The extraordinary Phantom of Countess di Frasso

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We should have known that the outrageously bodied Sedanca de Ville, seen with Ginger Rogers in the 1943 colour film ‘Lady in the Dark’ (click here), was the work of Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin. His name has been linked to a number of coachbuilders – Hibbard & Darrin, Fernandez & Darrin and simply Darrin of Paris – but Darrin is the common factor here, and our man is Howard. Howard Darrin also had strong links to the coachbuilders Brewster and LeBaron, but the first company to use his own name – Hibbard & Darrin – was established in Paris with Thomas L. Hibbard. The second – Fernandez & Darrin – also had its offices and workshop in Paris and was established with Jean Fernandez. The third – Darrin of Paris – was formed following Darrin’s return to the US. Despite its name, it was based in Hollywood.

There is little doubt that the American stylist, designer and coachbuilder extraordinaire built his cars for the rich and famous: the stars and socialites of the day. Darrin’s companies did not advertise much, but were present at all the major shows and concours events, winning an impressive number of trophies. As one report put it: “The firm’s greatest sales asset was one of its founding partners, Howard A. Darrin. Darrin was a knowledgeable antiques collector, polo player, World War I fighting ace and an accomplished ladies’ man. In a few short years he became well acquainted with Parisian high society, which brought a steady stream of American expatriates, tourists and wealthy Europeans to the firm’s showroom.”

One of these was Countess di Frasso, who was born into New York’s upper echelons with a huge silver spoon in her mouth as Dorothy Cadwell Taylor. Her life story is one long catalogue of exotic travels, extravagant purchases, lavish parties, intricate affairs and ornate marriages. And plenty of gossip, too. It involved aeroplanes, yachts, schooners and automobiles as well.

The Rolls-Royce is probably the best known of these. It started life as a left-hand-drive 1933 Phantom II with limousine coachwork by Brewster. But when the Countess saw the Phantom ‘Town Car’ belonging to film star Constance Bennett, she knew her own car had to receive a makeover. The Rolls-Royce was taken to Darrin’s Hollywood workshop and transformed in 1937/’38 into the flamboyant Sedanca de Ville you see here. Another source states that it was built in Paris under the name Fernandez & Darrin, but finished in Franay’s workshop after Fernandez & Darrin ceased trading.

It was originally black, or so we believe, meaning that the metallic or metal-flake paint seen in ‘Lady in the Dark’ may have been applied specifically for the film. We also discovered that the car appeared in the 1939 film ‘Midnight’, starring Claudette Colbert, and in a 1951 magazine advertisement with tennis star Gussie Moran – in both cases finished in black. It must be tucked away in a private collection today, as it appears not to have been seen in public for decades.

Words: Jeroen Booij
Pictures: coachbuild.com

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