1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Coupe by Mulliner

This 1930 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Coupe has coachwork by H.J. Mulliner. It is chassis number 126GY which is powered by engine number GD35. This two-door saloon coachwork is finished in blue with a matching top and grey interior, and matched wheel discs. There are twin side-mounted spares and whitewall tires on all four corners.

The Phantom II was introduced in September 1929 as a replacement for the New Phantom. This was to be the final model produced before Sir Frederick Henry Royce, OBE, died in 1933. The lowered chassis was offered in wheelbase sizes of 144- and 150-inches, attracting many of the prominent coachbuilders of the era to build elegant coachwork. Although weighing approximately three tons, the Phantom II was much faster than any previous Rolls-Royce. Among the host of mechanical improvements bestowed upon the Phantom II were a 'One Shot' chassis lubrication design and a new Autovac fuel delivery system.

The 7,668cc overhead valve inline 6-cylinder engine received a 2-Jet Type carburetor with dual ignition with magneto and coil. It produces 120 horsepower which was handled by a four-speed manual gearbox turing the rear wheels. Internal Expanding 4-wheel brakes with Servo-Assist provided the stopping power.

There were 1,681 examples of the Phantom II produced between 1929 and 1935. This example has been treated to a restoration that shows well in modern times. At the Bonhams Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club auction, the car was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. As the gavel fell for the final time, the lot was unsold.

When new, this Rolls-Royce wore Staybrite metal finishes and had twin spares. It was registered in London with the road plates GK 8441, which it retains to this day. The car's first owner was recorded as David Stewart Dawson, who ordered the car through London's Rolls-Royce retailer Jack Barclay and seems to have given the car to his wife, Harriet. The car remained with the Dawson family for a brief period of time, selling it in March of 1932 to the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Warwick. Its next owners were Major Ryder Ritchie in April 1933, W.H. Bey-Wilcox of West Hartlepool in November that same year, then E.R. Bailey in July 1934. It remained with Bailey for a long term, selling in January 1946 to A.J. Johnson of the Chequers Hotel in Uxbridge, just outside London. In March 1950, it was sold to Col. Beard of South Kensington and then on to R.E.B. Worth of Worcestershire in May 1950. It is believed to have migrated to the USA in the 1960s.

Since being sold at auction, the car was given a repaint and finished in a dark blue hue and is offset by contrasting black fenders and waist-molding. Its wheel discs have been polished back to the aluminum which accent the looks and matches its chrome brightwork. The interior is done in grey leather color with blue carpets piped in the same grey.

In 2023, the car was estimated to sell at Bonham's Quail auction for $250,000 to $300,000. As the gavel sell, the car had been sold for $235,200, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008