.jpg?w=1)
Details
The ex-Barker Olympia Show Car, formerly owned by John Moores and later Miss Diana Dors
1931 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM II CONTINENTAL CLOSE-COUPLED FOUR LIGHT SPORTS SALOON
COACHWORK BY BARKER & CO. COACHBUILDERS, Body No. 6586
Registration No. WM 4903
Chassis No. 12 JS
Engine No. JB 65
Ivory over black with golden brown leather interior and burr walnut veneers
Engine: six cylinder, in-line, 7,668cc, 130bhp at 3,100rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual without synchromesh; Suspension: solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum, mechanical servo. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II is considered by many authorities of pre-war Rolls-Royces to be one of the best models the manufacturer ever built. It had the classic lines that said 'luxury' and 'performance' all in one. The Phantom II was made from 1929 to 1935, during which time some 1,767 were produced. It was the last of the Big Six models and is considered the finest achievement of the master, Sir F.H. Royce. The engine actually grew out of the six cylinder used in the Phantom I, but was improved with an aluminium cylinder head and revised manifolding. In the Phantom II, the cantilever springs of the Phantom I were replaced by supple semi-elliptic rear springs. The chassis was lower and so in turn was the centre of gravity; weight was reduced and the steering was much improved. The Phantom II also boasted centralised chassis lubrication and twin ignition systems (one by coil and battery, the other by magneto, firing six plugs each).
Late in 1930 the sporting version of the Phantom II arrived, the Continental, and was to become one of the motoring legends of the Thirties. Based on the short 144 inch chassis and with a 5.25:1 compression and a higher axle ratio, a genuine 100mph was possible. It was very much for the owner/driver who considered himself an enthusiast. The majestic Rolls-Royce radiator and low drivetrain provided a superb platform for elegant coachwork and inspired some of the best proportioned and beautiful designs of the era. A mere 281 Continentals were built.
12 JS, although unique, epitomises this era of development for the marque and model, characteristically demonstrating Barker's forays into streamlining their existing very handsome close-coupled design. The front of the car, back to its 'C' pillar, is archetypal Barker Continental and reminiscent of the prototype car '26 EX' which Barker had bodied only a year earlier. Notable features of this car are the swept back tail running straight down from the roof line to the rear bumper, hiding the luggage space internally in the car but not obscuring the famed twin rear spare wheels, right through to the incorporation of the windscreen and window peaks into the flowing bodywork.
The combined effect is a very modern, advanced reworking of a popular theme, and one can be certain that it was a car of which Barker were very proud, as they chose to exhibit it on their stand at the London Olympia Motor Show in 1931. As was often the case with show cars, they were laden with the latest design features that the coachbuilder was offering, some of which are described above; other features included their own pattern wheel discs, Barker headlight dipping mechanism, ribbed aluminium running boards with tool trays, new Staybrite stainless steel door handles, waist mouldings and windscreen sunvisor, and stylish wood trims incorporating the door handles.
The car clearly stood out at the show as it receives coverage in a number of contemporary publications, including The Motor and The Autocar's Motor Show reports, both immediately after the show. A few weeks later, again in The Motor, more coverage appeared in an article entitled 'Beautifying the back of a car'. This latter comments that 'the upper part of the rear panel slants at an angle equal and opposite to that of the raked windscreen pillars and merges into an outswept lower portion which follows the contours of the rear wings. A big space is thus made available for carrying spare wheels or luggage and the design is aerodynamically sound in that the projecting part of the body fills much of the suction area which is otherwise created in the wake of a moving car.' Original copies these magazines accompany the car and testify to the accuracy of the detail features it retains.
Whether the first owner saw the car at the Olympia Show is not recorded, but certainly within six weeks the car was registered in his name, the buyer being John Moores of Littlewoods fame. Mr Moores (later Sir), kept the car until January 1936 when it was transferred to the Littlewoods Mail Order business.
The subsequent chain of owners is recorded in a letter from Surrey County Council in 1960. Of particular note is a little over one year's ownership by the famed actress and model Diana Dors - once dubbed as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe! Some history from this period exists and the car is noted on the recent documentary 'Where did the Diana Dors Millions Go?'. Shortly after this the car was sold to Honolulu, remaining there until 1998 when it returned to the UK.
Today the car is almost entirely intact, remarkably retaining many of the unusual detail features with which it was originally supplied, such as the Barker wheel discs. The paintwork, which is itself a post-war refurbishment, is to its original colour scheme, but now shows its age with various areas of flaking. Regardless of this the overall appearance and its colours, with only minimal imagination, provide ample proof of how striking the car would have been when new, and how magnificent a concours contender it could make if restored. Unusually fopr a car in this cosmetic order, it is in running order and has noted not to overheat or show any other normal mechanical weaknesses.
The car is offered with the magazines mentioned above together with copies of the chassis build cards, handbook, Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, spares including a new/old stock camshaft and twelve tappets. Aslo included are V5 and V5C documents, large tools (wheel nut spanner, jack etc) and a copy of Barbara Clegg's biography of Sir John Moore.
This is an exceedingly rare chance to acquire one of the most desirable models of the pre-war era, with its own distinct history and proven visual evidence of its originality, and which is ripe for restoration. in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
1931 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM II CONTINENTAL CLOSE-COUPLED FOUR LIGHT SPORTS SALOON
COACHWORK BY BARKER & CO. COACHBUILDERS, Body No. 6586
Registration No. WM 4903
Chassis No. 12 JS
Engine No. JB 65
Ivory over black with golden brown leather interior and burr walnut veneers
Engine: six cylinder, in-line, 7,668cc, 130bhp at 3,100rpm; Gearbox: four-speed manual without synchromesh; Suspension: solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum, mechanical servo. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II is considered by many authorities of pre-war Rolls-Royces to be one of the best models the manufacturer ever built. It had the classic lines that said 'luxury' and 'performance' all in one. The Phantom II was made from 1929 to 1935, during which time some 1,767 were produced. It was the last of the Big Six models and is considered the finest achievement of the master, Sir F.H. Royce. The engine actually grew out of the six cylinder used in the Phantom I, but was improved with an aluminium cylinder head and revised manifolding. In the Phantom II, the cantilever springs of the Phantom I were replaced by supple semi-elliptic rear springs. The chassis was lower and so in turn was the centre of gravity; weight was reduced and the steering was much improved. The Phantom II also boasted centralised chassis lubrication and twin ignition systems (one by coil and battery, the other by magneto, firing six plugs each).
Late in 1930 the sporting version of the Phantom II arrived, the Continental, and was to become one of the motoring legends of the Thirties. Based on the short 144 inch chassis and with a 5.25:1 compression and a higher axle ratio, a genuine 100mph was possible. It was very much for the owner/driver who considered himself an enthusiast. The majestic Rolls-Royce radiator and low drivetrain provided a superb platform for elegant coachwork and inspired some of the best proportioned and beautiful designs of the era. A mere 281 Continentals were built.
12 JS, although unique, epitomises this era of development for the marque and model, characteristically demonstrating Barker's forays into streamlining their existing very handsome close-coupled design. The front of the car, back to its 'C' pillar, is archetypal Barker Continental and reminiscent of the prototype car '26 EX' which Barker had bodied only a year earlier. Notable features of this car are the swept back tail running straight down from the roof line to the rear bumper, hiding the luggage space internally in the car but not obscuring the famed twin rear spare wheels, right through to the incorporation of the windscreen and window peaks into the flowing bodywork.
The combined effect is a very modern, advanced reworking of a popular theme, and one can be certain that it was a car of which Barker were very proud, as they chose to exhibit it on their stand at the London Olympia Motor Show in 1931. As was often the case with show cars, they were laden with the latest design features that the coachbuilder was offering, some of which are described above; other features included their own pattern wheel discs, Barker headlight dipping mechanism, ribbed aluminium running boards with tool trays, new Staybrite stainless steel door handles, waist mouldings and windscreen sunvisor, and stylish wood trims incorporating the door handles.
The car clearly stood out at the show as it receives coverage in a number of contemporary publications, including The Motor and The Autocar's Motor Show reports, both immediately after the show. A few weeks later, again in The Motor, more coverage appeared in an article entitled 'Beautifying the back of a car'. This latter comments that 'the upper part of the rear panel slants at an angle equal and opposite to that of the raked windscreen pillars and merges into an outswept lower portion which follows the contours of the rear wings. A big space is thus made available for carrying spare wheels or luggage and the design is aerodynamically sound in that the projecting part of the body fills much of the suction area which is otherwise created in the wake of a moving car.' Original copies these magazines accompany the car and testify to the accuracy of the detail features it retains.
Whether the first owner saw the car at the Olympia Show is not recorded, but certainly within six weeks the car was registered in his name, the buyer being John Moores of Littlewoods fame. Mr Moores (later Sir), kept the car until January 1936 when it was transferred to the Littlewoods Mail Order business.
The subsequent chain of owners is recorded in a letter from Surrey County Council in 1960. Of particular note is a little over one year's ownership by the famed actress and model Diana Dors - once dubbed as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe! Some history from this period exists and the car is noted on the recent documentary 'Where did the Diana Dors Millions Go?'. Shortly after this the car was sold to Honolulu, remaining there until 1998 when it returned to the UK.
Today the car is almost entirely intact, remarkably retaining many of the unusual detail features with which it was originally supplied, such as the Barker wheel discs. The paintwork, which is itself a post-war refurbishment, is to its original colour scheme, but now shows its age with various areas of flaking. Regardless of this the overall appearance and its colours, with only minimal imagination, provide ample proof of how striking the car would have been when new, and how magnificent a concours contender it could make if restored. Unusually fopr a car in this cosmetic order, it is in running order and has noted not to overheat or show any other normal mechanical weaknesses.
The car is offered with the magazines mentioned above together with copies of the chassis build cards, handbook, Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, spares including a new/old stock camshaft and twelve tappets. Aslo included are V5 and V5C documents, large tools (wheel nut spanner, jack etc) and a copy of Barbara Clegg's biography of Sir John Moore.
This is an exceedingly rare chance to acquire one of the most desirable models of the pre-war era, with its own distinct history and proven visual evidence of its originality, and which is ripe for restoration. in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
in our opinion it is an opportunity not to be missed.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.