J446 Has Been Invited to Pebble

[Guest J446]

[Buicksplus]

Good for J446, that is quite an honor. It is a lovely car, love that unusual roof line on the top.

I hope they don't nitpick her to death, after all you have actually driven this beauty.....

[Guest J446]

She has 65,000 miles on her.

[billv8]

Congrats on PB invire! I was curious about the French look of the car and discussed it with some friends. One fellow did a search attempting to find a history of J446 and was successful. It is attribution of coachwork to Franay correct? Did Queen Marie purchase the car in Paris? Was the fender modification work in '41 done by B&S? Was the car purchased by the present owner at Christies on 2002? It is a very fine example and the top profile as mentioned before an exceptional design. Are there any plans to return the car to its original fender design?

I followed up with some biog material related to Queen Marie and Samuel Hill. I used to live in Boise and have visited Maryhill Museum so I found the Queen Marie connection to the car very interesting. The following are the Christies description of the car, and associated threads linked to Queen Marie of Romania.

Samuel Hill (Queen Marie's friend and sponsor), was an attorney for James Jerome Hill, Canadian and builder of the Great Northern Railroad. Samuel Hill was out of Seattle and involved in many enterprises including his monumental philanthropic projects, Maryhill planned community (never built) the better roads program. He built the Columbia River Scenic Highway and possibly other roads at a time when paved highways were rare. He also built a miniature of Stonehenge and a WW1 memorial on his land in Columbia River Valley.

When visiting the Northwest do not fail to see Maryhill Museum and Crown Point Tower. The museum has a marvelous collection of rare chess sets, and a fantastic collection of Native American artifacts from many regions. Also fine furnishings and mementos from the reign of Queen Marie and her good friends the Romanovs of Imperial Russia.

Christies Auction - Desenberg J446 Franay, Isotta Fraschini 8B

The I.F. is NOT the SUNSET BOULEVARD movie car

http://www.thecityreview.com/s02ccar.html

Queen Marie dedicates Maryhill

http://www.washington.historylink.org/output.cfm?file_id=5318

Maryhiill Museum today

http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/about.htm

Sam Hill's Miniature Stonehenge

http://www.travelwizard.com/american-river-cruise/iti-dbd-d7.htm

Sam Hill's scenic Columbia River Highway

http://www.columbiariverhighway.com/columbia_river_highway_history.htm

Biog James Hill Railroad Builder

Do not fail to read this. An excellent chronicle of triumph over adversity, business acumen, determination and a dedication to quality and honesty. Well, if not honesty exactly, then sincerity!

http://www.fee.org/vnews.php?nid=96

[Guest J446]

Hi

Yes. Franay. Is this the same Queen Marie? I thought she was Queen of Yogoslavia not Romania.

J446 had a great time at Villa d'Est and looks forward to Pebble.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=event_item.php&rid=60