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1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III, originally dubbed the Spectre, was the first Rolls-Royce powered by a V-12 engine - an engine that was incredibly complex yet silent, smooth, and powerful. It was also the first Rolls-Royce to feature independent front suspension along with hydraulically adjustable shock absorbers and an onboard jacking system. The 160 horsepower 7.3-liter twelve-cylinder engine could go from zero-to-sixty mph in 16 seconds.

Between 1936 and 1936, Rolls-Royce built 727 Phantom IIIs. 21 of the V-12-powered Phantom IIIs were produced with American coachwork, most all by the East Coast Rolls-Royce importer and distributor, J.S. Inskip. Inskip had succeeded the former Brewster coachworks, were former employees and built custom coachwork in the former Brewster facilities in very small amounts under Inskip's name. Brewster had been the most prominent builder of bodies for American Rolls-Royce chassis, prior to bankruptcy proceedings that began in mid-1935 and the last of Brewster's assets were sold by auction in 1937.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III would be the only 12-cylinder engine produced by the automaker until 1998 with the Silver Seraph would arrive. Not all of the 727 PIII chassis were sold prior to the start of the war; records show the last unit wasn't' delivered to its owner until 1947. As was the practice of the era, the customer purchased only the chassis from Rolls-Royce, and then contract with a coachbuilder of their own selection for the body.

The Phantom III was the last model that Sir Henry Royce actually worked on before he passed away at the age of 70.

by Dan Vaughan

Drophead Coupe by Freestone & Webb
Chassis number: 3AZ174

The 6200 pound Rolls-Royce Phantom III was driven by a 7.3-liter twelve-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower, making it capable of 16-second 0-60 mph dashes. W.A. 'Roy' Robotham was responsible for the decision to build the twelve-cylinder PIII after visiting Detroit and being impressed by the multiplicity of cylinders Cadillac, Packard, and others were making at the time. Sir Henry Royce began development on the engine, but died in 1933 before work was completed. Despite its complexity and ultimate expense to manufacture, his team continued work and brought it to production. Robotham was also impressed with GM's independent front suspension design by Maurice Olley, who had formerly been supervising engineer of Rolls-Royce of America. Rights to the GM suspension design were acquired and adapted by Rolls engineers to the new car. The first Phantom III made its debut in 1936.

This vehicle is chassis number SAZ174. It is a 1936 Phantom III Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe wearing coachwork by Freestone and Webb, and the only one of this body style by them in 1936. Some of the unusual features include a blue glass windshield visor, no side-mount spare tires but is fitted with a rear continental type spare tire and Marchal headlights. The engine is a V-12 (7,338cc / 448 cubic-inch) with 180 horsepower. Only 727 examples of the Phantom III were produced by Rolls-Royce between 1936 and 1939.

This car came to the United States in 1956 and the current owner's father purchased it in 1962. The car has remained in the family since then. A preservation restoration was completed by The Motorcar Company of Staunton, VA in 2010.

Sport Saloon by Gurney Nutting

Gurney Nutting Coachwork At its Finest

Frederick Henry Royce made his first car, a 'Royce,' in his Manchester factory in 1904. He met Charles Stewart Rolls on May 4th of that year, and the pair agreed to a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold exclusively by Rolls. A clause was added to the contract stipulating the cars would be called 'Rolls-Royce.' The company, formed in 1906, moved to Derby in 1908. The Silver Ghost (1906-1925) established the company's early reputation. It had a six-cylinder engine; 6173 cars were built. In 1931, the company acquired rival car maker Bentley, which could not weather the Great Depression.

The Phantom III was the final large early Rolls-Royce. Introduced in 1936, it replaced the Phantom II. The III was distinguished by its unique all-aluminum V12 engine. The new 7.3-liter twelve was a pushrod engine with overhead valves, hydraulic lifters and a single camshaft. Another major feature was an independent suspension in front, based on a General Motors design. This coil spring-based suspension with adjustable ride control was complemented by a carryover semi-elliptical spring unit in the rear. A four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on gears 2,3, and 4 was used. A 4-wheel servo-assisted brake system was also specified. In total, there were 710 of these great 7,338cc V12's built by 1939. As was the company's tradition, only the engine and chassis were produced by Rolls-Royce. Coachwork of this beautiful Phantom III is by Gurney Nutting Ltd, which also built the famous 1931 land speed record car for Sir Malcolm Campbell, the 'Bluebird.'

Saloon by Mulliner
Chassis number: 3AX79
Engine number: E98W

This 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Saloon has an unusual design and history of ownership. It was originally ordered to the specifications of Alan Samuel Butler, the chairman of the de Havillard Aircraft Company. The chassis was sent by Rolls-Royce to coachbuilder H.J. Mulliner on November 20th of 1936. The design was to satisfy Mr. Butler's nuanced understanding of aerodynamics and included features such as a forward-sloping V-split windscreen, a swept tail, an internally contained spare tire, and a dash console highlighted by a Smith Aneroid altimeter.

Mr. Butler bequeathed this unique Rolls-Royce to the British army for use by the chiefs of the British General Staff in 1940. Stipulations accompanied the car, such as routine maintenance by qualified Rolls-Royce personnel, and that it would never leave the country.

The car came under the command of several lesser-known generals for the following few years, until June 5, 1944, when it was allocated to General Bernard Montgomery ('Monty'). A year after receiving the car, he rode it into the streets of Berlin, reportedly making it only the second British car to enter the city. After the war, General Montgomery persuaded officials to allow him to purchase chassis 3AX79. He would use the car until the death of his long-time chauffeur, Sergeant Cedric Parker, in 1962.

The car was sold a year later to an individual from Muskogee, Oklahoma, who would exhibit the car in his personal 'Leake Museum.' It has been shown at many museum exhibits and concours events, including the 2003 marque centenary celebration at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

In 2009, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held at Pebble Beach, CA. It was expected to sell for $250,000 - $350,000. The lot would leave the auction unsold.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedanca deVille by Binder

In 1884, Frederick Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business and made his first car, the 'Royce', in his Manchester factory in 1904. He met Charles Stewart Rolls that same year and the two agreed to a plane in which Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold exclusively by Rolls. The cars would be called 'Rolls-Royce.' The 1906 6-cylinder Silver Ghost made the company's early reputation with 6,173 cars built.

The Phantom III was introduced at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show and was the most technically advanced car in the world. It is powered by a 7.3L V12 overhead valve engine with a one-piece aluminum crankcase and cylinder block producing 165 horsepower. It featured a twin ignition system with two distributors, two coils and 24 spark plugs.

The cars rode on a 142 inch wheelbase. Only 727 (perhaps as few as 710) were built before production stopped in 1939.

This car could be regarded as a 'barn find.' The previous owner had acquired the car in 1961, but never registered it and had driven it less than 500 miles until the current owner acquired it in 2006. It is one of two Sedanca-bodied Phantom IIIs by Binder and was originally owned by Marquis de Villeroi and driven with the Marquis and King Karel Roman. The Marquis de Villeroy, Paris, France was an industrialist and uncle of Monsieur von Boch (Villeroy & Boch) and was married to Marquise Suzanne.

Body number 5916 with right-hand drive is powered by a V12 engine and a four-speed manual transmission. Shipped from London to France in 1937 onboard the SS Mallard, it was dispatched to Franco Brittanic Automobiles and bodied by Henry Binder Coachbuilder (one of two Sedanca de Villes). It returned to England later in 1937 where it remained for the duration of the war. Sometime between the late 50s and early 60s it was shipped to New York by an American serviceman.

Enclosed Limousine by Hooper
Chassis number: 3 AZ 226
Engine number: N 14 M

This Hooper-bodied Phantom III Enclosed Limousine was delivered to its first owner, Sir Walter Rea of London, in January 1937 after its coachwork had been completed. The car was finished in beige and black with grey cloth in the rear passenger compartment and black leather in front, and fitted with a center privacy divider. The Phantom III received UK registration number DGT 369, a plate which it still wears to this day.

Its next recorded owner as of September 1949 was noted as A.E. Satchell Esq., of Cadogan Square, London. The interim history is not known; at some point the Rolls-Royce came to the United States and into the care of Ted bacon of Minden, Nevada.

The car remained in the Bacon collection for many years until recently being donated to Reno's National Auto Museum. The car has received a repaint in the current yellow and black scheme many years ago. The car retains its original matching-numbers engine and many original finishes.

by Dan Vaughan

3 Position Drophead by Gurney Nutting
Chassis number: 3AZ158

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III, introduced in 1936, had a brand new aluminum-alloy 7.32-liter, V12 engine to compete with the V16 Cadillac and V12 Hispano-Suiza. A total of 727 Phantom IIIs were built between 1936 and 1939, and many have survived, including this example with a 3 position drophead body by Gurney Nutting. Gurney Nutting was the coachbuilder of choice for much of British high society; customers included the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, which helped the firm gain a Royal Warrant in the early 1930s. Upon its completion, this Phantom III was sold by Rolls-Royce London dealer H.R. Owen to Harry Primrose, the 6th Earl of Rosebery, who kept the car until 1953. The car then made its way to Australia, the United States and Germany. Its current owner acquired it in 2012 and commissioned a full restoration by P&A Wood. Its first time being seen in the United States in two decades was at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Sedanca deVille by Windovers
Chassis number: 3AX175

This Rolls Royce Phantom III Sedanca De Ville wears coachwork by Windover Coach, Ltd. It has spent many years resting in a private collection. It is currently finished in white and appears to have been given a cosmetic restoration in the 1970s. At that time, the front driver's compartment was done in a 'new' leather. The rear compartment retains its original leather upholstery including the occasional seats. There are factory wire wheels, dual side-mounted spare tires, and the original Lucas headlights. It features the 'One-Shot' lubrication system operated from the driver's compartment. Another convenience is the built-in jack system located near each of the four wheels.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedanca de Ville by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: 3AEX37

The Phantom III, introduced in 1936, was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' final prewar model and the only one ever built with a V12 engine until the introduction of the Silver Seraph in 1998. A total of 727 Phantom IIIs were built before World War II put a halt to car production.

This Park Ward-bodied Phantom III (chassis 37EX and later 3AEX37) is one of eight Phantom IIIs shown at the 1935 Olympia Motor Show and the only one shown that was actually fitted with the new 7.3-liter V12 engine. This Sedanca de Ville, with its unique disappearing driving compartment roof, stayed with Rolls-Royce until 1941. Then, during the height of the war, it was transported across the dangerous North Atlantic and sold to Clare Samuels Quinn of Long Island. It has been with its current caretaker's family since 1955.

Sport Saloon by Mulliner

The Phantom III carried on the tradition of special names including the Ghost and the Wraith; and the Spirit, yet-to-be introduced. This was the first Rolls-Royce to be powered by a V-12 engine - incredibly complex, yet silent, smooth, and powerful in the best of the firm's tradition. This particular example was purchased new in London, England by H.R. Owens. It stayed there until the 1950s when it was shipped to Canada where it remained until its current owner acquired it in 2018. Other than a repaint in the 1950s, it is in original, unrestored condition. It made its show debut at the 2018 Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance.

Saloon by Schutter and van Bakel

This example is 1 of 3 Schutter and van Bakel bodies known to exist. The coachwork was completed in the Netherlands. Many years later the car eventually found its way to Amsterdam and underwent a partial restoration. In November 1970, the car was listed for sale in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While no sale figures or detailed sales history are available, it is known that the car was listed again for sale in 1980 by a gentleman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Upon meeting the owner and reviewing the car, Mr. Roy Johns Jr. agreed to purchase the car for $14,000. In May of 1982, Mr. Johns sent the car for a full restoration. Since completion of the restoration in 1984, the car has been mostly kept in storage and only acquired 832 miles.

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