This is a beautiful example of the iconic 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom
II HJ Mulliner Sports Limousine that wears an older restoration and
is a proven tour car. While this Phantom has been made a formidable
touring car, it remains cosmetically nice enough for most concours.
This Phantom (43TA) is well documented and has been upgraded with
power steering, which improves its drivability and makes it a joy
to drive. 43TA was also ordered with the overdrive gearing specific
to Continental chassis. This Rolls-Royce is featured in Lawrence
Daltons Those Elegant Rolls Royce published in 1997. 43TA was
delivered new to 24-year-old American Robert Sweeny at his
residence at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London on
March 23, 1935. Robert Sweeny was a businessman and Oxford
graduate. He went on to win the 1937 British Amateur Golf
Championship. His career stalled when he was beaten by Arnold
Palmer on the last hole of the US Amateur Golf Championship in
1954, the match that launched Palmers golfing stardom. It was
specially ordered when new with its kneeling lady mascot, which had
been first introduced in January of 1934. After Sweenys ownership,
this Phantom enjoyed a documented series of owners in the UK and by
the 1960s was on the East Coast of the USA. It eventually came into
the ownership of Dr. Mirkhani of Connecticut. Following a thorough
restoration under his ownership in the early 1980s it was returned
to the UK in the ownership of classic car enthusiast and avid rally
participant, John Sangster. In 1991 it was sought out and acquired
by Sir James Cayzer, flamboyant scion of a shipping empire, friend
of the Queen Mother and collector of early Rolls Royce cars. Sir
James had known this Rolls-Royce during the Sweeny ownership and
returned the car to its original paint and interior specifications.
During Sir James ownership, in 2005 the car had a complete and
documented engine rebuild by Milford Engineering. In addition, the
power steering was installed, making for a wonderful driving
experience. When Sir James died in early 2012 his collection was
sold off, at which time the current owner bought the car. The car
still bears Sir James family crest on the rear doors. The current
owner, Mr. John Tulloch, purchased the car for touring in the USA,
including the successful completion of the 26 th Annual Arizona
Copperstate Rally in 2016, a grueling trip of 1,000 miles in four
days. The livery is beautiful in its elegant Steel Dusk (Gray) and
Black two-tone paint, Black Ace Wheel covers and black walled
Firestone tires. The paint has beautiful shine and luster and has
many areas of small touched up chips from normal use. The chrome
and stainless steel are in overall very nice condition, with wear
evident in the high use areas such as the wheel hubs. This
close-coupled Phantom has some appealing styling touches and nicely
finished throughout. It has Marchal headlamps, louvered bonnet and
scuttle, and twin side-mounted spare wheels with fitted covers. We
love the sleek design and its nicely raked and low-cut windscreen
and its bustle back trunk. The interior features a beautiful light
blue leather in very nice condition. There are no rips or tears and
the soft leather is not worn. The carpeting is a wonderful lighter
blue Wilton wool in very nice condition. The rear passenger
compartment has two cigar vanities and the picnic tables have two
vanities built in, one for cosmetics (beveled mirror included) and
the other appropriate for a humidor. In addition, there are two
additional vanity compartments in both of the rear C-pillar posts.
These include doors, mirrors and small compartments for notepads,
pencils and the like. The beautiful curved lines on the interior
wood door cap panels and matching leather lines of the piping give
this a great art deco appeal. Mechanically, the Phantom II has been
thoroughly restored by some of the top engineers specializing in
Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Overall, it is in very nice mechanical
condition, having benefitted from its earlier thorough restoration.
The power steering is well engineered and installed in the UK and
make an incredible difference in the driving experience. Sharp
cornering is very easy, as is turning the wheel while stationary
(normally very difficult to do). 43TA was ordered new with the
high-speed Continental gearing for higher speed driving and
touring. These enhancements make this Phantom much more agile to
drive and makes it even pleasurable around town. 43TA is freshly
serviced and ready for use. We did find that the clock and fuel
gauge were not functioning, and that the speedometer wobbles.
Otherwise, she is in great condition for tours and driving. The
engine compartment is in nice show condition and chassis looks as
an older restoration with several thousand enjoyable miles added
since. This car comes with a very extensive history, receipts,
documentation, and two versions of the owners manual, one for shop
use and one for show. It has its wheel wrench and a full compliment
of tools, but is without its original tool tray. For more
information and details, please call, text or email Harry Clark at
1.602.245.7200 or
[email protected] . This Phantom II is
available for viewing in our Phoenix showroom.
