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Details
+The ex-Maharajah Rajah Sahib of Hathoura
29,500 miles from new
1933 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50HP PHANTOM II TORPEDO TOURER
COACHWORK BY BARKER
Chassis No. 105 MW
Polished aluminium with red leather interior
Engine: six-cylinder, 7,668cc.; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh manual with right hand change; Suspension: solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four-wheel mechanical servo drum. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II is considered by many authorities of pre-war Rolls-Royces to be the best of the marque 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 Frederick Henry 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 had centralized chassis lubrication and twin ignition systems, one by coil and battery and the other by magneto, firing six plugs each. At the end of 1932, a new improved gearbox was introduced.
Chassis 105 MW is a remarkable survivor of the coachbuilt long chassis Phantom II as it still carries its splendid four-door Barker body with single-panel windscreen. The Rolls-Royce was first ordered for His Highness The Raja of Hathoura for use in India and was shipped in October 1933 from London to Bombay with natural polished aluminium coachwork to the exterior and red hide interior trim. The build sheet records confirm that the original equipment included a chromium plated luggage grid, a chrome mascot and a Staybrite cap, chrome plated headlamp brackets, a cut-out, highly polished front apron, a steering wheel and associated control knobs in ivory white finish, a chrome plated control quadrant, chrome plated instrument bezels and black dial instruments with white figures.
The bonnet was of course also highly polished aluminium with louvres and rear ends sloping at 11 degrees and the louvres carried right through to the rear. Complete with Stephen Grebel spot lights mounted either side of the low windscreen, the finished car must have made a dazzling sight in the Indian noon-day sunshine. Driving aids included one-shot lubrication of the chassis by means of a foot operated lever under the dash and an exhaust cut-out, not permitted for use in the United Kingdom, but no doubt very effective on one's own estate in India!
The Phantom II was found derelict north of Calcutta in the mid seventies and was repatriated to Britain in 1976/7 for restoration by Mr. A.B. Price who is highly regarded as an automotive engineer and whose book Rolls-Royce: The Cars & Their Competitors 1906-1965 features this very car on the front cover. At the time a complete renovation of the coachwork was undertaken. The bodywork was reframed and repaneled as necessary and all the trim was renewed including the side curtains, hood and carpeting. A partial stripdown of the engine was particularly revealing: hardly any wear was found, especially in the bores, thus confirming the amazing low mileage which then was just 20,000 or so miles. It was subsequently displayed at the Stratford Motor Museum before being sold by Christie's in the Summer of 1980 (lot 48) whereupon it again went abroad, this time to Australia as a team mascot-car for an America's Cup yacht owner. The current owner purchased the Rolls-Royce in 1991.
This is a remarkable opportunity to acquire a handsome and truly sporting Rolls-Royce. As the Christie's catalogue stated twenty-one years ago it must be one of only a handful of custom-bodied Rolls-Royce survivors from the golden age of the British Raj.
WITHOUT RESERVE
29,500 miles from new
1933 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50HP PHANTOM II TORPEDO TOURER
COACHWORK BY BARKER
Chassis No. 105 MW
Polished aluminium with red leather interior
Engine: six-cylinder, 7,668cc.; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh manual with right hand change; Suspension: solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four-wheel mechanical servo drum. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II is considered by many authorities of pre-war Rolls-Royces to be the best of the marque 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 Frederick Henry 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 had centralized chassis lubrication and twin ignition systems, one by coil and battery and the other by magneto, firing six plugs each. At the end of 1932, a new improved gearbox was introduced.
Chassis 105 MW is a remarkable survivor of the coachbuilt long chassis Phantom II as it still carries its splendid four-door Barker body with single-panel windscreen. The Rolls-Royce was first ordered for His Highness The Raja of Hathoura for use in India and was shipped in October 1933 from London to Bombay with natural polished aluminium coachwork to the exterior and red hide interior trim. The build sheet records confirm that the original equipment included a chromium plated luggage grid, a chrome mascot and a Staybrite cap, chrome plated headlamp brackets, a cut-out, highly polished front apron, a steering wheel and associated control knobs in ivory white finish, a chrome plated control quadrant, chrome plated instrument bezels and black dial instruments with white figures.
The bonnet was of course also highly polished aluminium with louvres and rear ends sloping at 11 degrees and the louvres carried right through to the rear. Complete with Stephen Grebel spot lights mounted either side of the low windscreen, the finished car must have made a dazzling sight in the Indian noon-day sunshine. Driving aids included one-shot lubrication of the chassis by means of a foot operated lever under the dash and an exhaust cut-out, not permitted for use in the United Kingdom, but no doubt very effective on one's own estate in India!
The Phantom II was found derelict north of Calcutta in the mid seventies and was repatriated to Britain in 1976/7 for restoration by Mr. A.B. Price who is highly regarded as an automotive engineer and whose book Rolls-Royce: The Cars & Their Competitors 1906-1965 features this very car on the front cover. At the time a complete renovation of the coachwork was undertaken. The bodywork was reframed and repaneled as necessary and all the trim was renewed including the side curtains, hood and carpeting. A partial stripdown of the engine was particularly revealing: hardly any wear was found, especially in the bores, thus confirming the amazing low mileage which then was just 20,000 or so miles. It was subsequently displayed at the Stratford Motor Museum before being sold by Christie's in the Summer of 1980 (lot 48) whereupon it again went abroad, this time to Australia as a team mascot-car for an America's Cup yacht owner. The current owner purchased the Rolls-Royce in 1991.
This is a remarkable opportunity to acquire a handsome and truly sporting Rolls-Royce. As the Christie's catalogue stated twenty-one years ago it must be one of only a handful of custom-bodied Rolls-Royce survivors from the golden age of the British Raj.
WITHOUT RESERVE
Special notice
This lot has no reserve.
Customs Duty (2.5%) is payable on the final bid price. Please note however that, if the purchased lot is subseqently exported within certain procedures, the Customs Duty is refundable to the exporter.