1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom

1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Dual Cowl Phaeton Rolls Royce has a long history of accommodating the well-heeled buyer by providing the chassis and drivetrain to a customer, and that customer goes to a custom coach builder and orders exactly the car they want. We have a few examples of this at the Classic Auto Mall. A hand-built car built to the precise specifications and individual requirements. For consignment, a car with some serious history, and a wonderful example of truly custom coach building. This car started out life with its original owner taking delivery with it being a Sedanca DeVille, (Open chauffeur cockpit, and an enclosed rear passenger compartment), where it has 100K miles clocked on it. After the world war, it was converted to a hearse, and logged another 100K miles. After this point, it was converted to a caravan, where it took passengers to Moscow, toured China, and the continent logging another 120K miles. At 44 years old at the 320K mile mark it was re-bodied as a Dual Cowl Phaeton. Exterior This current coachwork was the result of a collaboration between the coach builder Dick Brockman, (well known for his polished copper bodied Rolls, and one of the last great Coach builders of his era), and architect Charles Lawrence. Lawrence provided Brockman with an entire sketchbook of highly detailed drawings as to exactly what he envisioned the perfect Rolls-Royce to be, and Brockman took those interpretations and produced the beautifully proportioned vehicle you see here before you today. A dual cowl, meaning a bulkhead along with a second windshield that separated the driver from the passengers, configuration bathed in beautiful cream paint with chocolate fenders and a tan canvas top and all open to the elements on the sides. Upfront the essential chromed grille with radiator surround topped with a Spirit of Ecstasy winged goddess, is flanked by a single large round headlight on either side, and 2 additional fog lights residing just above the front simple curved chromed bumper. Beautifully proportioned chocolate color covered fenders with a signal light at their peak, roll gently downward to a running board which cozies up with the rear fender leading to the back of this saloon. These fenders frame cream colored 20 inch steel wire wheels and wrapped in 7.00-20 wide white sidewall tires. A long, long cowled hood stretches rearward from the front grille and leads us to the front windshield with beautiful polished framing. As this hood travels rearward, it passes a strapped on spare tire on either side all matching the cream wire wheels and wide white sidewalls, neatly tucked into each fender. A searchlight is mounted to the right hand drivers side. Between the passenger and drivers compartment is the metal cowl of this cars namesake along with another windscreen. On the back, a beautifully crafted wood and stainless-steel trunk is mounted to a rack providing plenty of storage space. Paint is as excellent as the detailing of this car, and just the sketchbook is worth the price of admission as you peruse the details which play out in reality on this one-off Rolls-Royce. Interior A simple tuck and roll curved leather covered bench in saddle brown and also in near perfect condition offers plenty of room for the driver. A solid mahogany dash with a polished chromed central instrument cluster and fabulous gauges of the era, resides within this dash. The large right hand drive steering wheel is black bakelite and a few other knobs and pulls are in front of this wheel. Some more saddle leather covers the sides of the toe kicks and goes well with the brown carpeting in front. In back for the owners, is another curved tuck and roll bench and when the rear cowl is lifted one can note the miles of legroom this rear compartment offers up. More brown carpeting for the expansive floor, and all door panels and sides are covered in saddle leather. The rear cowl can be left up or lowered for more of a tucked in feel for the passengers. All this compartment is covered with the tan canvas top which has a beautifully executed framing of wood, and polished steel along with some cream stretchers going across the top. Drivetrain A lift of either side of the hood and we can see a fully restored 468.14ci inline 6-cylinder engine. It has a 1-barrel carburetor and a 4-speed manual transmission. Our decoder states the engine and transmission are original although restored/reworked many times over its lifetime. A wonderful presentation under this long hood. Undercarriage Underneath all fully restored and neatly painted black. There is some minor chip off of the paint noted at the back of the fuel tank. Wonderful leaf springs are covered in leather gaiters to protect them from the elements. These springs are on all 4 corners. Mechanical drum brakes are also on all wheels and a stock style and wonderfully custom fashioned exhaust system makes its way rearward past all this beautiful suspension and undercarriage with nary even a hint of road dirt. Drive-Ability A test drive revealed all the spacious interior comforts this car affords its more than likely wealthy passengers. It starts easily and runs smoothly, and performance was up to the exterior and interior snuff. It runs beautifully and all functions are in working condition. Quite a history to this storied Rolls Royce, and the definition of custom coach building having been through 3 iterations, seen lots of roads and countries, and now available for your consideration.