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1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sport Saloon Coachwork: Gurney Nutting |
Frederick Henry Royce made his first car, a 'Royce,' in his Manchester factory in 1904. He met Charles Stewart Rolls on May 4th of that year, and the pair agreed to a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold exclusively by Rolls. A clause was added to the contract stipulating the cars would be called 'Rolls-Royce.' The company, formed in 1906, moved to Derby in 1908. The Silver Ghost (1906-1925) established the company's early reputation. It had a six-cylinder engine; 6173 cars were built. In 1931, the company acquired rival car maker Bentley, which could not weather the Great Depression.
The Phantom III was the final large early Rolls-Royce. Introduced in 1936, it replaced the Phantom II. The III was distinguished by its unique all-aluminum V12 engine. The new 7.3-liter twelve was a pushrod engine with overhead valves, hydraulic lifters and a single camshaft. Another major feature was an independent suspension in front, based on a General Motors design. This coil spring-based suspension with adjustable ride control was complemented by a carryover semi-elliptical spring unit in the rear. A four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on gears 2,3, and 4 was used. A 4-wheel servo-assisted brake system was also specified. In total, there were 710 of these great 7,338cc V12's built by 1939. As was the company's tradition, only the engine and chassis were produced by Rolls-Royce. Coachwork of this beautiful Phantom III is by Gurney Nutting Ltd, which also built the famous 1931 land speed record car for Sir Malcolm Campbell, the 'Bluebird.'
 |  |  | Saloon Coachwork: Mulliner Chassis Num: 3AX79 Engine Num: E98W |
Mr. Butler bequeathed this unique Rolls-Royce to the British army for use by the chiefs of the British General Staff in 1940. Stipulations accompanied the car, such as routine maintenance by qualified Rolls-Royce personnel, and that it would never leave the country.
The car came under the command of several lesser-known generals for the following few years, until June 5, 1944, when it was allocated to General Bernard Montgomery ('Monty'). A year after receiving the car, he rode it into the streets of Berlin, reportedly making it only the second British car to enter the city. After the war, General Montgomery persuaded officials to allow him to purchase chassis 3AX79. He would use the car until the death of his long-time chauffeur, Sergeant Cedric Parker, in 1962.
The car was sold a year later to an individual from Muskogee, Oklahoma, who would exhibit the car in his personal 'Leake Museum.' It has been shown at many museum exhibits and concours events, including the 2003 marque centenary celebration at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
In 2009, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held at Pebble Beach, CA. It was expected to sell for $250,000 - $350,000. The lot would leave the auction unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2010
 |  |  | Drophead Coupe Coachwork: Freestone & Webb Chassis Num: 3AZ174 |
This vehicle is chassis number SAZ174. It is a 1936 Phantom III Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe wearing coachwork by Freestone and Webb, and the only one of this body style by them in 1936. Some of the unusual features include a blue glass windshield visor, no side-mount spare tires but is fitted with a rear continental type spare tire and Marchal headlights. The engine is a V-12 (7,338cc / 448 cubic-inch) with 180 horsepower. Only 727 examples of the Phantom III were produced by Rolls-Royce between 1936 and 1939.
This car came to the United States in 1956 and the current owner's father purchased it in 1962. The car has remained in the family since then. A preservation restoration was completed by The Motorcar Company of Staunton, VA in 2010.
 |  |  | Sedanca deVille Coachwork: Binder |
The Phantom III was introduced at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show and was the most technically advanced car in the world. It is powered by a 7.3L V12 overhead valve engine with a one-piece aluminum crankcase and cylinder block producing 165 horsepower. It featured a twin ignition system with two distributors, two coils and 24 spark plugs.
The cars rode on a 142 inch wheelbase. Only 727 (perhaps as few as 710) were built before production stopped in 1939.
This car could be regarded as a 'barn find.' The previous owner had acquired the car in 1961, but never registered it and had driven it less than 500 miles until the current owner acquired it in 2006. It is one of two Sedanca-bodied Phantom IIIs by Binder and was originally owned by Marquis de Villeroi and driven with the Marquis and King Karel Roman. The Marquis de Villeroy, Paris, France was an industrialist and uncle of Monsieur von Boch (Villeroy & Boch) and was married to Marquise Suzanne.
Body number 5916 with right-hand drive is powered by a V12 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. Shipped from London to France in 1937 onboard the SS Mallard, it was dispatched to Franco Brittanic Automobiles and bodied by Henry Binder Coachbuilder (one of two Sedanca de Villes). It returned to England later in 1937 where it remained for the duration of the war. Sometime between the late 50s and early 60s it was shipped to New York by an American serviceman.
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
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 hereBy Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2007
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 1936
Rolls-Royce
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| 1937 Phantom III |
