Two of the most striking prewar Rolls-Royces ever built will cross the block at no reserve during Mecum’s Larry’s Legacy 2025 auction, scheduled for September 20.
The late Larry Klairmont spent more than a decade collecting rare and coveted classic and collector cars, along with thousands of items of Road Art and memorabilia to complete the look and feel of his Chicago-based museum. A long-time dedicated customer of Mecum Auctions, Klairmont had full faith in the company’s proven ability to draw the best audiences in the world, which is why the museum has selected Mecum to handle the upcoming sale of his treasured collection. Mecum Auctions has spent more than 38 years building trust among the collector car community, offering more than 2,000 collections of varying types in that time. For the company’s lucky bidders, such collections often offer rare buying opportunities for vehicles that have long been tucked away or that have never changed hands at all, along with the peace of mind that the cars were held in the attentive care of a true-blue collector car enthusiast. Click here to register for the Larry’s Legacy auction, to be held on-site at the museum’s downtown Chicago location this Sept. 19-21.
Leading the offerings is a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II featuring Honduras mahogany boattail skiff bodywork crafted by W.B. Carter Coach and Boat Builders of Cambridgeshire, England. The roadster’s unique wooden body is the result of an estimated 3,000 hours of craftsmanship, assembled with traditional dowel-and-peg joinery. Just 1,767 Phantom IIs were produced between 1929 and 1935, making this example particularly rare. Originally imported to the United States by collector James C. Leake, it has since been part of several prestigious collections, including those of Millard Newman, Raymond Lutgert, and Dean Becker. Finished with a tan leather interior and wire wheels, the Phantom II represents both artistry and engineering excellence of the interwar era.
Sharing the spotlight is a 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Aero Coupe, powered by a 7.3-liter V-12 rated at 165 horsepower. Distinguished by its custom Aero Coupe coachwork, the right-hand-drive example features aluminum cylinder heads, hydraulic lifters, and a triple-pressure oiling system paired with a four-speed synchromesh manual transmission. Finished in Indigo blue with dual side-mounted spares and a Lalique Chrysis radiator mascot, the coupe’s interior showcases lilac Scottish leather, black walnut burl veneer, European goose-down cushions, and English wool carpeting. The lavish details underscore Rolls-Royce’s reputation for luxury and individuality in the prewar era.
Both vehicles are being offered from the Larry Klairmont Museum Collection, where they were displayed long term. As with other cars from the collection, they will likely require recommissioning before road use.
For collectors, the chance to acquire either Rolls-Royce without reserve offers a rare opportunity to own museum-grade examples of the marque’s prewar brilliance.
