The Story of the Round Doors Roll: A One-of-a-Kind Classic

Eccentric Elegance - Every so often, history leaves behind a masterpiece that feels less like a machine and more like a work of art on wheels. When we talk about the world’s most iconic automobiles, certain names naturally rise to the surface—yet few stories are as intriguing as that of the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, better known by its unforgettable nickname: the Round Doors Roll. It’s not just a car; it’s a tale of reinvention, daring design, and a legacy that has outlived generations.

See how stunning the 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, known as the Round Doors Roll, looked on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2016. (Picture from: TheTruthAboutCars)

When people hear the name Rolls-Royce, the first thing that comes to mind is unmatched luxury. For decades, the brand has stood shoulder to shoulder with royalty, heads of state, and the world’s wealthiest individuals. Beyond the prestige, Rolls-Royce has always carried a trademark element—the Spirit of Ecstasy. That small, graceful sculpture of a woman leaning forward with cloth flowing like wings is a symbol instantly tied to the marque. Yet in 1925, one particular Phantom I would break away from tradition and be reborn into something radically different, thanks to the imagination of a Belgian coachbuilder.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, showed French-inspired touches as Jonckheere streamlined the traditional vertical grille, framed it with bullet-shaped headlamps, and gave the front an exotic, aerodynamic character. (Picture from: TheTruthAboutCars)

Originally, the car left the factory as a Phantom I fitted with a Hooper cabriolet body, destined for a buyer in Detroit who, for reasons still unknown, never took delivery. Instead, the vehicle was sold to the Raja of Nanpara in India before eventually finding its way to Belgium in 1932. Two years later, Jonckheere Carrossiers—a workshop that still exists today under the name VDL Jonckheere—began a complete transformation. What emerged from their atelier was unlike any Rolls-Royce before: a sleek, almost futuristic fastback coupé, standing in stark contrast to the stately and upright silhouettes the brand was known for.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, featured sweeping fenders, a dramatic vertical tail fin, and bold round doors that together formed a silhouette unlike any other Rolls-Royce of its era. (Picture from: TheTruthAboutCars)

The design carried influences from leading French creators of the era such as Jacques Saoutchik, Joseph Figoni and the house of Letourneur et Marchand, but Jonckheere dared to go even further. They streamlined the traditional vertical Rolls-Royce grille, flanked it with bullet-shaped headlamps, sculpted sweeping fenders, and even added a vertical tail fin beneath the boot lid. And then, of course, there were the doors—giant, perfectly round portals that gave the car its nickname. Opening them was like stepping into a different universe, though they required a clever engineering trick: the windows had to be split into two pieces that folded down like scissors to function.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, is powered by a restored Phantom I straight-six engine and, at nearly 20 feet long, ranks among the largest two-door cars ever built. (Picture from: LeithCars)

When enthusiasts look back at the bold designs of the 1920s and 1930s, the Round Doors Roll is often mentioned in the same breath as the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. Both cars pushed boundaries at a time when automotive styling was still finding its footing, blending aerodynamic shapes with a level of elegance that felt decades ahead of their time. While the Bugatti is often celebrated as a sculpture on wheels, the Rolls-Royce Jonckheere Coupé carried the same spirit of innovation but with its own eccentric twist—proving that different worlds of design could still share a common vision of daring beauty.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, features a striking cabin finished in deep red leather with a classic dashboard adorned by large vintage gauges and elegant chrome details. (Picture from: LeithCars)

Stretching nearly 20 feet in length, this extraordinary coupé stands among the largest two-door cars ever built. Sadly, much of its documented history vanished when the Jonckheere workshop was struck by fire, erasing the names of whoever dreamed up and commissioned this one-of-a-kind machine.😭 What remained, however, was the physical car itself—a moving sculpture destined to make waves at concours events around the globe.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, featured sweeping fenders and a dramatic vertical tail fin that emphasized its bold aerodynamic styling and set it apart from the traditional elegance of other Rolls-Royce models of the era. (Picture from: TheTruthAboutCars)

The Round Doors Roll eventually crossed the Atlantic before World War II, but years of neglect left it in poor condition. In the 1950s, East Coast entrepreneur Max Obie rescued it, covering it in gold paint laced with actual flakes of the metal to grab attention. He spun dramatic rumors about its supposed royal ownership and paraded it around as a showpiece, which, while perhaps a disservice to its artistry, cemented its notoriety.

The 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupé, or Round Doors Roll, carried the spirit of innovation but with its own eccentric twist—proving that different worlds of design could still share a common vision of daring beauty. (Picture from: TheTruthAboutCars)

Decades passed, and the car shifted between private owners until the early 1990s, when it sold at auction to a Japanese collector for about $1.5 million. A decade later, it found its way into the collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where it still resides today. Visitors who stand before it often find themselves mesmerized—not only by the sweeping lines and bold round doors, but also by the sheer audacity of its existence.😒

The story of the Round Doors Roll is not just about design; it’s about imagination. It shows us that even the most traditional symbols of luxury can be reimagined into something that pushes boundaries and defies expectations. Nearly a century after it first rolled onto the road, this singular Rolls-Royce continues to spark wonder, much like its Bugatti counterpart, reminding us that the spirit of creativity never goes out of style. *** [EKA [09022021] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE TRUTH ABOUT CARS | LEITHCARS | HEACOCKCLASSIC ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.