1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca de Ville

Lot details
Registration No: GH 5900
Chassis No: 162GN
Mot Expiry: June 2006

Last of the truly grand six-cylinder Rolls-Royces and indeed the final one to be overseen from start to finish by F. Henry Royce himself, the Phantom II was introduced at the October 1929 Olympia Motor Show. Something of a radical departure from its predecessor, it was built around a new ladder frame chassis equipped with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension (underslung at the rear), hydraulic shock absorbers and four-wheel gearbox-driven servo assisted drum brakes. Topped by a new aluminium alloy crossflow cylinder head, its pair-cast 7668cc six-cylinder ohv engine was bolted directly to both a four-speed manual gearbox and the chassis side rails. With its radiator mounted aft of a beam front axle that had been reworked to ensure stability under high-speed braking manoeuvres, the Phantom II was notably low-slung. An enticing platform for the coachbuilder's art, its elongated bonnet line and short overhangs proved conducive to elegant design. Reputedly capable of over 90mph, the model was in production for six years during which some 1,394 are thought to have been made.

Finished in light grey over black, this particular example is said to be in very good overall condition. Supplied new by the factory via Car Mart Ltd of Park Lane, London to E.R. Insole of Llandaff, Cardiff (and Grosvenor St, London) on 19th September 1930, it began life as a H.J. Mulliner-bodied Weymann Limousine. Acquired by James Howell & Co of Cardiff on 15th January 1935, 162GN passed into the hands of Sir David Llewellyn of St Fagans, Glamorgan just over two months later. With the Bwllfa Hunt's Master of Hounds for three years, it was purchased by Messrs Flewitt Ltd in June 1938. Often serviced at Rolls-Royce's Cricklewood depot during the 1930s, an accompanying copy of its chassis cards records that it benefited from a rebored / honed cylinder block and new pistons the year before WW2 broke out. Reportedly exported to New Zealand in 1972, it returned to the UK some nineteen years later. Rebodied at some stage as a Hooper & Co Sedanca de Ville (or so its coach plates would imply), it has been part of the collection since September 1995. Bought from Terry Cohn for £49,950 on the understanding that it needed remedial paintwork, it was duly resprayed by the Pengelly Garage of Aldington, Cheshire in January 1996 (£2,937.50).

Upholstered in a mixture of black leather (front) and beige West Of England type cloth (rear), its sumptuous interior also features a division, occasional seats, an inter-compartmental intercom system and medium / dark wood veneers. Sporting twin side-mounted spare wheels, a rear luggage trunk and magnificent Lucas headlamps, this imposing Rolls-Royce is believed to have covered some 5,000 miles in the last ten years. Treated to a new radiator core last October (£3,123.15), other invoices on file show that 162GN has received regular fettling from P. Sudlow and specialist attention from Ristes Motors. Properly Vintage in that it was registered / assembled prior to 31st December 1930, this magnificent Rolls-Royce is offered for sale with history file (Terry Cohn correspondence, RREC copy chassis cards, Coldwell Engineering receipts etc), reprinted handbook and MOT certificate valid until June 15th 2006.

PLEASE NOTE: We apologise but the engine photograph appearing for this lot in the catalogue is not of this car due to a technical error.