Lot 60: 1935 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM II LIMOUSINE

COACHWORK BY A. MULLINER


Two-tone green and grey with blue leather interior

Engine: six cylinder, 7,668cc, 120bhp at 2,750rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Suspension: solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel drum. Right hand drive.

Chassis number 39 TA is noted as being ordered in October 1934 by J.E. Hill of Kingston Hill, Surrey. The chassis was completed by the works in January 1935 and was then fitted with limousine coachwork (with division) by A. Mulliner. It is reported that the car was first registered in February 1935 and subsequent additional pre-war history is not known at present.

Having successfully survived the rigors of WWII, a copy of an old British registration document noted that by 1963 it had come into the ownership of C.P. Brooks of Sevenoaks in Kent - a then noted Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist. From reading the detailed history file (which specifically notes correspondence from 1965 to 1972), 39 TA was in a very tired and non-running state by this time and in June 1966 it was purchased by Theodore Montgomery of Berkeley, California. Montgomery had struck a deal with Brooks that he would restore the car prior to shipment to the USA, and a later letter in the file notes that this restoration was expected to take approximately two years. Sadly this was not to be the case and after a bevy of correspondence the restoration was finally completed in 1972; by this time the car had been comprehensively rebuilt with particular attention being paid to the engine, interior and bodywork (extensive detailing of all work undertaken is in the history file). As a footnote, Brooks wrote in one letter that after the time and expense taken over 39 TA, it was to be his last pre-war restoration ever!

As if 39 TA hadn't tested Montgomery's patience enough, and to add salt to (by then) very old wounds, departure from British shores was delayed due to dock strikes. By August 1972 it had finally landed on American shores, albeit having suffered light damage while in transit! Mr. Montgomery, a Rolls-Royce Owners' Club member, kept for the car for many years until it recently passed to the current vendor as part payment for some building work carried out. The odometer currently reads just over 81,700 miles and while having been stored and not run for some time it is expected to be operational by the time of sale. Condition in general is sound and it appears to have seen only limited use following the restoration carried out over thirty years ago. Viewing is recommended.

WITHOUT RESERVE