Lot 327: 1933 Rolls-Royce 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Short Chassis Continental Sedanca Coupe

The Phantom II was the last Rolls-Royce model to be overseen into production, with typical gruelling attention to detail, by the remarkable Sir Henry Royce. The Phantom I was really a stopgap, to a large extent a Silver Ghost with more up to date valve gear, but by the end of the 1920s motoring was changing, in particular the way large luxury cars were expected to perform, and the Phantom II of 1929 was Royce's response. It impressed from the outset. Wilfred Aston, a motoring writer of the era, produced a suitably jingoistic paean to his first test drive: "The greatest achievement in the history of a firm second to none in its ability to uphold British engineering prestige". Gone were the old torque tube and cantilever springs, replaced by under-slung semi-elliptic units and Hotchkiss-drive back axle, while the engine, still Royce's beloved dynamically balanced in-line six cylinder, was increased in capacity to 7,668cc. Juvenile car spotters judged the potency of a car by the length of its bonnet, an area in which the Phantom II would never disappoint, and one effect of the modified suspension was to render the car substantially lower than its immediate predecessors. The combined result, together with its impressive wheelbase, was that the Phantom II received some of the most wonderfully proportioned coachwork ever mounted on any car.94 MY is one of the finest examples of the Phantom II short chassis continental available anywhere in the world today, and it carries the legendary HR Owen sedanca coupe coachwork with external trunk and rear-mounted spare wheel. The car was delivered new in February 1933, via HR Owen in Bartley Street, London W1, to Mr Cox Hill of Solihull in Birmingham. The original order documents state that the car was for use in Great Britain but also specify that it was to be used mainly for 'fast touring'; such were the capabilities of the Phantom II short chassis continental, one of the greatest British sporting cars of the period. A comprehensive order sheet catalogues a number of special order items which were ordered with 94 MY. Subsequently the car was sold to Major Cotton, who purchased the car via Jack Barclay Ltd. In later years, in common with many of the finest pre-war Rolls-Royce, 94 MY formed part of the collection of Mr Phillip Witchar of Huntingdon Bay, New York State, and during its time in America it had the distinction of being a Classic Car Club of America First Prize Champion at national level. Offered as finished in Masons Black, with a contrasting deep burgundy leather interior, 94 MY is not only one of the most sought after Rolls-Royces ever to be made, but also one of the greatest British sporting cars of the period.94 MY ist eines der wohl besten zur Zeit auf dem Markt erhltlichen Phantom II mit dem kurzen Continental-Fahrgestell. Die legendre HR Owen Sedanca Coupé Karrosserie mit separatem Kofferabteil und au?en befestigtem Ersatzrad wurde im Februar 1933 durch HR Owen in der Londoner Bartley Street an einen Mr Cox Hill aus Birmingham geliefert. Aus dem Bestellformular geht hervor, da? dieser Rolls-Royce fr den Einsatz in Gro?britannien vorgesehen war, aber au?erdem auch als schneller Reisewagen gedacht war. Spter wurde dieser Phantom II dann an einen Major Cotton ber den bekannten Londoner Hndler Jack Barclay verkauft, um dann wiederum seinen Weg in die USA zu finden, wo er Teil der Sammlung von Philip Witchar im Staat New York war. Whrend seiner Zeit in den Vereinigten Staaten gewann dieser eindrucksvolle Wagen den ersten Preis vom Classic Car Club of America. In Schwarz mit wunderschnem patinierten dunkelroten Lederinterieur angeboten, ist dies wohl einer der attraktivsten und sportlichsten Vorkriegs Rolls-Royce.