Chariot of Dreams: Rare 1989 Rolls-Royce Landaulet Wows at DFW Museum

At the DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, one vehicle stands out as a breathtaking testament to automotive extravagance: the 1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Emperor State Landaulet. Nicknamed the "Chariot of Dreams," this unique car was commissioned by the Silver Lady Trust and meticulously built by the revived Hooper & Company, legendary coachbuilders once patronized by British royalty. It now resides as the crown jewel of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, symbolizing unparalleled opulence and visionary craftsmanship. Constructed on a stretched Silver Spirit chassis, the one-off Hooper creation features a stunning Mason's Black and Royal Claret paint scheme. Its extended rear cabin, designed in the spirit of ceremonial parade cars, includes new coach-built doors, panoramic window glass, and a removable roof panel with a folding landaulet top. Distinctive "By Appointment" tread plates and doors that lock open for public showcases add to its regal presence.

Inside, the vehicle offers a luxurious velour-trimmed "conversation pit" adorned with cedar-dyed burled walnut and a hidden refrigerator in the trunk. It boasts an array of cutting-edge 1989 entertainment technology, including a Philips LCD television, CD player, radio, Toshiba computer and printer, and sets of crystal flutes and tumblers. Ron Sturgeon, founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, marvels at its over-the-top design, noting it was built to be a "rolling spectacle" and remains unlike anything else in his collection, with the added intrigue of once being owned by Kid Rock. Completed in 1991, the Emperor toured Europe and appeared at major auto shows in Australia before being preserved in Hooper's corporate collection until 2010. With just over 13,000 miles and all original accessories intact, it stands as a landmark of modern bespoke coachbuilding and is a highlight among hundreds of exceptional vehicles at the museum.

The DFW Car & Toy Museum, founded by Ron Sturgeon, has evolved from its origins as the DFW Elite Toy Museum in the 1980s into a 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth. The museum offers free parking and admission, featuring secure climate-controlled car storage and event facilities for car clubs and board meetings. It is dog-friendly and encourages photography, with hours from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visitors can plan their visit at www.dfwmuseum.com to experience the Chariot of Dreams and other incredible vehicles from the Ron Sturgeon Collection, with more details available on the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com. This showcase not only highlights automotive artistry but also celebrates Sturgeon's lifelong passion for cars, which began in his teenage years and led to a successful career in the automotive industry.