Vehicle Description
Announced in 1929, the Phantom II continued the tradition of
excellence set by the New Phantom and Silver Ghost before it and
served as Rolls-Royce's flagship model for six years. Central to
the Phantom II was the 7,668cc six-cylinder engine that, while
related to the Phantom I unit, shared little more than the bore &
stroke dimensions. Key developments included a crossflow cylinder
head, separate inlet ports, improved exhaust manifolds, and higher
compression, which amounted to an increase of approximately twenty
horsepower. Of course, Rolls-Royce never boasted about power
output; instead, letting the car's unparalleled refinement do the
talking. A revised chassis and driveline complemented the new
engine, delivering improved handling, ride quality, and a lower
floor line - much to the delight of coachbuilders who could now fit
lower and sleeker bodies at the behest of their clients.
Rolls-Royce produced 1,681 Phantom II chassis, an impressive figure
when considering the economic conditions of the early 1930s. While
developing the Phantom II in the South of France, Sir Henry Royce
envisioned a Rolls-Royce that could handle the unique demands of
continuous high-speed driving to which customers on the European
Continent were accustomed. With assistance from engineer Ivan
Evernden, Royce created a sporting version of the Phantom II,
featuring a shortened chassis, higher spring rates, a lowered
floor, a raked steering column, and a taller 12/41 rear axle ratio.
Chassis number 26-EX was the first such car constructed and was
fitted with stunning close-coupled Saloon coachwork by Barker & Co.
explicitly designed for the rigors of high-speed motoring. The car
won the Grand Prix d'Honneur at the Concours d'Elegance of
Biarritz, and inspired a limited series production of similar
sporting chassis, dubbedContinental. Curiously, Rolls-Royce did not
have an exact written specification for the Continental chassis
modifications, nor were the cars branded as such. Rolls-Royce even
fitted a few long-wheelbase cars with lower, sporting coachwork,
which the factory designated "Continental-type." Researchers have
determined that RR built 281 Phantom II Continental chassis,
accounting for just 17% of total production. Chassis number 42-GX
is an early Continental-spec Phantom II, the 8th produced and the
second to feature Barker coachwork. It was ordered by Capt. J.F.C.
Kruse, a well-heeled English gentleman with a penchant for fine
automobiles, kept garaged as his sprawling Sunning House estate. He
was a V.I.P. Rolls-Royce customer, having owned numerous
magnificent examples of the marque. Capt. Kruse was known for his
refined taste in European sporting cars, his stable containing
several Alfa Romeos, racing Bentleys, a Lancia Dilambda, Bugatti,
Mercedes-Benz, and a Phantom I modified by Villiers with a
supercharged engine! He was quite vocal in his opinion that the
British did not offer a sporting car that could hold a candle to
the likes of the Europeans, sparking a vigorous debate in the pages
ofThe Motor. Given Captain Jack Kruse's importance to Rolls-Royce,
the firm was quick to offer him one of the new, updated
Continental-specification Phantom II chassis to challenge his
opinion on British performance automobiles. On the 9th of October,
1930, the order was placed for Chassis 42-GX, a Phantom II built to
short-chassis Continental specifications. The build sheet lists
Capt. Jack Kruse as the customer and specifies it as a
"Continental-type chassis, identical to 26-EX." Kruse had a
long-standing relationship with Barker & Co. coachbuilders, as they
supplied bodies for many of his cars, including all of his
Rolls-Royces and his Lancia. The completed chassis was delivered to
Barker's Willesden workshops on the 12th of December, 1930, to
receive the appropriately sporty two-door drophead coupe coachwork,
highlighted by elegant clamshell fenders, a louvered bonnet, twin
rear-mounted spares, and a fully folding soft top. Barker was known
for its quality construction, with a distinct restrained elegance
to its designs, which shine through on this stunning automobile.
Kruse was undoubtedly pleased with his latest acquisition, as he
reported in a letter toThe Motorthat it "had more direct steering"
and that "... the present model unquestionably is the equal of any
large sports car made today." However, aside from his
well-published appetite for cars, Captain Kruse was also known to
have a short attention span for his vehicles. After about six
months with 42-GX, he sold it to fellow sportsman R.H.W. Jacques,
Esq. of Piccadilly. In 1932, Jacques entered the 42-GX in the
R.A.C. 1000 mile rally, and the following year he teamed up with
Margaret Allen to contest the 1933 Monte Carlo Rally. Ms. Allen was
one of the best-known female motor racers of her time and one of
only four women to hold a 120 mph Brooklands badge. Despite running
the event in an unlikely, and arguably outclassed vehicle, the pair
performed well to finish 30th from 71 entries, highlighting their
skill as rallyists and the impressive ability of the Phantom II.
Experts believe Mr. Jacques retained 42-GX until his death, as the
next registered owner was Thomas Neale in 1950. It transferred to
the Wilkinson family in 1955, who kept it until 1968, when it was
sold to Samuel Alder. In 1997, a comprehensive overhaul took place
when the car showed 83,000 miles. It was stripped to a bare chassis
and rebuilt from the ground up. The original matching-numbers
engine was re-sleeved and bored, fitted with new pistons, a
freshened cylinder head, and more. The gearbox showed almost no
wear at the time, requiring only a minor service. Restorers rebuilt
the rear axle with a new 3.09:1 gear set, ensuring the car is now
impressively long-legged. After the initial restoration, 42-GX
lived a relatively quiet life until it came into the care of an
enthusiastic owner who decided it would be best to enjoy this
exceptional motor 'as intended.' The new owner thoroughly planned
and prepared 42-GX for one of the world's toughest classic car
rallies - the 2013 edition of the grueling 12,247-kilometer Peking
to Paris Motor Challenge. Their epic adventure is well documented
in an accompanying book, which reveals the extent of the thoughtful
preparation and the Rolls-Royce's ability to take such a punishing
event in stride, with minimal breakdowns, resulting in a 14th in
Class and 30th Overall finish. As a reward for seeing its owners
safely across the Eurasian continent, the car was treated to a
thorough freshening and mechanical overhaul. With the body off the
chassis, the original engine (no. DH95), original gearbox, and
chassis components were rebuilt as necessary after the rally and
meticulously documented with hundreds of photos. The body was
refinished in its present livery, and the red leather interior
freshened with rebuilt seat frames and padding. In early 2022,
respected marque specialists Fiennes Engineering supplied a
replacement cylinder head fitted at considerable expense, ensuring
the car is ready to continue its legacy of reliable, high-speed
motoring joy. Today, 42-GX is presented in fabulous condition, with
the restoration displaying an appealing, road-ready character. The
low-slung Barker design is exquisitely proportioned, with a
distinctly purposeful attitude thanks to the black and green
livery, subtle red coachlines, striking red leather trim, black
wheels, and twin rear-mounted spares. It is in superb mechanical
condition and is ready for virtually any adventure its next
custodian wishes to take it on. Accompanying the sale is an
extensive history binder containing period photographs, complete
build records, ownership history, and extensi...for more
information please contact the seller.
