1929 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom I Limousine

Coachwork by Barker & Co Registration no. BF 9552 Chassis no. 42KR

Footnotes

Long-awaited successor to the Silver Ghost, the New Phantom arrived in 1925. Retrospectively known as the 'Phantom I', the newcomer boasted an entirely new overhead-valve, 7,688cc, six-cylinder engine, a unit considerably more powerful than that of its Edwardian predecessor. The New Phantom, like the contemporary 20hp model, adopted a disc-type clutch and adjustable radiator shutters; its chassis though, remained essentially the same as that of the later four-wheel-braked 'Ghost and would continue fundamentally unchanged until the arrival of the Phantom II in 1929. Some 2,212 Phantom I chassis had left Rolls-Royce's UK factory by the time production ceased.

Chassis number '42KR' was bodied with limousine coachwork by Barker & Co and delivered to its first owner, Captain A C Bowles of London W1 in May 1929. One of the finest of all British coachbuilders and a firm associated with Rolls-Royce from the latter's earliest days, Barker had shown an example of their work to the Hon C S Rolls as early as 1905; so impressed was he that the firm was viewed as the 'official coachbuilder' to Rolls-Royce for the next 25 years.

Copy build sheet and chassis cards on file show that the Phantom was ordered for 'Continental Touring' and that it was next owned by H Brownings Esq of Eastbourne (from 16th December 1929). Only one further owner is listed: F A Garrett Esq (from 24th June 1946).

In 1955 the Rolls-Royce was purchased by Dr M J Russell from Performance Cars West London for £150 (see copy email correspondence on file). The Russells used the car for their honeymoon in 1958 and kept it for a few more years before selling it to Bugatti collector Charles Pochon in 1963. There is a copy photograph on file of Dr Russell's wife's Austin A30 and his Rolls-Royces.

Charles Pochon came over from Switzerland to collect the Phantom and drove it back there. He later displayed the car in the Motor Museum at Martigny. A photograph on file shows it there in 1985. Around that time, the Phantom was bought and restored by Walter Steinemann (at a cost of some 120,000 Swiss francs) and registered in Switzerland as 'SG 8550'. '42KR' features in Steinemann's book Faszination auf Rädern. Rolls-Royce und Bentley published in 2002.

The Phantom returned to the UK in March of this year. The engine and gearbox are described by the vendor to be in running order. It would benefit from a service and light recommissioning due to long term storage. Both the paintwork and chassis appear to be in good order, as does the interior.