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1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was produced from 1936 through 1939 with a total of 727 examples built (a final chassis was built in 1940 and due to the time necessary to complete the vehicles, cars were still receiving coachwork and delivered in 1940 and 1941). It replaced the Phantom II and was the only V-12-powered Rolls-Royce until the introduction of the Silver Seraph in 1998. The Phantom III was the final car that Henry Royce worked on, as he passed away at the age of 70, a year into the vehicle's development.

The Phantom III rested on a 142-inch wheelbase and had an independent front suspension by a coil spring-based system with a semi-elliptical spring unit in the rear. Wire wheels were standard although many owners selected Ace wheel discs which altered the vehicle's appearance and required less time to clean. Stopping power was provided by 4-wheel servo-assisted brakes.

The aluminum-alloy, pushrod, overhead-valve V-12 engine displaced 7.32 liters and had a stroke of 4.5 inches and a bore that measured 3.25 inches. The overhead valves were operated by a single camshaft in the valley between the cylinder banks. There was a twin ignition system with two distributors, 24 spark plugs, and two coils.

The engine was mated to a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on gears 2, 3, and 4. In 1938, an overdrive gearbox was added.

Rolls-Royce produced the chassis and mechanical components, with bodies being created by coachbuilders.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedanca Deville by Hooper
Chassis number: 3BT133
Engine number: L58Q

During the five year production run from 1935 through 1939, there were a total of 710 examples of the Phantom III produced. This example is a Sedanca Deville-style coachwork designed by Hooper & Co. It was ordered by H.H. Leven, Esq. of the White Hart Family Hotel in Lincoln, England, on October 21, 1936. The car was tested by Rolls-Royce the following spring and, as indicated by the dynamometer test card dated April 8, 1937, was capable of producing 132 horsepower from the overhead valve V-12 engine.

The car was delivered on May 1st to Hooper, who gave it the Sedanca coachwork plus individually ordered features, such as the Clayton heater, which required special wiring. On the side of the car is a wicker veneer. The completion date was on July 15, of 1937 and shortly thereafter it entered the car of Mr. Leven.

In 2009, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held at Pebble Beach, CA. It was expected to sell for $180,000 - $230,000. The lot would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Saloon by Mulliner

The new Phantom III was introduced in the fall of 1935. Announcing of the brand new Phantom III was a very substantial break from Rolls-Royce tradition. Phantom III was equipped with a brand new V-12 engine, which produced 180 hp at 3000 rpm. By having a brand new general motors-type independent front suspension, Phantom III now had a superb riding and handling car, altogether smoother than the Phantom II and with performance enhanced. Phantom III could maintain 80 mph with continuous reliability. This particular car is an excellent example in all respects.

Drophead by Thrupp and Maberly
Chassis number: 3AZ178

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was the final large Rolls-Royce built before the war. Introduced in 1935, it was the only V12 Rolls-Royce until the introduction of the Silver Seraph in 1998. The unique disappearing top coachwork on this PIII (chassis 3AZ178) was built by Thrupp & Maberly to replace the car's original Barker limousine body.

In 1936, the Maharaja Bahadur Sir Kameshwar Singh (the last Maharaja of the State of Keonjhar) commissioned a Phantom III, but his order was delayed, so he traveled to London and purchased this Pahntom III with a Barker Limousine body. The Maharaja then commissioned Thrupp & Maberly to replace the Barker body with this Disappearing Drophead Coupe. The car is the original Turquoise color. Later, the Maharaja had it shipped home and was used for ceremonial and religious purposes. He owned the car from 1937, until his death in the 1960s. The car returned to England in 1969 and remained in the possession of Hugh Boucher until 1999. The car was brought to the US in 1999 and has been owned and enjoyed by the current owner since 2005. Total mileage to date is just over 25,000 miles.

The car is powered by a 7.3-liter 12-cylinder aluminum-alloy engine, producing 185 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel cable brakes. A total of 721 (as few as 710) Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs were built between 1936 and 1939, many being delivered to titled customers.

Sports Torpedo Cabriolet by Barker

A total of 710 Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs were built between 1936 and 1939, many being delivered to titled customers. This is a rare example built by Barker with Sports Torpedo Cabriolet coachwork. It was built to the order of His Highness Balbhadra Narayan Bhanj Deo, the last Maharaja of the State of Keonjhar. It was shipped to Bombay in September 1937 with a cream body, light blue fenders, light green top, and green leather interior, which must have been quite a sight in its day. The car was only used for ceremonial and religious purposes, and when it returned to England in 1959 the mileage was only 7,100. It has only driven 2,000 miles since then.

Tourer by Thrupp and Maberly
Chassis number: 3BU86
Engine number: B38A

When the Phantom III was unveiled at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show it was the most technically advanced car in the world; many believe it was the best car ever made.

Rolls-Royce's answer to its American competitors during the cylinder was of the 1920's and 1930's was the V-12 Phantom III. Initially dubbed 'Spectre', the PIII was Rolls-Royce's first car with independent front suspension along with hydraulically adjustable shock absorbers and an on-board jacking system. The chassis alone cost the equivalent of nearly $10,000 in the United States. Just 719 (possibly as few as 710), all with custom coachwork, were produced through 1939.

Historical records show that on February 29, 1936, Allied Motors, Ltd. of Bombay ordered this custom car Built for the Shah of Bhopal, Nawab Hamidullah Khan. He was the twelfth Nawab, having succeeded his mother in 1926. The Nawab's family owned several Silver Ghosts, a Phantom I Hooper Cabriolet, and a Bentley 4 1/4-liter H.J. Mulliner Drophead Coupe. It is one of three roadsters built on the Phantom III chassis and sports lovely one-off coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly. It was later sold to Maharajadhiraj Singh of Patiala who gave the vehicle to his niece as a wedding present. The current owners, identical twins, purchased the car from her in October 1963 for $1,250 following an assignment in the Peace Corps while in India. They embarked upon a 6-day driving journey to Bombay (averaging 6mpg) where the car was loaded on a ship to London, England and then on to Newark, New Jersey. The car was then put in storage where it remained until 1974. An exhaustive restoration began in June of 1976 and was completed in July 2010. Today the odometer reads just 39,000 miles from new.

Four-Door Cabriolet by Vanden Plas
Chassis number: 3-BT-185
Engine number: K-68-R

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Four-Door Cabriolet has coachwork by Vanden Plas. It was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction in Pebble Beach, Ca where it was estimated to sell for $250,000-$325,000. It carries chassis number 3-BT-185 and is powered by a 7340-cc V12 engine that is capable of producing 180 horsepower.

This is a long-wheelbase vehicle that was ordered on April 7th of 1937. The body was ordered two months later. The car is finished in blue with a blue fabric top and upholstered in Connolly leather. It has dual side-mounts, a louvered hood with locks, a petrol gauge, and a speedometer in kilometers.

The first owner was Friedrich 'Fritz' Mandl. Mandl was an Austrian arms manufacturer who was well-known in political and social circles, including those of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Mandl took possession of the vehicle in 1937 with money he had earned helping to rebuild the German military.

In 1938, Mandl's Jewish heritage was discovered and his property was confiscated. Before this, he had this vehicle shipped to South America. He fled to Brazil and later settled in Argentina. In 1977, he passed away.

In 1971, the car was owned by Jose Santiago Mouhelle. It remained in south America until Don Gerard brought it to the United States many years later. During the early 1990s, the car was treated to a restoration that took nearly a decade. The car was stripped down to the nut and bolt. Most of the car was complete, however, it had lost its bumper during its lifetime. The restoration was completed in 2002 and shown at the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded the Lucius Beebe Trophy. It won its class with a 99-point score in the Primary Division at the Classic Car Club of America's 2004 Summer Grand Classic and was awarded a CCCA Senior badge.

At the auction, the car's reserve was met and the car was sold. The winning bid was $253,000.

by Dan Vaughan


Chassis number: 3BU160
Engine number: F-38-V

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca DeVille with chassis 3BU160 sits atop of a 142-inch wheelbase and is powered by a 7338 cc 12-cylinder engine capable of producing 120 horsepower. It has custom coachwork courtesy of H. J. Mulliner. It is an elegant car finished in regal blue and black livery. It was purchased new by Myron C. Taylor, the Chairman of the Board of the United States Steel Company.

This is a chauffeur-driven car. The rear passengers are completely isolated from the driver thanks to a wind-up divider glass window. The driver had the option of driving in open or closed configuration, as the top is removable. There are side-mounted tires but they are not enclosed like many of American luxury automobiles. There is a trunk located in the rear that is capable of carrying a modest amount of luggage. The rear interior compartment has seating for two to three adults with two additional pop-out jump seats available.

From 1935 through 1939 only 710 Phantom III's were constructed. Many of the examples received custom bodies making each unique.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Voll & Ruhrbeck
Chassis number: 3BT187

This Phantom III Rolls-Royce has been given a comprehensive restoration since new. It wears a four-door cabriolet body with coachwork by Voll & Ruhrbeck. After the car's restoration, the car was invited to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and later shown at the RROC National Meet in Newport, Rhode Island. It earned a First Place in the Phantom III division at the 2008 National RROC Meet in Williamsburg, Virginia.

This car was originally owned by German Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Baron Joachim von Von Ribbentrop. When the chassis was completed, it was shipped to Voll & Ruhrbeck workshop in Berlin. In February 1938, Baron von Ribbentrop was appointed to the position of Foreign Minister and he returned to Germany, to view the progress of his car.

Later in the cars life, it migrated to the United States and into the collection of an American collector. It would spend nearly 2 decades in static storage inside a Georgetown garage, before it was offered for sale at auction.

In 2010, this Rolls-Royce was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was estimated to sell for $200,000 - $300,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the lot was sold for the sum of $181,500, inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Vesters & Neirinck
Chassis number: 3CP144
Engine number: T48J

This Rolls-Royce Phantom III chassis was delivered to the Brussels dealer Andre Pisart for Jean Francqui, who ordered this two-door coupe by Vesters & Neirinck of Brussels. The unique design blends English razor-edged coachwork with Continental touches. It is one of only eight two-door closed-bodied PIIIs and, underlining its rather sporty nature, the only PIII to be fitted with a tachometer. Before World War II it was used by the King of Belgium, and toward the end of the war, it was used by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery after Belgium was liberated.

• 1938 Brussels Show Car

• 1995 Pebble Beach First in Class

• 1995 Meadowbrook Best of Show

• 1995 RROC First in Class

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vesters & Neirinck Coupe chassis was delivered on September 1, 1937, to Brussels dealer, Andre Pisart, S.A. for Mr. Jean Francqui. After being bodied by Vesters & Neirinck of Brussels, the car was delivered to Mr. Francqui on May 7, 1938. This is one of eight two-door closed-bodied PIII's and is believed to be the first without a 'B' pillar. A ground-up restoration was done to the car in 1994.

Sedanca by Freestone & Webb

This Rolls-Royce Phantom III has a very interesting early history. It started life in 1937 with a limousine body built by a small English coach-building company called W.C. Atcherley; it was one of only ten Rolls-Royce cars built by that company. In 1947, having been bought by Rolls-Royce collector John Gaul, it changed bodies to this extravagant design by Freestone & Webb, which uses a double skin of copper over steel for the fenders and includes many luxury fittings. It was known to Gaul's friends and family as 'Gaul's Copper Kettle.' During the late forties and early fifties the car was shown at many European concours becoming famous throughout Rolls-Royce circles. The car has now been fully restored for its current owner, for his collection.

Sedanca Coupe by Barker
Chassis number: 3BT149
Engine number: E58X

In 1935, the Phantom III replaced the Phantom II to meet the growing competition from European and American manufacturers with V12, V8 and inline power units. The decision to use a V12 design would be Royce's last major contribution to the Rolls-Royce Company. In total, there were 727 of these great 7,338cc V12's built by 1939.

This Barker-designed Sedanca Coupe is believed to be the only one in the United States. The car was restored by Rolls-Royce in 1961-1962. The current owner purchased in the car in 1967 from noted vintage car collector Mills Lane, who was the car's second owner.

The car was restored at the Rolls-Royce factory in 1962 for Mr. Lane. The color was selected by noted automobile designer Alexis deSakhoffsky, who designed automobiles during the Classic Era.

Bodies for the Rolls-Royce chassis came from a variety of coachbuilders, including Mulliner, Hooper, Thrupp & Maberly and Barker.

Drophead by Inskip
Chassis number: 3CP18

When Rolls-Royce unveiled the Phantom III at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show, it was the most technically advanced car in the world. Of the 727 Phantom IIIs built, fewer than 20 were bodied in the United States - all by the J.S. Inskip Company, which had acquired what was left of the Rolls-Royce Springfield, Massachusetts, factory and its subsidiary, Brewster, after they closed. J.S. Inskip retained a group of Brewster craftsmen who would build 18 custom bodies for the Phantom III chassis. While a total of 727 Phantom III's were built between 1936 and 1939, very few made it to the United States for custom coachwork.

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III wears coachwork designed by Brewster and built by Inskip who had taken over the failing Brewster Company. The original owner was Colonel Joseph Samuels of Providence, Rhode Island, founder of 'The Outlet' chain of stores. The car has only had a repaint in the 1950s.

In 2009, this 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Henley Roadster was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $750,000-$900,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $605,000 including buyer's premium.

When it was acquired by the current owner in 2009, it showed a mileage of 36,380, which is believed to be correct. It has been fully restored to as-delivered condition and has since received a Best in Class award at a Rolls-Royce Owners Club National meet.

Saloon by Barker

The Phantom III series was the last large Rolls-Royce built prior to the outbreak of World War Two. It was introduced in 1936 and remained in production through 1939.

Rolls-Royce supplied its running chassis to coachbuilders such as Barker, which designed, built and installed the body on the chassis.

The Phantom III was powered by Rolls-Royce's own V-12 motor which featured twin ignition - two distributors, two coils and 24 spark plugs. The engine displaces 447 cubic inches (7.32 liters)

Among its engineering features are independent front suspension, four-wheel Servo-assisted brakes, four-speed synchromesh transmission, on-board jacking, one-shot lubrication and overdrive.

Saloon by Mulliner
Chassis number: 3CM65
Engine number: K48S (titled as K485)

This Phantom III completed testing on October 13, 1937 and was sent as stock to Car Mart Ltd. After testing, the completed chassis was sent to H.J. Mulliner and given Saloon coachwork and many amenities, including a unique double sunroof. It was sold in early 1938 and received registration EYY333. The first owner was T.C. Maryon-Wilson of Surrey, England.

It eventually came to America in the hands of Wing Commander Kenneth Horatio Wallis of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The car had an accident in the early 1950s, and it was known that Commander Wallis was responsible for the rebuilding of the car, during which the division was removed and the rear fender line was said to be cut.

The next recorded owner was Ralph C. and Martha Shermund of Hillsborough, California. In the early 1960s, Mr. Shermund began a multi-year restoration of the Rolls-Royce. Completed in 1967, Mr. Shermund entered the Rolls-Royce in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It took Best in Class, the Lucius Beebe Award and Best of Show. Later that year, it won the RROC National Meet. It was shown again at Pebble Beach in 1968, the car won yet another First in Class, followed by Second in Class in 1971 and 1972, and another First in Class in 1975. It was awarded another First in Class win at the 1967 Annual meet in Monterey, the Guerrero Trophy at the 1971 Meet, the Rolls-Royce (pre-war) Trophy at the 1975 Seattle Meet and a First in Class at the 1979 event.

The Phantom III was listed for sale in 1980. It was subsequently sold to Hillsborough resident Joseph Spranza. It won First in Class at the 1988 Silverado Meet. Ownership later passed to Elizabeth Hook of Oakland, California, who listed it for sale in 1994, at which point it was purchased by the present owner.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach auction presented by Gooding & Company. The car was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $400,000. Unfortunately, a buyer willing to satisfy the car's reserve was not found and it would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Limousine by Hooper
Chassis number: 3BT85
Engine number: V88G

Chassis number 3BT85 was sent from the Derby works factory on April 22nd of 1937 for shipment to Hooper & Co. in London. It is a standard-length chassis that was given a 'sports enclosed limousine' body and equipped with steering at the 'F' rake, with a steering column 2 inches longer than standard.

Hooper & Co., had ordered the Phantom III on January 26th and fashioned a close-coupled four-door body, designated internally by design no. 6998. The body features sweeping, uninterrupted lines, an integrated trunk, and chrome moldings that highlight the hood sides, beltline, and fenders. There are no side spare carriers that help complete the long, elegant, flowing design.

Inside, the occupants are greeted by a large sliding sunroof, an electric window divider, and picnic trays that stow neatly in the center partition. There are monograms on the rear doors, painted in gold rather than the standard finish.

The completed Rolls-Royce was delivered to Colin Hamlyn Gilbert of Birmingham, UK, on July 21st. In 1952, Mr. Gilbert purchased a new Bentley R-Type with Park Ward coachwork and sold the pre-war Rolls-Royce. Dr. J.A. Wakes-Miller acquired the car in 1954. Three years later, L.F. Pittman became the next owner, but sold it the following year to H.H. Davies. In 1961, ownership was passed to J.A. Bartlett. Classic car dealer Gipsey Mead of Ongar, Essex advertised the car for sale in 1975 in the Motor Sport, describing the vehicle as a restored Rolls-Royce. Three years later, it was again offered for sale, this time at Christie's auction in Birmingham, where it sold to William Meredith-Owens of the Standard Motor Museum. It was later owned briefly by Robert Martin Jr. of Texas, before returning to the UK and joining Malcolm Ginn's collection of Rolls-Royce motorcars.

Between 1999 and 2000, the car underwent an extensive restoration. The coachwork was stripped to bare metal and refinished in dark blue, with a complete re-trim of the upholstery in sewn grey leather.

Frank R. Miller of Santa Barbara became the next owner. It was displayed at the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it received a class award. Several years later, it was sold to John Spencer Bradley of Los Angeles, CA.

In 2013, the vehicle was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale, Arizona auction. It was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $350,000. Bidding failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve and it would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Sports Cabriolet by Vanvooren
Chassis number: 3CM81

This Rolls-Royce Phantom III with its smooth 7,338cc V12 engine has a stylish two-door body built by the Parisian Carrosserie Vanvooren. This car was designed and built for the Polish General Wladyslaw Sikorski and delivered to him in Warsaw in 1937. General Sikorski was the Polish Prime Minister in exile during World War II. His car is regarded as one of the finest Vanvooren-bodied motorcars in the world and features a sloping belt moulding that has the effect of lengthening the graceful tail, as does the two-seat configuration and the low windshield.

Sedanca Coupe by Barker
Chassis number: 3CP178

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was very different from previous Phantoms; it featured the company's first 12-cylinder engine, which was more compact than the previous straight-6, and the firewall was moved forward, allowing coachbuilders to create more spacious passenger compartments. As a result, the Phantom III was one of the most luxurious cars in the world, and about 130 of the 727 Phantom IIIs built were delivered to the world's nobility. This example with rare Sedanca de Ville coachwork by Barker, was ordered by Mr. George Engle, an oil executive in London. It includes special features like Marchal headlights and Lucas 'King of the Road' air horns. After several owners, the car moved to America. It was restored and won First in Class at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and after the passage of 26 years, it returned to the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours.

Special Henley Coupe by Inskip
Chassis number: 3CP124

This Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp Phantom III was ordered from the Derby factory in June 1937 by the U.S. Rolls-Royce agent J.S. Inskip, and on July 6 the bare chassis was shipped from England to New York aboard the SS Carinthia. Inskip was also the head of the firm's coachbuilding activities, and he and his designer, Carl Beck, created some of the best-looking Rolls-Royce motor cars of the 1930s. Inskip built the first body for this car, a rather formal 2-door saloon, which was completed in October 1937 for Mrs. Margaret Dunlop of Amsterdam, New York. Mrs. Dunlop later decided to change the body, and arranged for Inskip to build this unique, close-coupled 2-door Henley coupe, which was mounted on her original chassis in December 1940. After several more American owners, this striking car returned to the United Kingdom in 1990, was bought by a Swedish collector in 1994 and went to Rolls-Royce enthusiast George Howitt of Belgium in 2009. It recently joined the Bamford Collection in England, and a fresh restoration has just been completed.

Sports Saloon by Barker
Chassis number: 3CM92

This phantom III Barker Sports Saloon was built for Sir George Macpherson-Grant, the Laird of Ballindalloch Castle in Scotland. Sir George ordered his special sports saloon to be built by the coachbuilder Barker & Company of London with a few extras, like the moveable spotlight on the driver's side A post and a large sunroof. For the interior, he chose an Art Deco-style wood pattern that is repeated on the tray tables and the rear companion mirrors. An electrically operated sunshade covers the rear window. The finished car was delivered in September 1937 and, although similar sport saloon bodies exist, this one is unique. The car has always been carefully maintained. Its current owner has driven it on several tours all over the United States, including the 2019 Pebble Beach Motoring Classic.

Sedanca Coupe by Barker
Chassis number: 3BU76

This Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca Deville wears Barker Coachwork that was installed in 1937 and subsequently dispatched on the SS Cathay to Bombay, India, where it was delivered to its first owner, the Maharaja Sir Man Singh Bahadur II of Jaipur. When the Maharaja passed away in 1970, the car returned to England, where it served Minister for Trade and Author Alan Clark before being sent to the United States. Currently, it is in the James Petrozzini collection.

The V-12 engine has hydraulic lifters, a balanced rotating assembly, a duplex-type downdraft carburetor, and dual-coil ignition. Engine vibration is reduced due to the isolated rubber mounts, and all gearing, including reverse, was silent type. The engine is backed by a four-speed manual transmission and servo-motor brakes are located at all four corners. For 1937, the independent front suspension was introduced and worked with rear road springs, and hydraulic dampers.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedanca Coupe by Barker
Chassis number: 3BT149
Engine number: E58X

This 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III wears Sedanca Coupe coachwork created by Barker to the order of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Hughes of London. Power is sourced from a 7,338cc overhead-valve all-alloy twelve-cylinder engine breathing through a single twin-choke Downdraft carburetor and delivering 165 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. It has a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes. The front suspension is independent with coil springs while the rear uses semi-elliptical leaf springs and a live axle.

The car remained with the Hughes until 1959 when it was traded to Paddon Brothers, the longtime Rolls-Royce agency in London. The Paddon Brothers sold the Rolls-Royce to Mills Lane Jr., of Atlanta. Before the car returned stateside, it was sent to the Rolls-Royce factory, whose workshops at Hythe Road returned it to its original condition. During this time, a second side-mounted spare tire on the passenger side was added and the color was changed to Pininfarina Grey over brown leather upholstery. This color scheme was selected by automotive designer, Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky.

After the work was completed, the car was shown at the Blenheim Palace Concours before it departed for the States. In 1967, it was acquired by William Maxwell Davis and remained in his collection ever since. The late Joe Smith reupholstered the interior over a decade ago, and the rear valance has been touched up. Much of the chassis surface remains original to 1937.

by Dan Vaughan

The Phantom III was the first Rolls-Royce to be fitted with 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.

by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited

by Rolls-Royce

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 Dan Vaughan