Vehicle Description
Rolls-Royce had experienced a major shift of philosophy in the
post-war years. The Silver Dawn was the first car from Crewe to
wear a standard factory-supplied body, which signaled the beginning
of the end of the British coachbuilding industry. Although the
custom body segment was dwindling, there was still enough demand to
support continued production of the Silver Wraith through 1959, as
well as the opulent Phantom IV; a straight-eight cylinder powered
behemoth reserved for royalty. Both of these high-end models were
supplied by Rolls-Royce as chassis only and were bodied by the best
coachbuilders of the era. The arrival of the Silver Cloud in 1955
represented a further shift toward factory supplied bodies. The
Cloud was a beautiful, modern motorcar that cost much less than
bare chassis plus custom body. It ultimately replaced both the
Silver Dawn and the Wraith. The prestigious Phantom IV was in
production from 1950-1956, but only seventeen cars were ever
completed and the roots of its chassis were firmly planted in the
pre-war era. As luxurious, stylish and fine driving as the Silver
Cloud was, there was now a distinct void at the very top of the
market. Following a three year absence, the Phantom name returned
to the Rolls-Royce lineup in 1959, with the arrival of the Phantom
V. The chassis was based upon that of the V8 powered Silver Cloud
II, though on a more grand scale thanks to an additional two feet
added to the wheelbase. By the time the Phantom V was announced,
many of England's best coachbuilders had closed or were on the
brink of closure, so the Phantom V provided welcome boost in
business, proving to be a magnificent base on which they could
practice their craft. Utilizing many standard components from the
Cloud series allowed for a more generous production number, with
516 examples produced from 1959 through 1968 with a wide variety of
body styles from the likes of James Young, Park Ward, and H.J.
Mulliner. The famous and infamous alike have owned Phantom Vs,
including the British Royal family, John Lennon, The Shah of Iran
and the notorious Imelda Marcos. Our featured example, 5AS69, is a
1960 model from the first series of Phantom V production. It wears
an elegant and handsome Park Ward limousine body originally
commissioned for the London High Commissioner for Nigeria. It
presents in lovely condition with a very good quality cosmetic
restoration that has been extremely well maintained since its
completion. Classic Mason's Black paintwork is laid down over alloy
straight panels with excellent alignment and fit. �Getting such a
large car to appear so straight in a single-tone black paint scheme
is no easy task and is a testament to the quality and care given to
the restoration. A single coach line in gold accents the paintwork,
which is repeated on the wheel covers as per original. Chrome
adornment is limited to bumpers, light trims, a subtle waist strip
and of course, the prominent Rolls Royce radiator shell. A
radiator-mounted flag holder hints at this car's period diplomatic
duties.� All of the brightwork is presented in very good order,
with deep, clear reflections and no corrosion to speak of. The
interior is wonderfully presented, with a black driver's
compartment contrasting a cream beige passenger compartment,
separated by a powered divider. The chauffeur's compartment is
beautifully trimmed, showing some light yet attractive creasing on
the leather. Black Wilton carpets are in excellent order and the
gorgeous woodwork provides a visual lift to the otherwise austere
and businesslike driver's office. An under-dash A/C unit keeps the
driver and front passenger comfortable, while all original
instruments and switchgear present in excellent order. The rear
compartment is a drastic contrast to the front, with a light and
airy feeling courtesy of the cream beige Connolly hides, light
Wilton rugs, and plenty of glass. Integrated into the divider is a
beautifully finished wood bar, an originally-fitted option which
includes a pair of crystal decanters. Flanking the bar is a pair of
jump seats trimmed in leather and vents for the rear-mounted air
conditioning system. Door cards are in excellent order, with
beautiful banded-wood caps surrounding the cabin. Rear passengers
are whisked along in opulence, with gorgeous tan leather chairs,
individual cigarette lighters, carpeted foot rests and a separate
set of controls for the rear air conditioning system. The engine
(#PV34A) presents in tidy order with a few modern upgrades for the
sake of reliable operation. Largely correct finishes adorn the
rocker covers, ancillaries and firewall. It is reported to be an
outstanding driver, with its previous owner using the car regularly
for shows and events. It rides on a set of Michelin X radial tires,
a widely accepted modern alternative to the original crossply
tires, well suited to the performance characteristics of this large
limousine. The Phantom V and its sibling, the Phantom VI, marked
the end of the long-running tradition of coachbuilt limousines from
Rolls-Royce. These grand motorcars competed with the likes of the
Mercedes-Benz 600 for superiority among royalty, captains of
industry and heads of state. The impressive quality of this example
is certain to appeal to an enthusiast who chooses to drive rather
than be driven, and it remains very much in showable condition
thanks to the high quality restoration and careful maintenance.