Derham Body Company Legacy in Luxury Car Manufacturing

The Derham Body Company has a rich legacy in luxury car manufacturing, one that spans over a century. Founded in 1907, the company was originally known as Derham Motor Car Works.

Derham's early success can be attributed to its focus on creating bespoke bodies for high-end vehicles, a trend that was particularly popular among wealthy Americans during the early 20th century. This specialization allowed Derham to stand out in a crowded market.

The company's commitment to quality and craftsmanship earned it a reputation as one of the premier luxury car manufacturers in the country.

The Derham Body Company was a master of crafting exquisite coachwork for the world's elite. They built bodies on the finest domestic and foreign chassis, and even worked with royalty.

One notable example is the 1936 Pierce-Arrow Model 1601, a 12-cylinder beauty that Derham custom-bodied in the style of the Brunn Metropolitan Town Car. It was first registered by Charles Walker of Massachusetts and has been restored twice.

Derham's Philadelphia clients, known for their "old-money" patronage, kept the company afloat during the Great Depression. Their custom bodies were worth every penny, as evidenced by the 1938 Packard Model 1608 Victoria, which cost over $4,000 on top of the car's price.

The Derham Body Company of Rosemont, Pennsylvania, was the last coachbuilder of the classic era, surviving two world wars and the Great Depression.

Joseph Derham founded the company as the Rosemont Carriage Works in 1887, a wise choice given the wealthy society set in Philadelphia.

The company built bodies on the finest domestic and foreign chassis and even bodied cars for royalty.

Enos Derham, the youngest of Joseph's sons, ran the company and established its look, which would become synonymous with classic American coachwork.

Derham continued to stay afloat during the Great Depression through the patronage of its Philadelphia clients, who appreciated the company's high-quality products and faithful service.

This 1936 Pierce-Arrow Model 1601, custom-bodied by Derham, was first registered by Charles Walker of Massachusetts and later restored in 1977 and again in the early 1990s.

The company received a much-needed contract from the Army in 1942, which helped them get through the war years.

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Derham Body started by ordering multiple bodies of a particular design from dealers, a cost-saving practice that grew into short production runs of 20 or more identical automobiles.

This approach allowed them to offer customized bodies without breaking the bank.

Derham developed their own distinctive automobile body style, building most of their bodies on Packards and Hudsons.

They continued to build one-off cars on any chassis their customer required, showcasing their flexibility.

During the 1930s, Derham survived by building bodies on Ford V8s and taking on a Plymouth - De Soto dealership.

They also built mobile canteens for Philadelphia's shipyards, adding aircraft components to their production line.

To combat cost increases, Derham amended standard sedan bodies to make them into limousines, often with minimal changes to the underlying structure.

Their clients were a who's who of the time, including Raymond Loewy, Pope Pius XII, and Harry Truman.

Derham Body Company was known for its bespoke bodies, which were often marketed through Packard and Hudson dealers. They built a short-run series of prestige bodies, five to about 40 at a time.

The company's first auto bodies were built in 1907, and they survived the Depression by offering modestly priced products and faithful service to all their customers. This allowed them to thrive into the 1970s.

Some of Derham's most notable builds include a 1939 Chrysler Custom Imperial Parade Phaeton, a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Arlington Sedan, and a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster.

Garthwaite was a significant figure in the Derham business, purchasing the company and its building in 1964.

The business had significantly scaled back by then, focusing on armoring Cadillac and Lincoln limousines and restoring classic cars.

Garthwaite took over the business at a time when its focus had shifted from high-end custom car builds to more specialized services.

The 1939 Chrysler Custom Imperial Parade Phaeton is a one-of-a-kind beauty. It was constructed especially for the New York World's Fair that year.

Joseph Derham founded Rosemont Carriage Works in 1887, and his carriages were said to be the equal of James Brewster's.

This Parade Phaeton was first displayed at the Chrysler Pavilion at the Fair, and it was then used to serve the royal entourage of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England.

It was built on one of 1939's 310 Custom Imperial 144-in. wheelbase chassis, and it sports dual side-mounts and elongated wind-wings on the front doors.

The car was especially fitted with high glass windows and rear-facing jump seats for the royal entourage.

After the Fair, this car went to a Chrysler executive garage in Detroit, where it was used for official functions.

It was used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, Michigan Governor Murray Van Wagoner, Chrysler president K.T. Keller, and War Production Board chairman Donald Nelson to tour Chrysler’s defense plants in 1942.

The car remained with the Roose-Vanker Post, American Legion, until it was purchased by Bruce Thomas, a former Chrysler engineer and historian, in the early 1980s.

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The 1931 Arlington Sedan is a rare gem in the world of classic cars. It was built by Derham, a renowned body builder, and features a unique design with blind rear quarters.

Only five Derham Arlington sedans were built, with four of them on the short-wheelbase Model J chassis. This particular model was purchased new by a Peruvian singer who likely kept it at his New York home before taking it to other countries.

The car's 6.9-liter inline-eight engine produced 265 horsepower, a significant amount for its time. It later spent time under ownership in Paris and Cairo, giving it a truly exotic history.

The car was repainted at least once, although it's unclear when exactly that happened. Despite its rich history, the car has not been fully restored.

In 1957, the car returned to the United States, and its current whereabouts are unknown.

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The 1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Derham is a stunning example of a limited-production car. It was one of only three convertibles made, and it's easy to see why it's a rare gem.

This car was sent to Derham in Pennsylvania to be converted into a drop-top, but it never became part of the production line. It's a shame, because this car looks fantastic with the top down.

The Continental Mark II was a high-end car, priced at $10,000 in 1956, making it the most expensive American car at the time. That's a staggering amount of money, especially considering the average price of a new car in 1956.

The Mark II was only produced for two years, with a combined total of just 3,005 units made. This car is a piece of automotive history, and it's incredible to think about how many people would have loved to own one.

The car's mechanicals were updated to 1957-spec before it became the personal car of Martha Firestone-Ford, wife of Continental head William Clay Ford.

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The 1942 Cadillac Series 60 Special Town Car by Derham is a rare gem. It was delivered new to someone in New York.

This car stands out because most Cadillacs were bodied in-house by this point, making it a unique machine. It's the last of its kind.

The present owner acquired this car in 1974 and restored it.