ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM III from 1937 - Lot 1

ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM III from 1937 Make: Rolls Royce. Model D3: Phantom III. Year: officially released on November 18, 1937. Kilometers on odometer 70801 KMS Meter. Engine P 1 : 7338 cm3. Engine number: 3-CM-29. Date of first registration: 18/11/1937. Imported from: Europe. Certificate date: 13/01/1988. Viewing by appointment at our La Brède/Montesquieu site. We present here a Rolls Royce Phantom III, an exceptional and rare car in this condition. The car is black and yellow in color, and features arms painted on the doors by artist Taka Hira. The story as we know it is that of the pre-war tin king whose name was Simon L Patino. This historical figure was one of the wealthiest people of his time, and built his fortune around the tin mines of Bolivia. We know that his life revolved between Europe and the South American continent, among other places, and that for his traffic needs he ordered this beautiful English car, the height of luxury in 1937, which we find here in colors that were probably not the original. As a billionaire, he never shied away from the opulence of his daily life, and like his buildings, his car was a cut above any other land vehicle in existence. This marvellous car is both a jewel and a showcase. Built in 1937, it was the height of luxury at the time, with everything designed to appeal to the traveller in absolute comfort and exemplary calm. The exceptional lines of this marvellous limousine show just how far English engineers had pushed the luxury of a grand saloon, of a fast car despite a weight worthy of a pullman wagon, and what's more modern at the time in terms of its engine and the accessories brought in with great care to the cutting-edge technology taken up many years later in the world of racing cars. The driver sits on a very comfortable black leather bench seat with plenty of room, and depending on the season, has a retractable roof, transforming this car into a chauffeur's coupé. Rear passengers are seated in English-style lounge chairs in excellent condition. The seat handles are made of curtain rope, and the folding seats at the back of the front bench are designed for smaller people, with integrated footrests. The ceiling is made of pleated silk, with silver calico-set crystal lighting. The coachbuilder, Hooper, has fitted the car with a driver's separation system with retractable glass, both for discretion and to reduce noise and draughts. In fact, this large car offers many maintenance facilities for the driver and mechanics. At the time, the driver was also the one who maintained the vehicle, and to this end Rolls Royce provided purchasers with tools adapted to the vehicle alone, including wrenches and other cranks. To change a wheel, all you had to do was activate a hydraulic pump that allowed the jacks under the body to lift it without scratching or scratching any part of the bodywork. Under the front passenger seat, a drawer contains mechanical accessories for getting the car up and running. Here you'll find keys for removing the driver's roof, and access to the rear trunk to fit a travel trunk on the flap. The powertrain alone is as exceptional as the rest: a V12 with a displacement of over 7 liters, based on pre-war Spitfire engines. Despite its low horsepower of around 165, its silence and torque enabled this very large car to be launched at imposing speeds for its time. The four-speed gearbox is located to the right of the driver and is perfectly synchronized, extraordinary for its time. This exceptional car has belonged to its current owner since 1988. The latter, who is passionate about timeless cars, carried out restoration work in the early 90s, stripping the car down to its bare essentials to turn it into a jewel. Everything was done, from the bodywork to the mechanics, with the utmost attention to detail. Every part on this car is unique, from the engine to the rest, and made by craftsmen who are no longer with us. This exceptional car has taken part in numerous rallies, and prize-winning plaques can be found in the engine compartment.