1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca De Ville

This 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II left the factory with engine number U65J which continues to reside under the bonnet. It was one of the final recorded left-hand drive AMS series chassis dispatched from Derby in 1933 and was originally bodied in the United States by Brewster Keswick in Town Car coachwork. Its original owner was Dr. J. Bentley Squire of New York City and Scarsdale. By the time it entered the care of Frank M. Chapman Jr. in October of 1941, it was wearing its current Gurney Nutting Sedanca deVille coachwork. The coachwork was first fitted to Phantom II 17 TA, a short chassis Continental delivered December 12, 1934, directly to Gurney Nutting on an order from H.R. Owen where it was fitted with Sedanca deVille coachwork in early 1935. Chassis number 17 TA's first owner was Sir McPherson Robertson who took delivery on April 8th of 1935.

The Brewster Keswick Town Car coachwork features 11-degree raked louvers on the bonnet, dual side-mounted spares and whitewall tires on painted wire wheels, and sweeping, crowned fenders. There is a separate luggage trunk and a tool kit resides under the driver's seat.

What remains a mystery is how the coachwork of 17 TA came to the United States, when did 220 AMS receive the coachwork, and why was the switch made.

220 AMS was purchased from the McNear-Nash Company in Brookline by J. Wynne Paris of Newton, Massachusetts in May of 1947. A short time later, in September, it was sold to Alden G. Handy from whom Ted Leonard is believed to have purchased it in January of 1978. After Mr. Leonard passed away, the car was sold by Bonhams in June of 2009 and shortly thereafter acquired by the current owner.

This Town Car is finished in black livery and is outfitted with large Marchal headlights supplied through Trilux of New York and has synchromesh on the top two gears in its four-speed box. The front seats are finished in grey leather while the rear compartment is done in beige broadcloth. The left rear seat had a smoker's kit while the passenger on the right had a more elaborate combination smoker's kit and vanity. Two occasional seats provided room for two additional passengers.

This vehicle has been on static display for the past decade.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022