Collecting vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars might not be a deliberate choice. It might just be an accident. When your new one arrives, your chauffeur simply starts bringing that one around. Where did the old one go? Who knows? Where did last month’s Better Castles and Estates magazine go?
The Calumet Collection, though, is definitely a deliberate decision. It includes a host of classic and modern cars from Crewe, including one that is one of just six or so ever made. Now 11 of them are coming up for auction.
With this many amazing examples, it’s hard to know with which car to begin. But since throwing a dart at a computer monitor is not conducive to meeting deadlines, we’ve chosen the one with the longest name. A 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Salamanca by Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work. Now that’s a mouthful.
This stunning car wears one of the most versatile coachbuilt body styles ever created. It might be where the modern Jeep tops got the idea, though don’t combine the two. The car can be landaulet-style, where the front is open with a glass partition between front and rear seats. The rear roof can then open and close. Or the full car can be covered. Or the center pillars fold down and the entire car can be open. Convertible-style.
Next up, a 1989 Silver Spirit I Emperor State Landaulet By Hooper. Again with these names! This is a more modern version of that 1923, even with a similar exterior finish. The last part of the limousine roof opens like a convertible top. Giving the head of state or titan of industry some extra fresh air and sunshine.
The 1991 Bentley Turbo RL Empress II Coupe by Hooper started with a Turbo R, which was then transformed by coachbuilder Hooper. The bodywork cost in the order of £400,000, and that’s in 1991 money. It makes for a much sleeker-looking Turbo and adds a pass-through cocktail cabinet.
The 1987 Rolls-Royce Camargue Retractable Hardtop by Niko-Michael is the only retractable hardtop of the series ever built, according to the seller. It takes the rather strange-looking Camargue and adds open-air styling that transforms the car, making it look much more at home on the road.
There are more landaulets and limousines in the collection, including a 1947 Bentley Mark VI, 1952 Rolls Silver Wraith, 1967 Phantom V, and 1972 Phantom VI. Everything you need if you want to be transported in style.
The rest of the collection is made up of vehicles both old and new. And all are extremely unique, even by Rolls and Bentley standards. So take a look through the gallery and enjoy the photos. The cars go up for sale, separately, at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction in January.
All Images Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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Keyword: Eleven Rare Rollers and Bentleys Coming up for Auction