Is this Rolls-Royce Phantom the ultimate way to travel in style?
For 92 years the grandest way to travel has been in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. The final touches are now being put to the new eighth-generation model ahead of its unveiling, but meanwhile we have this: older, sportier and, ahem, slightly more affordable – but just as classy.
It’s a 1933 40/50HP Phantom II, not quite as originally delivered to its splendidly-named first owner, Sir Harley Hugh Dalrymple-Hay. The eminent engineer (he helped design London Underground) ordered the car with HJ Mulliner limousine bodywork but somewhere along the way it was given a makeover and received this rather racy two-seat roadster body, complete with dickey seat.
Bonhams, which is auctioning the car at its Spa Classic sale at Spa-Francorchamps on May 21st, says it all amounts to a car equally suited to very stylish touring or display on the concours lawn. Presale guide price is £68-100,000.
As a Phantom II, it sits on the new low-slung chassis introduced for the model when it replaced the Phantom I, which was Silver Ghost-based, in 1929. With two wheelbases available, 144 and the 150 inches of this car, Phantom II was much favoured by coachbuilders who could ditch the upright look for much sleeker designs.
Performance took a step forward with Phantom II as well, the overhead-valve 7668cc six-cylinder engine gaining lots of enhancements – including crossflow heads – that boosted power. Phantom II is reputedly the last model that Henry Royce designed himself.
After Sir Harley Hugh Dalrymple Hay, the Phantom roadster served as hotel transport for a while – five-star, naturally – before residing with its current owner in Switzerland.
It’s a matching numbers car, says Bonhams, and perfect for that continental jaunt in the sunshine. Count us in!
Rolls-Royce
Phantom
Bonhams
