1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sports Saloon

Lot details
Registration No: DKC 444
Chassis No: 3CP126
Mot Expiry: Aug 2006

Although unveiled to the public at the October 1935 Olympia Motor Show, the Phantom III did not enter series production until May 1936. A fabulous design that reasserted Rolls-Royce's right to be considered as the world's pre-eminent car manufacturer, its cruciform-braced chassis featured independent coil-sprung front suspension, a fully floating 'live' rear axle, hydraulic shock absorbers and gearbox driven servo-assisted four-wheel drum brakes. Drawing on decades of aero-engine experience, it was powered by a 7340cc ohv V12. Fabricated largely from aluminium alloy, this technically advanced unit boasted a seven-bearing crankshaft, eight-bearing camshaft, hydraulic tappets and dual downdraught Stromberg carburettors. Effortlessly potent and eerily smooth, it required a level of care and maintenance not dissimilar to that of its Schneider Trophy winning siblings. Allied to a four-speed manual gearbox (complete with synchromesh on second, third and fourth gears), it gave most variants a 100mph top speed. Only built for three short seasons, just 727 Phantom IIIs are thought to have been despatched worldwide.
Supplied new by W. Watson & Co. of Liverpool to J.L. Milligan of Birkenhead, this particular example was issued with its Works guarantee on 17th September 1937. Kept by its first owner until at least 1965, notes on file record a major engine and chassis overhaul in July - October 1947 (8,442 miles), the fitting of a heater in March 1951 (14,911 miles) and a trip to Rolls-Royce's Crewe factory for a full service in November 1963 (£281 15s 0d). Resident in Northern Ireland by the early 1980s, DKC 444 spent almost a decade in the hands of RREC member Robert Huffam of Co. Antrim before being acquired by Terry Cohn in 1992. Still wearing its original four-door sports saloon Hooper & Co coachwork, it was treated to a respray and sundry rechroming by the gentleman dealer prior to being advertised for £55,000. Eventually sold to Mr Brotherton in February 1996, the last nine years have seen it repainted in two-tone blue and driven some 2,000 miles. Said to be in very good condition, DKC 444 retains what appears to be its original brown leather upholstery throughout. Sporting a generous boot, unusual rear wheel spats, a side-mounted spare wheel, centre spotlight and kneeling Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, it is believed but not warranted to have covered just 47,935 miles from new. Further benefiting from a Hooper fitted sunroof and rear window blinds, this delightful Phantom III is offered for sale with RREC copy chassis cards, tax discs dating back to 1985, MOT certificates dating back to 1961, a reprinted colour sales brochure, sundry bills and MOT certificate valid until 23rd August 2006.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOT IS FINISHED IN DARK BLUE OVER SILVER AND NOT TWO-TONE BLUE AS STATED IN THE CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION.