Lot 1073: 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine

Introduced in the autumn of 1959, Rolls-Royce’s new 6,230cc all-alloy V8 engine powered the Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 sedans as well as the Rolls-Royce Phantom V. The new Phantom V long-wheelbase limousine effectively replaced both the royalty/heads of state-only Phantom IV and the Silver Wraith. The latter’s relatively short - for a limousine - wheelbase had made it all but impossible for coachbuilders to provide adequate boot space in a comfortable seven-seater automobile, a shortcoming addressed by the Phantom V. Built on a much-modified and strengthened ’Cloud II chassis enjoying the same 145” wheelbase as the IV, the new Phantom measured almost 20ft in length and enabled coachbuilders to combine the desirable qualities of spacious interior accommodation with generous boot space and graceful lines. A lower final drive ratio ensured that, while top speed was a little down on that of its stablemates, though still in excess of 100mph, the new Phantom could all but match them for acceleration.

Rolls-Royce’s in-house coachbuilder H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd produced what was in effect the ‘standard’ seven-passenger limousine coachwork for the Phantom V, while an alternative design was offered by James Young. A lack of suitable chassis would force the latter’s closure before the ’Sixties decade ended, but in its declining years the Kent-based firm produced what are widely recognised as its finest creations, the sublimely proportioned Touring Limousine (Design PV22) being one of the foremost. Undeniably more graceful than the rival Mulliner, Park Ward version, James Young’s Touring Limousine combined the formality of an internal division with luggage space sufficient for continental touring.

One of the 13 Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs bodied by James Young, this well preserved, left-hand drive example features sideways-facing occasional seats with beige hide upholstery, magnificent walnut veneered woodwork, and has power windows throughout, including division. Featuring fresh exterior paintwork in Masons’ Black, the automobile displays a total of circa 69,000 miles on the odometer and is described by the private vendor as useable, fully sorted and in superb order. A rare opportunity to acquire an extremely rare and exquisitely beautiful example of the craft of one of Britain’s finest coachbuilders on the ultimate Rolls-Royce chassis of its day. Copies of the factory build sheet by Rolls Royce Owners Club are included.