Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 3BT149
Engine No. E58X
Among the myriad coachbuilding companies that dotted England
throughout the early 20th century, it was Barker & Co. who had an
especially strong relationship with the finest automobile
manufacturer in the country. Of course, that manufacturer could be
none other than Rolls-Royce, and with the advent of the Phantom III
in 1936 with its 142-inch wheelbase, a chance to prove themselves
yet again with a chassis specifically designed for custom
coachwork. Naturally, the pre-war Rolls-Royce is more than a
styling exercise and the Phantom III offered its fair share of
technical achievements. Most notably powerful 7.3-liter aluminum
alloy V12 engine offering ability to approach 100 miles per hour
typically garners the headlines yet the four-speed transmission
with synchromesh in the top three gears and a suspension with
driver-controlled hydraulic shock absorbers is certainly more than
noteworthy.
It is likely that all the above appealed to Thomas John Hughes upon
placing an order for a new Phantom III clothed in custom Sedanca de
Ville coachwork by Barker & Co. Certainly, his 22-year ownership
lasting well through The Blitz until May 1959 serves as further
evidence of his love for the car. That spring, the car was traded
to London Rolls-Royce dealer Paddon Brothers, who subsequently sold
it to Mills B. Lane, a colorful American bank president and
prolific collector of classic cars from Atlanta, Georgia. Rather
than bring his new Phantom III stateside, Lane kept it in England
registered on British number plate "WYF III" earning it the
nickname "The Third Wife." While in England, Paddon Brothers
performed a cosmetic restoration on it with a color change
influenced by famous automotive designer Count Alexis de
Sakhnoffsky. Additional work included retrofitting 3BT149 with a
spare wheel and tire with a carrier on the passenger side, and the
installation of an Everflex removable front-roof cover.
Featuring de Sakhnoffsky's colors, 3BT149 was exhibited by Lane at
a Rolls-Royce rally held at Blenheim Palace, and shortly thereafter
exported to the United States in 1961. By 1967 the car joined the
collection of Rolls-Royce expert collector and former RROC
President William Maxwell "Bill" Davis. Retained and cared for by
Davis for the next 55 years, the Phantom III took part in CCCA
touring events, featured at various concours d'elegance and RROC
events, and appeared in print publications such as The Flying
Lady?and CCCA's The Classic Car.
Cherished by just three devoted owners and well-maintained
throughout its history, 3BT149 has since acquired a charming
patina. It comes with most of its original tool kit intact and
extensive documentation verifying its exceptional provenance.
Crucially, service records from mid-2022 note that the V12 engine
operates well, with evidence at the time indicating the critical
cooling system is in good health. What was once, according to
Rolls-Royce, "eminently suited to long distance journeys" is, of
course, much more than that today. For those willing to indulge in
a coachbuilt example of what is agreed to be among the most
attractive and most well-maintained Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs
extant, a future of leisurely classic tours or relaxed exhibitions
that so suit its flowing Barker & Co. Sedanca de Ville coachwork
await.
