Rolls-Royce Phantom I Dual Cowl Open, 1929

Chassis No.: 83WR

Engine No.: ZD65

Registration: RP 6984

Sold £91,840 | Sold

In 1925, the ‘New Phantom’, with its overhead-valve engine and four-wheel brakes was introduced. The example offered today left the factory in October 1928 for coachbuilders Arthur Mulliner to be fitted with coachwork for its first owner, Lord Hillingdon of Paulerspury, Northamptonshire. (A photograph of the finished car appears in ‘Those Elegant Rolls-Royce’ by Lawrence Dalton). In the post-war years, it fell into disrepair and was finally taken off the road in 1961. After lying unused for over 40 years, the car was then purchased in 2002 by the previous owner who set about returning ’83WR’ to its former glory.

This most elegant example has have been the subject of an extensive restoration over the years with the engine rebuilt from the ground up by noted Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists, Ristes, in 2003. The cylinder blocks were rebored and honed to +040” with oversized pistons fitted, top and bottom faces skimmed and waterways cleared with external surfaces stove enamelled as original. The crankshaft was ground to undersize with new white metal bearings fitted. Oilways were cleaned out and new plugs fitted with new white metal bearings to con-rods and new camshafts fitted.

The bottom face has also been skimmed flat with new valve guides, exhaust valves and rocker faces built up and re-profiled. The slipper drive was re-lined and set to the correct torque setting with the oil pump reconditioned. All ancillary items including dynamo, magneto, water-pump etc were also fully re-conditioned and finished as per original. The carburettor was reconditioned to factory settings with new spark plugs, leads and a freshly stripped and re-conditioned Autovac with all new parts as necessary. The exhaust system was also replaced from manifold to fish-tail tip.

The radiator was fitted with a new core and all shutters were nickel plated, new hoses and original pattern clips throughout. Both front and rear spring leaves were separated, cleaned, de-scaled, greased and reassembled. The rear shock absorbers were dismantled, cleaned and painted with all new leather gaiters fitted to the spring with triple lock panels on the running boards for access. The chassis was also stripped to bare metal with all mechanical items removed, sandblasted, painted and refitted. The Front axle was also sandblasted and painted with kingpins built up and re-machined to size.

New bushes and bearings were also fitted, new ball pins fitted to all steering swivel joints and even the steering box was stripped and checked for wear, cleaned and reassembled. All shock absorbers were stripped, cleaned and painted, worn shafts were built up and re-machined to size. The wheel hubs and bearings were stripped, cleaned and inspected for wear then repacked with grease and reassembled. The cross steering tube and side steering tube swivels were re-set to correct poundage with new leather gaiters. All hubs have dismantled, cleaned and inspected for wear then repacked with grease and reassembled.

The universal joint in the torque tube has been re-bushed with new leather seal fitted. New linings have been fitted all round and the front drums skimmed. Importantly, for a two tonne car, new brake cables have been fitted both front and rear. The wheels have been dismantled, re-spoked and a stove enamelled finish applied with new tyres and inner tubes including a side-mounted spare. The original Mulliner body has long-since gone to be replaced with a very well-constructed duel-cowl open tourer torpedo coachwork. The frame is Ash with aluminium panels, aluminium wings and a new aluminium firewall.

The new bonnet has been built with period-style sliding side vents, nickel silver hinges and rivets which match the handbrake, gear lever and all lighting equipment. The luxurious interior is trimmed in high quality, red leather and contrasting black mohair hood, hood bag and side-screens. The instrument panel presents with a deep gloss finish and garnish rails. The comprehensive array of instruments themselves have all been with the main ignition and lighting functions also stove-enamelled and re-lettered as have the controls on the steering column. The wiring loom has been replaced with a cotton-braided unit in the original colours and even following the original conduits.

The original bell-shaped Lucas headlamps are fitted with main and dipped beam operated through the dash-mounted dimmer switch. Brake lights and indicators are incorporate within sidelights to the front and classic rear divers-helmet rear tail lamps. Even the Klaxon horn has been fully reconditioned and operational. Needless to say, Wilton carpet can be found at feet level with an additional hinged panel behind the front seat to provide storage for the side-screens. The nickel-plated theme continues with the windscreen frame housing, interior mirror and exterior wing-mirror (carried on the side-mounted spare wheel).

Not to mention the rear luggage rack fitted with reconditioned Brooks ‘Brexton’ trunk. Also supplied is the wheel spanner, bottle jack, starting handle, grease gun, extensive history file and owner’s handbook. This represents a supremely elegant motor car produced by the most famous marque in the world, there is little doubt, with some light fettling, that it would win prizes were she shown. Quite simply, beautiful.

https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/?lot=3703&au=73