1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Information and History

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Chassis Num: 3BU160
Engine Num: F-38-V

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca DeVille with chassis 3BU160 sits atop of a 142 inch wheelbase and is powered by a 7338 cc 12-cylinder engine capable of producing 120 horsepower. It has custom coachwork courtesy of H. J. Mulliner. It is an elegant car finished in regal blue and black livery. It was purchased new by Myron C. Taylor, the Chairman of the Board of the United States Steel Company.

This is a chauffer driven car. The rear passengers are completely isolated from the driver thanks to a wind-up divider glass window. The driver had the option of driving in open or closed configuration, as the top is removable. There are side mounted tires but they are not enclosed like many of the American luxury automobiles. There is a trunk located in the rear that is capable of carrying a modest amount of luggage. The rear interior compartment has seating for two to three adults with two additional pop-out jump seats available.

From 1935 through 1939 only 710 Phantom III's were constructed. Many of the examples received custom bodies making each unique.

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Coupe by Vesters & Neirinck
Coachwork: Vesters & Neirinck
Chassis Num: 3CP144
Engine Num: T48J

• 1938 Brussels Show Car

• 1995 Pebble Beach First in Class

• 1995 Meadowbrook Best of Show

• 1995 RROC First in Class

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vesters & Neirinck Coupe chassis was delivered on September 1, 1937 to Brussels dealer, Andre Pisart, S.A. for Mr. Jean Francqui. After being bodied by Vesters & Neirinck of Brussels, the car was delivered to Mr. Francqui on May 7, 1938. This is one of eight two-door closed bodied PIII's and is believed to be the first without a 'B' pillar. It is the only known PIII to be equipped at the factory with a tachometer. A ground-up restoration was done to the car in 1994.

Source - The Blackhawk Collection

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Sedanca
Coachwork: Freestone & Webb

This Rolls-Royce Phantom III has a very interesting early history. It started life in 1937 with a limousine body built by a small English coach building company called W.C. Atcherley; it was one of only ten Rolls-Royce cars built by that company. In 1947, having been bought by Rolls-Royce collector John Gaul, it changed bodies to this extravagant design by Freestone & Webb, which uses a double skin of copper over steel for the fenders and includes many luxury fittings. It was known to Gaul's friends and family as 'Gaul's Copper Kettle.' During the late forties and early fifties the car was shown at many European concours becoming famous throughout Rolls-Royce circles. The car has now been fully restored for its current owner, for his collection.

The Phantom III was the first Rolls-Royce to be fitted with 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.

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Rolls-Royce: 1931-1940

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