1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Saloon

Coachwork by Kellner Registration no. HXM 341 Chassis no. 5UK

Footnotes

The Phantom II Continental was the last Rolls-Royce to be designed under the personal supervision of Henry Royce, before his death in 1933. As its name suggests, this new Rolls-Royce was intended for fast continental touring; indeed, there were few roads in Britain where its outstanding performance - the top speed was around 95mph - could safely be exploited to the full.

The Phantom II had been introduced in 1929 as a successor to the New Phantom (retrospectively Phantom I). The Phantom II employed an entirely new chassis laid out along the lines of that of the smaller 20hp Rolls-Royce. Built in two wheelbase lengths - 144" and 150" - this new low-slung frame, with its radiator set well back, enabled coachbuilders to body the car in the modern idiom, creating sleeker designs than the upright ones of the past.

The engine too had come in for extensive revision. The PI's cylinder dimensions and basic layout were retained, but the combustion chambers had been redesigned and the 'head was now of the cross-flow type, with inlet and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides. The result of these engine changes was greatly enhanced performance, particularly of the Continental model, and the ability to accommodate weightier coachwork.

Designed around the short (144") Phantom II chassis and introduced in 1930, the Continental was claimed to be "ideal for the enthusiastic owner-driver" and featured revised rear suspension, a higher axle ratio, and lowered steering column. Produced for a relatively short period, during which time only 281 examples were completed, the Phantom II Continental typically sold for around £2,500 (more in some cases), a quite staggering amount to ask for a motor car and equivalent to the cost of no fewer than six or seven average-priced houses in the UK at that time! The Continental's - necessarily wealthy - owners included such famous names as the racing drivers Sir Malcolm Campbell and Woolf Barnato; Prince Ali Khan; the Prince of Nepal; various members of the British nobility; the Rothschilds; the Maharajas of Bahawalpur and Jodhpur; N S Gulbenkian; and Noel Coward.

Highly favoured by prominent coachbuilders, the Phantom II chassis would provide the platform for some of the truly outstanding designs of its day, and this example boasts typically elegant sports saloon coachwork by Kellner. A carriage making business established as far back as 1861, Kellner built its first motor body in 1903 and on founder Georges Kellner's retirement his sons Paul and Georges Jr took over its management. The man credited with creating the 'torpedo' body style, Georges Jr later assumed sole charge of Kellner, having bought out his brother's share of the business in 1919.

Operating out of showrooms on the Champs-Elysées, Kellner specialised in coachwork for the most expensive chassis, most notably Hispano-Suiza. Faced with economically difficult times, the firm had abandoned coachbuilding by the end of the 1930s. Kellner left behind a legacy of some quite outstanding designs, including that seen here on chassis number '5UK', which is pictured on page 141 of Coachwork on Rolls-Royce by Lawrence Dalton (1975 edition) when it was owned by one J Leake, Esq.

The Phantom had been imported into France by Franco-Britannic Automobiles (FBA) whose manager, Walter Sleator, was a former Kellner employee. Following the German Blitzkrieg that commenced in May 1940, '5UK', which had been bought back from its owner, Eric Boucherit, was one of two cars used by FBA's staff to flee Paris. In their book The Kellner Affair: Matters of Life and Death, Messrs Larsen and Erickson state: "The Rolls-Royce didn't get far. It was abandoned at the Sleator family estate in the village of Oysonville, a scant 79 kilometres from the centre of Paris, and garaged with Walter's parents, Alexander and Mary Sleator. In 1943, the car was reclaimed by Jean Goemaere who was keeping the shell of FBA afloat in Paris."

So many 40/50hp Rolls-Royces of this period were intended to be chauffeur driven, with almost no room in the front for the chauffeur and all the legroom in the rear. In '5UK' - an owner-driver Continental - all the legroom is in the front and hardly any in the rear: effectively a '2+2' arrangement. The owner has driven this car on relatively long trips and advises us that he finds it spacious and very comfortable. Other notable features of this well equipped Continental include twin scuttle vents; cut glass bottles and small goblets; twin horns; and beautiful Marchal headlights and auxiliary driving lamps to the front. There is also a full tool kit in its fitted tray on the upper boot lid, and large tools in the engine bay.

In the mid-1990s '5UK' was treated to a 'chassis-up' restoration by marque specialists Ristes of Nottingham at a cost in excess of £165,000. Now delightfully patinated, the Phantom still presents and drives well, the chrome in particular being very good, its only detraction being some moth damage to the roof lining. The car has been very well maintained and benefits from a recent service by West Hoathly Garage.

Retaining matching chassis, engine and body numbers, this highly original and beautifully presented Phantom II Contiental is eligible for the most important Concours d'Élégance events and is ready to be enjoyed by its next proud owner.