Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 72PY
Engine No. LB25
The sporting and handsome Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental with
unique H.J. Mulliner coachwork that we have the pleasure of
presenting here is an exceptional motor car in many unique ways. A
visually pleasing example with its close-coupled coachwork and
well-chosen color scheme, The PII also quite remarkably boasts a
known history from new with all previous owners known throughout
its near 100-year existence.
Documented by digital copies of its original order form, this
Phantom's life began with an order placed by The Car Mart Ltd. on
25 July 1933 for a sporting and short Continental chassis from the
renowned Park Lane dealership. The order sheet noted E. Hillman
Esq. from the London borough of Romford as the car's first owner.
E. Hillman Esq. was Edward Henry Hillman, founder of "Hillman's
Saloon Coaches and Airways Limited. A build sheet was issued on 2
August, with a detailed order form completed one day later. The
chassis was then completed on 5 September and underwent testing
until 25 September. Once finalized, it was delivered to H.J.
Mulliner on 4 October for its custom coachwork where the
side-mounts were switched for a single spare in the rear before
delivery. Pre-delivery testing at H.J. Mulliner was completed on 24
November that year. The original guarantee was issued on 10 January
1934, marking the assumed date of the car's delivery to its first
owner.
Shortly thereafter, J. Hutton Esq. of Nottingham, was added to the
registration card on 13 August 1934 as the next owner on record.
The Phantom II is believed to have remained in regular use,
benefiting from routine service work up until April 1939, when it
was likely placed into storage as the hostilities of World War II
began to increase. It is thought that the car was still under
Hutton's stewardship when all invoices and accounts were asked to
be now sent to a new address in Nottingham. The car likely had
subsequent ownership in Birmingham when its registration plate "AXE
381" was renewed there on 31 May 1957.
The Phantom left England for the first time in the late 1950s,
being imported to the United States, most likely by William H.
Palmer of Deerfield, Illinois. On 2 December 1960, Palmer sold the
car to James F. Kearney of Oak Park, Illinois. According to the
Rolls-Royce Owner's Club directory, the car remained with Kearney
for an impressive 44 years, until c. 2005.
Perhaps most impressive was the care Mr. Kearney applied towards
his ownership of the Rolls-Royce. It appears that his 44-year-long
ownership was very much one of fastidious care including exhaustive
restoration work supplemented with constant and reliable
maintenance. The results of which are evident with this truly
remarkable Rolls-Royce in that few cars exhibit such a high level
of care and attention, carried forth even today under its current
gentleman ownership.
Today this Rolls-Royce is presented in splendid condition, a
testament to the work completed by Kearney. Finished in subtle
two-tone grey, the subtle blue pinstripes hint at the fantastic
blue leather interior. In preparation for sale, the Rolls-Royce
underwent a thorough mechanical service as well as road test, all
performing admirably and as expected.
Also notable, the PII, with chassis number 72PY has been featured
in several Rolls-Royce books such as Raymond Gentile's The
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental in addition to Lawrence Dalton's
Coachwork on Rolls-Royce 1906-1939, where it highlights the one-off
Sports Saloon coachwork by H.J. Mulliner on page 190. What made
this example special included the long louvered hood treatment, the
slightly raked windscreen with hand crank mechanisms, the low-slung
roof line and handsomely finished at the rear with the single
covered spare.
As a result, this well-documented and lovingly cared for 1934
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental H.J. Mulliner Saloon is a
shining example of a unique, sporting, short-wheelbase Continental,
complete with its original, numbers-matching engine. A worthy
entrant to RROC events throughout the country in addition to being
a Classic Car Club of America Full Classic, the Phantom II
Continental boasts a wealth of ownership opportunities for its next
caretaker.
Please note that Broad Arrow has an ownership interest in this lot
in whole or in part.
