1958 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER CLOUD LWB PAR HENRI CHAPRON EX-BRIGITTE BARDOT

German title
Chassis n° LBLC22
Engine n° C21B

• Ex-Brigitte Bardot, numerous period photos
• Unique Henri Chapron body
• Sold new in France, left-hand drive

Chassis LBLC22, a rare left-hand drive, long wheelbase version, was ordered through Franco Britannic Automobiles, the Rolls Royce importer for France, by a Parisian baron in 1957. On 30 April 1958, the car was delivered to the coachbuilder Henri Chapron, to be fitted with a limousine body with custom built driver separation, and was painted metallic dark green.
The work was completed on 9 November 1958, and the car was finally registered on 23 January 1959. This was the only Silver Cloud to be bodied by Chapron, with unique coachwork that differs in many ways from the factory version. On 6 January 1966, the superb limousine passed into the hands of Brigitte Bardot, who set off in her new car for a winter skiing holiday in Méribel-Les Allues, as can be seen in a series of photos of this legendary period. Identified by the registration it had at that time, 9766 PL 75, the car was repainted white by Chapron and accompanied the actress to Spain for the filming of "Shalako" starring Sean Connery in 1968. Bardot sold her Rolls Royce at the start of 1970 to Jean Bouquin, her friend, the fashion designer from Saint Tropez. The car was then registered in the name of a woman from Monaco and in 1989, a meticulous restoration took place over a five-year period in England. The car was then sold by a renowned Belgian dealer and remained in a German collection for twenty years, before being sold in 2017 and benefitting from a thorough overhaul. Presented in an elegant midnight blue with superb beige leather upholstery, this Rolls Royce is in good running condition. Noëlle Chapron has confirmed that she is in possession of the construction file for the car and is happy to be contacted by the new owner. When a Rolls Royce has a unique body built by one of the top French coachbuilders, and has been owned by one of the most iconic French stars, it represents an exceptional opportunity.

Photo © Philipp Löhmann

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1958-rolls-royce-silver-cloud-lwb-par-henri-chapron-ex-brigitte-bardot-4134-211