BaT Exclusive: 1951 Royal Spartanette Converted Hauler

2/12/2011 Update: One month later, this fantastic trailer remains available and the seller would love for it to go to a BaT reader before he lists it elsewhere. Contact us at mail@bringatrailer.com if you are interested.

From 1/10/2011:

This 1951 Royal Spartanette 35-foot travel trailer, originally built by the Spartan Aircraft Company, has been restored and customized as a classic car hauler with adjacent lounge space and bathroom. The exterior is all riveted aluminum, and it has been fully polished. The clam-shell rear doors open to reveal articulating ramps and a 21-foot long and 7′6″ wide garage area that the seller designed for a 1956 Lincoln Continental (it also fits his ‘55 Porsche Continental quite nicely). The details are mind-blowing, and it is available in Farmington Hills, Michigan for $125k.

The seller built the entire trailer himself, and his extensive details of the customization are included below. An amazing 727 photographs of the entire build process are viewable in sequential order here on his CarDomain build thread.

The old chassis was sand-blasted and welds were repaired. The combined chassis were painted with industrial Rustoleum primer and two topcoats. The 10,000# trailer tongue was welded by a certified welder. He also welded the mounting pads for the air suspension. The trailer is fitted with (3) 8,000# Dexter axles giving 24,000# of disc brake stopping power. The hydraulic power is provided by a 1600psi hydraulic actuator that’s powered from the on-board battery bank. The brakes are activated through a relay powered by the tow vehicle’s brake controller or the required breakaway switch.

The garage space is lit with 12-volt fluorescent lights and a 12-volt spotlight for night loading. The walls are FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Panels) commonly used in restaurant kitchens. The flat belly pan is made of FRP and diamond plate aluminum. The floor is recycled 1/8″ rubber sheathing glued in place. The e-tracks are secured to the frame and deck with hundreds of stainless-steel fasteners. At the nose of the garage are storage cabinets and two door to allow access to the front of the car for tie-down. Above the cabinets is a storage tank for potable water for the cabin. Below the storage is a 10,000# winch that pulls vehicles into the trailer and then pays them out once the front end is lifted.

The ramps are operated with a 12-volt linear actuator that lowers the lower half of clam-shell rear end why paying out the ramps so that they lay on the ground by themselves at the touch of a button. Raising the front end allows the ramps to be in the same plane as the deck allowing for very long, or very low cars. The exterior of the trailer is mostly original, requiring 400 hours of polishing the Alclad aircraft aluminum skin to a high reflection. Speaking of reflection, this trailer disappears at night as the sides are curved. It requires conspicuity tape as a cars headlight are reflected down and out of sight without the strips. The trailer has LED lighting in current DOT configurations with an additional set of brake lights down low for additional safety. The breakaway switch activates this set of lights in case of separation.

Up front is a partitioned air-conditioned and heated Tiki Lounge, equipped with running water, wine cooler and microwave. The original trailer body came off and was suspended from my shop ceiling for a year and a half while I built a new chassis for it. Actually, I welded the old chassis to a new one, adding 1,100# of 1/4″ wall 2″ x 6″ steel tubing, creating an new tongue, substantially increasing the capacity of the frame.

The cabin is done in aluminum trimmed bamboo that fit the curvature of the interior perfectly. Built into the floor are all the mechanicals hidden by a floor hatch that lifts up on hydraulic shocks. The furniture is period-correct as is the fabric for the window treatments. The blinds can be pulled and the doors locked for privacy to use the RV toilet stowed in the cabin. The sills and table tops are a composite material that will last forever. The hanging lamp is a real Herman Miller fixture. The private mementos, nor the ‘55 Cab, are not included in the sale.

The battery bank, currently set up with 4 batteries, is expandable to 8 batteries for extended off-grid run time for the roof-mounted 8,000 BTU air conditioner with 5,000-watt back up heater for on-grid use. I’ve run the a/c off-grid for 3 hours off of 4 batteries. It can be run indefinitely off a small generator to recharge the batteries. The batteries supply a 2-Kilowatt inverter that supplies 120-volts to the wine cooler, microwave, and GFCI electrical outlets, front and rear. The lighting is all 12-volt, tapping directly off of the batteries.

The batteries also supply power to the 4 screw-jacks at each corner that can lift the entire 10,200# trailer completely off the ground for tire or axle service. It also has electrically retracting steps at each door. Power is also tapped for an on-board high-cfm compressor that provides air through a 5-gallon storage tank, built into the frame, to the Dexter Air-flex suspension system that combines their rubber-mounted suspension arms with air bags for a smooth ride. Each pair of air bags are controlled by individual ride height valves that allow the trailer to ride perfectly level and give you negative tongue weight to several thousand pounds, if desired. Worked manually, any of the three axle’s air bags can be deflated for going up steep driveways and over curbs.

The body was lowered onto a platform of (2) 3/4″ layers of T&G exterior-grade plywood with layers running in opposite directions. The deck of the trailer is attached with over 1,000 fasteners. The trailer was jacked up at both ends so that the deck was perfectly flat in tension when the weight of the wood tried to drop both ends. The body was secured to the frame, making it a monocoque structure. The structure was significantly strengthened further by spraying structural foam into all vacant cavities. That made the walls and roof enormously strong. To prevent leakage, a rubber RV roof membrane was installed, making it weather tight, even through a semi-trailer automatic wash. The windows are Lexan sealed with a rubber edging meant for pick-up truck back windows.

The tires are Goodyear’s high-pressure ST trailer-specific tires that run at 110# of pressure for little rolling resistance and easy turning. Tire pressure is monitored by a commercial big-rig monitoring system than detects rate of pressure drop and increase in temperature. The tires are mounted on Alcoa 16″ 8-lug zero-backset wheels that are designed to work with Dexter’s Nev-R-Lube package bearing system. Combined width of all components is just under the maximum 8′6″ vehicle width.

This can be insured under your classic-car insurance as it meets all of their qualifications of no sleeping area and no flammables on-board. It’s inexpensive to insure and easily towed with a half-ton pickup. It has about 500 miles on it. It draws a huge crowd wherever it goes. Check out the Flickr album slide-show for these and more high-resolution photos. Otherwise don’t miss the 727 photos in the build album linked above!

New Rolls-Royce Looks to Add Ghost Variants

Sales of luxury cars are big, and never more evident than in the Rolls-Royce. With ultra-expensive model of the Phantom is the only UU lineup, introduced the BMW 7-series based on the Spirit to increase sales. As expected, it is cheaper, or Rolls-Royce said that more "accessible.
Volkswagen-owned Bentley brilliantly managed to add new models - the Continental series was a huge success in sales growth for the brand. The same seems to happen at the Rolls-Royce Spirit - 2010 Rolls-Royce is set to double production in 2009.

Expect eventually to reach about 2,500 units per year, the profitability of the way up. With full success in Ghost, Rolls-Royce has not finished the expansion, looking to stimulate growth with a view to the bar.
Other options are on track to continue the momentum. Ghost lineup seems to be increasing in a number of different models, including coupe, sedan and even a long wheelbase version.
Long wheelbase models add the length and space for rear passengers, a particularly strong sales in emerging markets like China and India. Coupe and convertible models help add appeal and increase profitability further.

Compared with previous comments on the Rolls, there are reports that Rolls-Royce is looking for greener images can be projected into the future. Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos, said: "We will evaluate alternative site next year [2011] .... We know what our customers expect."

Nothing too hasty plans for the brand is known for his dignified and timeless style. Electric Rolls-Royce looks like a good bet for the future, although how it fits into the core brand attributes of elegance and tranquility.

Before and after photos of the incredibly unusual 1925 Jonckheere Rolls-Royce Phantom Aerodynamic Coupe

the Raja of Nanpara Estate had already contained a polished aluminum 40/50HP Silver Ghost when he ordered Rolls-Royce’s latest Phantom. Upon arrival, the owner probably didn’t like the conventional Hooper cabriolet bodywork because it was eventually scrapped and replaced with what you see here.

Almost 10 years old, this rolling chassis was then shipped to Belgium to the shop of Henri Jonckheere and his son Joseph Jonckheere. They were well known throughout Europe for making bodies on both cars and busses. The later of which is still in production today as VDL Jonckheere. The commissioning owner of the car is uncertain due to war damage at the factory, but the design is not. The Jonckheeres created an extravagant body which has just as much impact 75 years after its constuction as it did in 1935. The car was finished in time for the Concours on the French Riviera where it won the ‘Prix de Cannes’ award.

The doors, which are actually oval, required two half-moon pieces of glass that closed towards each other within a complex winding mechanism. Other details included sliding left and right sun vents, a sloping fastback profile and an enormous rear tail fin. It was also one of the few Phantom Is which featured a modified front grill.

Eventually the car made its way stateside and was saved by Max Obie fro $8500 before being scrapped. He restored the car in a brilliant hue of metallic gold and refurbished details like the silk headliner and seats that folded into beds. From here, the car was shown as a sideshow at fairs where anyone with a dollar well spent could have viewed the Coupe. After its freakshow days were numbered, the golden behemoth was stored away for long time.

In the 1980s, the car was resurrected and sold at auction. The description incorrectly listed it as “the 1954 World Motorsport winner in NY” and “Built for Prince of Wales”. With just 5000 miles on the odometer, it was picked up by a Japanese collector for $1,500,000 USD who retained the car for 20 years

Before photo from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585

Info from http://www.supercars.net/cars/4054.html

New Cool Modded Rolls Royce

Check out this car, a cool 1 million dollar modded 1995 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit MKIV recently spotted in London. The ultimate show off car!

It was customized by Indian firm DC Designs and is rumored to belong to the Sultan of Brunei's family. Check out the cool doors!

The worst thing about this car has to be the dodgy number plate! Please tell me CEXI means something in another language or counting system. Because as far as I know, it's a tacky misspelling of "SEXY" and makes you look like an idiot.

New Cool Modded Rolls Royce

Check out this car, a cool 1 million dollar modded 1995 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit MKIV recently spotted in London. The ultimate show off car!

It was customized by Indian firm DC Designs and is rumored to belong to the Sultan of Brunei's family. Check out the cool doors!

The worst thing about this car has to be the dodgy number plate! Please tell me CEXI means something in another language or counting system. Because as far as I know, it's a tacky misspelling of "SEXY" and makes you look like an idiot.

John Lennons Cool Psychedelic Rolls Royce

John Lennon's taste for cool cars is well known and his super cool Rolls Royce Phantom V. chassis 5VD73 with FJB111C license plate is nearly as legendary as the legend himself!

Why Lennon choose Rolls Royce was the opportunity of personalizing it. In 1965 when Lennon got his hands on this Rolls Royce, he immediately set about personalized it.

He started by installing a radio-telephone, then a very special stereo system, a Sony television set, a fridge and a bed in the back seat!

But only Lennon would dream up a paint job like this...

Lennon was unhappy about the dull uncool colour of his Rolls that clashed with his extrovert and magalomaniac personality. So Lennon ordered a psychedelic paint job from a group of Dutch artists, who filled his car with all sorts of cornucopias, multi-colour florals and yellow background. Lennon was stunned and paid £2,000 for it...that's a whole lot of money back in the 60's! Needless to say, the car shocked Britain's mentality at the time, for whom Rolls Royce was motive of national pride. Some say there was an elderly lady who was so shocked she actually hit the car with her umbrella!

In spite of these nuisances, that obviously amused Lennon, the car became The Beatles' main means of transportation until they split-up in 1970

When Lennon and Yoko moved to the USA, the car moved with them. Already on American soil, it was "lent" to other musicians, such as the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, until it was placed in a garage and, later, donated to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York, where it remained from 1978 until 1985, when it was finally auctioned. The winning bid reached the $2,299,000 USD and allowed Jim Pattison, a Canadian millionaire to become the proud owner of the famous automobile. Later, as an act of kindness, Pattison offered the car to the queen of England. Today, it can be found on display at the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria.

Somebody got bored with their Rolls Centurion (half million dollars), kicked it to the gutter. Like I've said before, rich people are stupid

Notice that this is the same car below, same licence plates.

from http://autozine.com.br/fotos/rolls-royce-abandonado#more-4460

1939 Rolls Royce Phantom III Labourdette Vutotal

Rebodied in 1947 by Labourdette of Paris, this Phantom III was the designer's last and arguably most daring work. It was commissioned by the flamboyant Louis Ritter who let Labourdette go all out, so much so, the body alone cost $44 000 which made it one of the most expensive of its time- equal to around $375 000 in 2003

After it was transformed into Labourdette’s creation, the car was sold off to different owners, including a New York plastic surgeon, a drug dealer who ended up in a Cuban prison and even S. Mars, possibly of the candy empire. In the winter of 2005 John W. Rich of Pottsville, Pennsylvania purchased the car for his extensive collection.

this car was at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours

read about http://www.supercars.net/cars/3606.html

photos from http://www.tuningforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=112&t=78130 via http://stipistop.com/

The tv show Top Gear had a great advertising gimmick to get the attention of everyone at SEMA, they gave rides in REALLY expensive cars

1914 boat tail Rolls Royce that complimented the 1914 Benz