1939 Rolls Royce Phantom III Labourdette Drophead
edited by David Barth, 23 November 2008.
Courtesy "The Auto Collections" showroom at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in Las, Vegas, Nevada, USA. Photos were
taken 30 July 2006.
Chassis number: 3DL120
One of the most flamboyant designs by renowned coachbuilder Labourdette, this car evokes strong emotions. It has been
called both shocking and a work of art.
A more traditional 1939 Rolls Royce Phantom III was originally purchased by Louie Ritter, noted and highly successful
furrier to New York's high society. Ritter had the car sent to France where he contracted Labourdette to re-body it
into a more distinctive style.
The work was curtailed by the onset of WWII and the unfinished car had to be hidden away until 1945. The car was
completed in 1946 and delivered to Ritter in 1947.
At the time these photos were taken, the price was $1,500,000.
