Mystery Friday Foto #4: Solved; Automobiles owned by the Phipps family of Old Westbury
Old Westbury Gardens challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery Foto.
Paul Hunchak, director of programs and exhibits at Old Westbury Gardens: "Like many other wealthy families the Phipps owned very high-end cars, and while we have some information about what vehicles they owned we don't know much about the cars in their context. Do you have information of these vehicles parked in the courtyard of Westbury House."
In this photo, Margarita Phipps is holding James Gordon Douglas II, while Gene Phipps and Dita Douglas wrestle on the grass near the Courtyard of Westbury House (Old Westbury Gardens.)
Mystery Foto questions:
Identify automobile A:
- The manufacturer: Buick
- Model: Series 90 Limited 7-seater
- Year: 1936
Answers to the Kudos questions:
Identify vehicles:
B: Carter Electric Invalid Car (unknown year)
C: 1942 Crosley Liberty Sedan
D: 1935 Buick Series 40
E: 1939 Crosley Convertible
F: 1936-1949 FIAT 500 A Topolino
Congrats and kudos to Hugh H. Nutting, Marc Alssid, Dick Gorman, and David Miller for identifying some of the vehicles.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick & Greg O.
Close-Ups: Automobile A
1936 Buick Series 90 Limited 7-seater
Vehicle B
Margarita Phipps in the court yard of Westbury House (Old Westbury Gardens)
Carter Electric Invalid Car (unknown year)
Vehicle C
Peggie Phipps, her daughter Margarita ""Dita"" Douglas, and her English relatives leaning on the vehicle at Westbury House.
1942 Crosley Liberty Sedan
Vehicle D
Molly Phipps arriving at Westbury House and greeted by a dog.
1935 Buick Series 40 Coupe (non-original wheels in this photo)
Vehicle E
Jay Phipps and his dog in the driveway of Orchard Hill on the estate.
1939 Crosley Convertible
Vehicle F
Margarita and Molly Phipps leaning on their car near the stables at Westbury House.
1936 FIAT 500 A Topolino
1948 FIAT 500 A Topolino
Comments
The black sedan is a 1936 Buick 90 series. Car C is a 1939/40 Crosley station wagon. Eis another 2 cylinder prewar Crosley convertible. F is a FIAT Tipo. D could be a 1935 Buick Opera Coupe
I think the Vehicle in photo A is a 1936 Buick Limited Model 91 Sedan.
The Vehicle in photo D is also a 36 Buick. I believe it is a Century Model in the 68 Series, but you will have to check with Walt Gosden on that!
Since I am a Buick Club guy, I will stick to those two photos.
Mystery Foto #4…Vehicle A is a 1936 Buick Series 40 Special 4 door. Vehicle B is a Carter Electric Invalid car from England. Vehicle C is a pre-war Crosley. Vehicle D is a 1934, 1935 Buick. Vehicle E is another pre-war Crosley. Vehicle F is a FIAT 500 Topolino.
Funny to realize that one of the wealthiest families in America would own the Crosleys… surely the cheapest and worst American cars ever.
By the way the FIAT Topolino was in production from 1936 to 1955.
1936 Buick Century.
Just a thought that may need some clarification about picture c. I agree that it is a 1942 Crosley but unlike the other pictures, it seems to me that the picture was actually taken in the 1960’s since the clothes worn by the children were the same as my wife wore when she was a child in the 1960’s. The other pictures seem period correct but picture c appears to be a pose from a later date….any thoughts, since my wife insists she wore the same outfits 60 years ago.