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1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II

Rolls-Royce introduced the Phantom II in 1929 as a successor to the New Phantom (retrospectively Phantom I) with deliveries commencing in September of that year. The Phantom I had inherited its underpinnings from the preceding 40/50 hp Silver Ghost, while the Phantom II was an entirely new chassis in a similar fashion to that of the smaller 20 hp Rolls-Royce. Two wheelbase lengths were available including a 144- and 150-inch platform. The Phantom II provided an ideal platform for designers and coachbuilders, as the high cantilever spring rear suspension found on the Silver Ghost and Phantom I had been removed. The Phantom II had a low-slung frame, a sweeping hood that measured half the length of the car, and a 'Spirit of Ecstasy' mascot adorned the iconic radiator shell, set well back over the front axle.

1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II photo
Savoy by Brewster
Chassis #: 212AJS
View info and history
The overhead-valve six-cylinder engine used the Phantom I's cylinder dimensions and basic layout, consisting of two blocks of three cylinders, with an aluminum cylinder head common to block. The magneto/coil dual ignition system was also sourced from the Phantom I. The combustion chambers were redesigned and the head was now of the cross-flow type, with inlet and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides. It had a 7,668cc displacement and was fitted with a single Jet Rolls-Royce carburetor delivering 120 horsepower. The engine was mated to a four-speed manual transmission and servo-assisted drum brakes were located at all four wheels.

Rolls-Royce of America was launched in Springfield, Massachusetts on October 18th of 1919 and produced 2,944 examples of the Silver Ghost and New Phantom cars between 1921 and 1931. The Great Depression of the early 1930s had crippling effects on the automotive industry and by 1930, the Rolls-Royce of America operation was in trouble. It soon closed with coachbuilder Brewster becoming the importer-distributor for Rolls-Royce in the United States, under the command of John Inskip. The Derby factory built a series of 'Americanized' Phantom II chassis and sent them to Springfield (125 Phantom II chassis). These cars had chassis numbers ending with either 'AJS' or 'AMS.' The 'A' represented a car modified for the American market. They received an American-type central gearshift, replacing the British-style side lever, and were left-hand drive. Manual control of extra cylinder lubrication was fitted for cold starts, and the radiator shutters were thermostatically controlled to open or shut depending upon engine temperature. Under the impression that Americans drove faster and more aggressively than the British - along with the assistance of higher gear ratios for high-speed touring - the U.S destined cars received front and rear bumper supports, heavier rear brake drums, and wider brake shoes. After being built and tested at Rolls-Royce Works in Derby, England, they were shipped to the United States Customs at the Port of New York. They were shipped without a tool kit, horn, chassis lubrication fittings, tires, spring gaiters, spark plugs, and hood locks, trimming Atlantic-crossing shipping costs. After the chassis arrived, they were fitted with American-sourced parts.

All coachbuilders who supplied coachwork for Rolls-Royce supplied their designs to the company for approval. After the body was fitted to the chassis, the coachbuilder returned the car to Rolls-Royce to be tested before final inspection and delivery. The best-known supplier of bodies for the American Rolls-Royce was Brewster & Company, located on Long Island, New York, and founded in 1810. They had facilities in England and won a Gold Medal at the 1878 Paris Exposition for a horse-drawn carriage. Their first motor body was built in 1905 and in 1908, mounted a landaulette on a Silver Ghost chassis. Rolls-Royce of America purchased Brewster in 1925 and in 1931, the firm began designing and fitting bodies to the left-hand drive Phantom II's imported from England. Brewster bodied nearly all American Rolls-Royces during the last five years of Springfield production.

1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II photo
Savoy by Brewster
Chassis #: 212AJS
View info and history
The Phantom II Continental was the last Rolls-Royce to be designed under the personal supervision of Henry Royce, before his death in 1933. The Continentals were designed for swift continental touring and had a top speed of nearly 100 mph. During the brief production lifespan, just 281 examples of the Phantom II Continental were built. They were exclusive, guaranteed by the very steep price tag. Famous owners included racing drivers Sir Malcolm Campbell and Woolf Barnato, Prince Ali Khan, Princess Alexis Midvani, the Prince of Nepal, Lord Londesborough, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Roseberry, Lord Doverdale, Lionel de Rothschild, Anthony de Rothschild, the Maharaja of Bahawalpur, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, N S Gulbenkian and Noel Coward.

A pre-production Continental model, chassis number 26EX with a design by Ivan Evernden and coachwork by Barker & Company, won the Grand Prix d'Honneur at the Biarritz Concours d'Élegance in September 1930.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2019

Related Reading : Rolls-Royce Phantom II / Phantom II Continental History

The Phantom II was the first completely new car since the 20HP seven years earlier. The Phantom II was still rated 4050 HP but was lower and the springing half-elliptic all around. The car, although to Royces design and specification, was mainly the work of his West Wittering design team and included many innovations and a redesigned engine that, with the gearbox, was now one unit. The introduction....
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Related Reading : Rolls-Royce Phantom II / Phantom II Continental History

The Rolls-Royce Phantom II was very similar to the Phantom I in many ways, but brought improvements such as a higher horsepower rating and the removal of the traditional torque-tube drive. Instead, the engine and gearbox were constructed in unit with each other rather than being separate. The Autovac was now using an engine-driven pump. A new water-heated induction system was used. The Battery....
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1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Phantom II / Phantom II Continental

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
144.00 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 108.00hp
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
$9,500 - $9,500
144.00 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.02 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.00 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.00 in.
6 cyl., 469.88 CID., 120.00hp
143.50 in., 145.00 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.00 in., 150.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp
144.00 in.
6 cyl., 467.93 CID., 120.00hp

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