Concept Cars Home
Image Left 1938 Phantom III
 

1939 Rolls-Royce Phantom III news, pictures, and information

Cabriolet
Designer: Labourdette
Chassis Num: 3DL120
 
Originally bodied as a Sedanca deVille by Hooper, the second owner removed the original body and sent the chassis to Labourdette of Paris for the current body. Bare chassis were simply not available immediately after World War II. This is the last car bodied by Labourdette, and the body alone cost $44,000. The pillarless windshield, 'vutotal,' is a Labourdette patent, and much of the brass is leaded into the body. The finished project was shown at the 1947 Paris Auto Show, and was then shipped to New York. The car's underpinnings are pure Phantom III: a 7.3-liter V12 engine, independent front suspension, hydraulically adjustable shock absorbers and an on-board jacking system. The chassis was priced at 1,850 British Pounds (roughly $10,000), and just 719 chassis were produced through 1939. The only Rolls-Royce identifying marks on the car are two cloisonne emblems insert into the doors.

This is one of the most flamboyant designs ever by renowned French coachbuilder Labourdette. This car evokes strong emotions, and has been called both shocking and a work of art. Originally purchased with a more conventional body by Louie Ritter, noted and highly successful furrier to New York's high society. Ritter had the car, chassis number 3DL120, sent to Paris where he contracted Labourdette re-body it into a more distinctive style. The work was curtailed by the onset of World War II, and the car had to be hidden away until 1945. It was finally delivered to Ritter in 1947. This car has just been restored and has been shown at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Saloon
Coachwork: Gurney Nutting
Chassis Num: 3DL122
 
The first body on this Rolls-Royce Phantom III (chassis 3DL122) was a Barker-built saloon, but that body was exchanged by its then-owner, the Earl of Shrewsbury, for this Gurney Nutting saloon in 1953. In the early 1960s this car was owned by Tommy Atkins, a motor-racing team manager in England. In 1963 it was brought to Carmel, California, and in 1968 it was purchased by the current owners who were editors of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club magazine, The Flying Lady. Over the years the couple carried out much restoration work and drove the car on many trips and adventures across America. With several owners in both the United Kingdom and the United States, including Harry Ferguson of four-wheel drive fame, this PIII has led a very interesting life including being carried as deck cargo on the Aquitania on its last voyage across the Atlantic before World War II.
The Phantom III was the first Rolls-Royce to be fitted wîth a V12 engine, which was probably an inevitable development as the company was already manufacturing aero engines in this configuration.

When the Phantom III was unveiled at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show it was the most technically advanced car in the world and many believe the best car ever made. The 7340 cc. V12 overhead valve engine had a one-piece aluminum alloy crankcase and cylinder blocks and cast-iron wet cylinder liners and aluminum head.

The Phantom II was the first Rolls-Royce to have indendent front suspension; this was of the wishbone type and was controlled by coil springs and hydraulic dampers. The new suspension enabled the radiator and engine to be moved further forward on the shortened chassis, giving coachbuilders scope to build very spacious bodywork.

In chassis form the car cost 1,850 pounds, just 50 pounds more than the far less sophisticated Phantom II this was presumed to have been possibly because the swiftly selling smaller models subsidized the top of the range Phantom III.

During the design process of this car Henry Royce's poor health was failing further and he worried that he would not live to see the outcome of his work. Tragically this proved to be correct.

Source - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited
The Phantom series culminated with the marque's only 12-cylinder chassis, the Phantom III. These great cars were built from 1935 until 1939, when World War II ended production, with only 710 produced. The extremely complex design was the last Henry Royce had any involvement in before his death in 1933, and borrowed heavily from Rolls Royce's experience building airplane engines.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click here

Usain Bolt Golden Again With Unique Nissan GT-R
• Nissan gives an exclusive gold-painted GT-R to the 'world's fastest man,' Usain Bolt
• Presentation ceremony held in Bolt's home country of Jamaica
JAMAICA – Nissan has delivered a special GT-R, bathed in exclusive gold paint, to Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt in appreciation for his contributions as a Nissan brand ambassador for GT-R. Bolt, known as 'the world's fastest man,' has been promoting the company's brand awareness in association with the Nissan Global Bran...[Read more...]
NIGHT OF THE WHITE GLOVES AT THE BMW MUSEUM. BMW HISTORY – A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.
Touching the exhibits in a museum? Normally that's a big no-no which you ignore at your peril. But as we all know, forbidden fruit is the sweetest – and that's why the BMW Museum is opening its doors on Friday, 23 November for the fifth edition of its 'Night of the White Gloves'. From 7 p.m. onwards, visitors will don a pair of white gloves and be free to stroke the cars they would normally be allowed to caress with their eyes only. 'The 'Night of the White Gloves' is a unique event in the museu...[Read more...]
Four more legends join Gooding & Company's 2012 Pebble Beach Auctions, its greatest collection of automobiles ever assembled
Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance acclaimed for selling the world's most significant and valuable collector cars, is thrilled to present four automotive icons at its Pebble Beach Auctions on August 18 & 19: the Clark Gable 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe; the 'Green Hornet,' a 1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre SC 'Blower' Sports 2/3 Seater Boattail; the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototype and a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Cabriolet. ...[Read more...]
Coys Legende et Passion Auction
The catalogue for Coy's international auction, Legende et Passion, held in Monaco on Saturday 12th May 2012, is now available online to Club members at www.coys.co.uk. This is a very significant European headline auction, held against the backdrop of the Historic Grand Prix de Monaco, and is one of the most important European sales to be held this year. Viewing is on: Thursday 10th May from 12 noon to 6:00pm Friday 11th May from 11.00am - 7:00 pm Saturday 12th May from ...[Read more...]
September 15 d'Plaisir Road Rallye will precede
The September 15 road rally that precedes the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance the following day has been named the d'Plaisir Road Rallye in honor of the 2012 Concours' theme 'French Curves.' It begins with lunch at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills, traverses the stunning views and winding roads of the Peninsula and ends at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates with a helicopter golf ball drop and a reception honoring Concours Grand Marshals Peter and Merle Mullin...[Read more...]
20/25HP
20HP
25/30HP
Camargue
Corniche
Ghost
Phantom
Phantom I
Phantom II / Phantom II Continental
Phantom III
Phantom IV
Phantom V
Phantom VI
Silver Cloud I, II, and III
Silver Dawn
Silver Ghost
Silver Seraph / Park Ward
Silver Shadow I, II/Silver Wraith II
Silver Spirit
Silver Wraith
Wraith

Image Left 1938 Phantom III
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.