Rolls-Royce's new 6230cc all-alloy V8 engine was introduced in the autumn of 1959 and used to power the Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2, as well as the Rolls-Royce Phantom V. The long-wheelbase limousine Phantom V served as a replacement for the royalty/heads of state-only Phantom IV and the Silver Wraith. The Phantom V was nearly 20 feet in length and provided a spacious interior accommodation with generous boot space. Rolls-Royce's in-house coachbuilder H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd. produced what as in effect the 'standard' seven-passenger limousine coachwork for the Phantom V.

The Australian Government and initially ordered a fleet of Silver Wraiths, Silver Clouds and a pair of Phantom V limousines. The latter was ordered in 1966 and entered service late the following year. For the next 27 years, the Phantom Vs were part of the Commonwealth Government fleet of cars and were used for official duties in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, conveying Heads of State, Royalty and other dignitaries.

The cars were placed up for public tender in April of 1994. At the time, chassis number 5VF155 read 54,757 miles. The car was purchased by the current (and first private) owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014