1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sports Enclosed Limousine

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Chassis No: 3AZ66
Mot Expiry: T.B.A.

2010 Peking to Paris Challenge participant and Silver Medal winner

The stately Rolls-Royce Phantom III was announced in late 1935 and, until the Silver Seraph of 1998, was the only 'Spirit of Ecstasy' to be powered by a V12 engine. As one would expect from a company already expert in the manufacture of similarly configured aero engines, this was quite some powerplant. Of all-alloy construction, it had a displacement of 7338cc and overhead valves operated by a single camshaft nestling in the valley of the cylinder banks. Prior to 1938, the units featured a unique hydraulic tappet system. A twin ignition setup comprised two distributors, two coils and 24 spark plugs.

Suspension was independent with coil springs at the front and semi-elliptic units at the rear. The gearbox was a four-speed manual unit with synchromesh on the top three ratios. Braking was servo-assisted drums all round. The specification included integral jacking and a one-shot lubrication system operated by a lever in the driver's compartment. Owners purchased a rolling chassis from Rolls-Royce, the bodies being added by a coachbuilder of their choice, the most renowned of whom were: Hooper, Mulliner, Park Ward and Thrupp & Maberly. Once complete, Phantom IIIs could turn the scales at up to 3.5 tons. According to Autocar's magazine test of a 1938 model, 60 mph could be summoned in just under 17 seconds, from which the car could be persuaded on to a terminal speed of some 87 mph. The overall fuel consumption was a little extravagant in the light of today's prices - 10 mpg. Phantom III production ceased in 1939 after 727 examples had been manufactured. Its period of global fame was still 25 years away, however, as in 1964 it was immortalised as the transport of choice by the villainous Goldfinger in the James Bond movie named after him. The black and yellow Phantom III featured was a splendid Sedanca de Ville model with coachwork by Barker.

The right-hand drive Phantom III offered for sale is also finished in Black and Yellow and was built to the order of a Mrs Fyfe-Jamieson of Meigle, Perthshire. Its chassis, number 3-AZ-66, was despatched to Hooper & Co of St James Street, London on July 9th 1936, for the fitment of what is described as a 'Sports Enclosed Limousine' body. The car's specification included 'soft' rear springs, as the Rolls was primarily to be used for touring on the continent.

Following World War Two, 'Flora' is understood to have passed through the hands of David Markson and A. Fairbrother (both fellow countrymen of Mrs Fyfe-Jamieson) before journeying to North America. Repatriated sometime during the 1980s, the handsome Hooper-bodied car's next known owner was Mr Ron Cowpe who purchased it from marque specialists The Real Car Company. By coincidence, Cowpe ended up emigrating to Victoria in Canada, so the car crossed the Atlantic once more. The current owner bought it in Victoria in 2008, with the specific intention of entering the 2010 Peking to Paris Rally. So began a unique restoration project.

It was also a not inexpensive task for, having spent $45,000 on purchasing the venerable Rolls, he then parted with a further $135,200 to rejuvenate it and prepare it for its impending 9,000 mile ordeal through 12 countries and some of the world's toughest terrain. 'Flora' was completely stripped and the chassis restored and powder coated. The engine, gearbox, axle, brakes and electrical system were also totally renovated, with new parts fitted as required. A total of six wheels were restored with extra-heavy duty spokes - a second spare being housed in the left-hand front wing. The fuel system was upgraded with boot-mounted twin pumps and filters, both a 40-gallon FuelSafe and 20 gallon auxiliary bladder tank, plus a three-stage filter for the carburettor.

A modern core was added to the radiator and the power supply modified to dual batteries with isolator switch. A contemporary heater was installed and a truck-spec silencer fitted. Further rally-orientated items included: a roll bar, three-point harnesses, mud flaps, fire extinguisher, competition odometer, sump guard, bull bars, and storage boxes in place of the rear seat. Despite the pounding the rally was bound to inflict on the bodywork and period interior, the Rolls was treated to a bare metal repaint in Black and Yellow and a complete re-trim in beige; during which the front seats were contoured to ensure better support for the competing occupants. 'Flora' was one of 85 cars to complete the rally, finishing 19th in the 1931-1941 class and being awarded a silver medal. The team dealt with 20 punctures, the total destruction of two wheel rims and problems with second gear, the handbrake and dynamo.

As now offered, the Phantom III is said to have "good" paintwork and trim, no known problems with the engine and minor damage to the coachwork. There is apparently a tendency for the gearbox to jump out of second gear and the dynamo currently fails to charge. With these relatively minor details attended to, 'Flora' would seem to be the perfect entry for the next Peking to Paris event, for which there is nearly three years left to prepare. Messrs Rolls and Royce would surely have been the first to applaud such adventurous use for 'the best car in the world'.