In 1933, Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton ordered a Rolls-Royce for a Georgian prince; he died crashing that car, but it survived, crossed the Atlantic aboard the QE2 and sold for £166,750 in 2026

Barbara Hutton’s Rolls-Royce survived a prince’s fatal crash and sold for £166,750 in 2026 (Image Credit: Bonhams)

A luxury car built as a wedding gift became the centre of a remarkable story involving an American heiress, a Georgian prince, a fatal crash and a transatlantic journey. The 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Drophead Coupé, commissioned by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton for her first husband, Prince Alexis Mdivani, survived its owner’s death and went on to cross the Atlantic aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2. More than nine decades after its construction, the historic motor car sold for £166,750, including the buyer’s premium, at a Bonhams auction on September 19, 2026. According to Bonhams’ auction catalogue, its rarity, bespoke engineering and documented history made it an especially distinctive example of pre-war automotive craftsmanship.

A Rolls-Royce commissioned for a royal romance

Barbara Hutton, granddaughter of F. W. Woolworth, the founder of the Woolworth retail fortune, was among the world’s wealthiest women by the age of 21. Often described in the press as the “Poor Little Rich Girl”, she became known for her lavish lifestyle and turbulent personal life. In the early 1930s, Hutton became engaged to Prince Alexis Mdivani, a Georgian aristocrat living in exile in Paris. To celebrate their forthcoming marriage, she commissioned a Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, chassis number 3MW, as a special gift for him.The car was built by Rolls-Royce with coachwork from the London-based firm Thrupp & Maberly. It was one of only three Phantom II Continental models to receive the company’s distinctive Sedanca Drophead Coupé bodywork. The vehicle was displayed at the 1933 Paris Salon before delivery, placing it among the notable luxury cars showcased during the period.

Inside the prince’s aviation-inspired car

The Phantom II Continental was designed for more spirited touring than the standard Phantom II. Its shorter wheelbase and revised engineering offered improved performance, while its bespoke bodywork gave it a distinctive profile. Prince Mdivani, a qualified pilot, influenced several of the car’s unusual specifications. The bonnet was extended by four inches, the bonnet louvres were angled at 13.5 degrees, and a larger 28-gallon fuel tank was fitted.The cabin was particularly distinctive. Turned aluminium panels featured across the interior, including the dashboard, which carried a specially ordered six-inch speedometer and tachometer. An altimeter and variometer, instruments associated with aviation, added to the aircraft-inspired design. Adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers also allowed the suspension to be stiffened for high-speed driving. These details made the vehicle more than a conventional luxury car, reflecting its owner’s interests and the era’s fascination with speed and technological innovation.

A fatal crash, followed by a second life

Hutton and Mdivani reportedly took the Rolls-Royce on their honeymoon. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1935, with Mdivani retaining the car. Shortly afterwards, while holidaying in Spain, the prince was driving at high speed when he crashed the vehicle and was killed. The car survived the accident and was returned to Hutton.According to Bonhams, Hutton is understood to have sent it back to Rolls-Royce and Thrupp & Maberly for a comprehensive refurbishment. It subsequently passed through several British owners and underwent restoration by FLM Panelcraft during the 1950s or 1960s. Its history then took it across the Atlantic. In the mid-1970s, the car travelled to the United States aboard the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly known as the QE2.It remained in American ownership for decades and reportedly received careful maintenance, including an engine rebuild attributed to Rolls-Royce enthusiast Frank Cook. After nearly 50 years with a single owner, it passed to another custodian in 2018.

The historic car sells for £166,750

The Rolls-Royce was acquired by its most recent seller at a US auction in 2023. It was subsequently sent to Restocar SA, specialists in pre-war cars based in Clarens, Switzerland, for comprehensive servicing, with an invoice of CHF 18,000 included in the car’s history file. Bonhams offered the vehicle as Lot 231 at its Goodwood Revival Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia sale on September 19, 2026. The car sold for £166,750, including the buyer’s premium. Its appeal lay in the combination of rarity, bespoke construction and an unusually well-documented ownership history. The auction listing also included copies of factory build records and described the car as an older restoration.From a commission celebrating a royal romance to a fatal accident and a voyage aboard one of the world’s best-known ocean liners, the Phantom II Continental has survived a succession of extraordinary chapters. Its 2026 sale marked another milestone in the life of a car whose significance extends beyond its luxurious design to the people and events associated with it.