1931 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Drophead Coupé

• One of only two Ranalah-bodied Phantom II DHCs
• Pictured on page 300 of Those Elegant Rolls-Royce by Lawrence Dalton
• R-ROC Newport, Rhode Island Concours winner (1980)
• Present ownership since 2016
• Extensively restored during the present ownership (bills available)

Reputedly the last model that Henry Royce designed himself, the Phantom II was introduced in 1929 as a successor to the New Phantom (retrospectively Phantom I) with deliveries commencing in September of that year. Unlike its predecessor, which inherited its underpinnings from the preceding 40/50hp model, the Silver Ghost, 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 six-cylinder overhead-valve engine too had come in for extensive revision. The PI's cylinder dimensions and basic layout - two blocks of three cylinders, with an aluminium cylinder head common to both blocks - 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 magneto/coil dual ignition system remained the same as on the PI.

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 conceived as 'an enthusiastic owner driver's car' and featured revised rear suspension, higher axle ratio and lowered steering column. By the end of production the magnificent Phantom II Continental was good for 95mph.

"Powerful, docile, delightfully easy to control and a thoroughbred, it behaves in a manner which is difficult to convey without seeming to over-praise," opined The Motor after testing a PII Continental in March 1934.
Highly favoured by prominent coachbuilders, the Phantom II frame provided the platform for some of the truly outstanding designs of its day, and this example on the long chassis was ordered by Cockshoot's for their client, Ernest Tweedale Esq. Although ordered by Cockshoot's, themselves established coachbuilders, '63GY' was originally bodied as a limousine by Weymann of Addlestone and completed on 31st March 1931.

In 1938 the car was bought by insurance agent Basil Garnham, who commissioned Ranalah to build the sporting three-position drophead coupé coachwork we see today, it being not uncommon at that time for valuable chassis to be updated with more modern styles of coachwork. It is believed to be one of only two convertibles built by Ranalah on the Phantom II chassis. 'Ranalah' had previously been a brand name owned by John Charles & Co of Kew, and when the latter folded was used for the successor company that had acquired John Charles' assets.

In 1950 Basil Garnham died and his widow sold the car to Jack Barclay, who in turn sold it to A Christie Esq of Ashford, Kent. In 1959 the Rolls-Royce was sold to John Lyman of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. '63GY' later passed to another American collector, Paul F Teryl, who owned the only other Ranalah re-bodied Phantom II DHC, '42GN'. While in Mr Teryl's ownership the Phantom was painstakingly restored to the highest standards, going on to take the top award at the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club's Newport, Rhode Island Concours in 1980 in a field of more than 500 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. The original colour scheme of RAF Blue was changed to white with maroon leather interior.

The Rolls-Royce was later sold to a collector in Sweden where it spent 12 years in a private museum. It subsequently returned to the UK and was owned by David Morgan of Hertfordshire. The current vendor purchased the car at Bonhams' Olympia Sale in 2016 (Lot 262) and has since had it restored. The history file is substantial and contains correspondence with Basil Garnham's family and photographs of the car when new. The car also comes with copies of the original build sheets and Jack Barclay sales details from 1950.

While in the present ownership the engine has been partly dismantled and fitted with a new cylinder head, two new cylinder blocks and pistons by marque specialists Harvey Wash Ltd of Kelvedon, Essex (approximately £50,000 spent). The paintwork has been stripped to bare metal and repainted black with maroon coachlines. A set of wheel discs has been fitted and the wheels shod with new tyres; these works costing an additional £15,000. Also on file are further bills from Harvey Wash for servicing work together with other bills from the previous ownership. The car's handbook and large tools are present, while the only notified deviation from factory specification is the provision of flashing indicators. '63GY'is featured in Those Elegant Rolls-Royce by Lawrence Dalton (page 300).