The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added a truly unique vehicle to its collection: the 1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Emperor State Landaulet, nicknamed the Chariot of Dreams. This one-of-a-kind car was commissioned by the Silver Lady Trust and built by the revived Hooper & Company, renowned coachbuilders who once served British royalty. Now housed in the Ron Sturgeon Collection, the vehicle represents an extraordinary blend of luxury, craftsmanship, and automotive history.
Constructed on a stretched Silver Spirit chassis, the Emperor State Landaulet features a body painted in Mason's Black and Royal Claret. The extended rear cabin includes new coach-built doors, panoramic window glass, and a removable roof panel with a folding landaulet top, designed in the spirit of ceremonial parade cars. It also boasts 'By Appointment' tread plates and doors that can lock open for public showcases, emphasizing its role as a rolling spectacle.
Inside, the vehicle is appointed with a velour-trimmed 'conversation pit,' cedar-dyed burled walnut accents, a hidden refrigerator in the trunk, and an array of entertainment technology that was cutting-edge in 1989, including a Philips LCD television, CD player, radio, Toshiba computer and printer, and crystal flutes and tumblers. 'This car is so over-the-top, it's hard to believe it's real until you see it in person,' said Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum. 'It was designed to be a rolling spectacle—and it still is. From the custom woodwork to the ceremonial roof to the fact that Kid Rock once owned it, it's unlike anything else in the collection.'
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 remains a landmark of modern bespoke coachbuilding. The Chariot of Dreams is one of hundreds of exceptional vehicles on display at the museum, which opened its new 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth. The museum offers free parking and admission, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visitors can plan their visit at www.dfwmuseum.com to see this and other incredible vehicles from the Ron Sturgeon Collection.
The museum's website, dfwcarandtoymuseum.com, provides additional information about hours and events. This display offers a rare opportunity to see a vehicle that defies classification and embodies the pinnacle of automotive artistry.
