Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sotheby's Santa Monica event, June
24, 2017.
Estimate:
$85,000 - $95,000 US
One of 374 built
Believed to have been delivered to talent agent Gordon Mills
Phillips 45-rpm vinyl record player in rear
Wood television cabinet with Sony unit
The zenith of period luxury
The Phantom series of limousines ranks among the longest-lived body
designs of all time having been offered from 1968 to 1990 with only
374 reported as built. The ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce was the
choice of many individuals of wealth and was used as the official
state car of the Queen of England until 2002.
An acknowledged step forward from the Phantom V, the Phantom VI was
hand-built (as were all) and represents the last iteration of this
British legend. Special ordered for the "rich and famous" they were
equipped with an extensive list of features that allowed
Rolls-Royce to stand alone in this vehicle classification.
The build sheet that accompanies this car notes many recognizable
names; this Phantom VI is believed to have been delivered to talent
agent Gordon Mills.
The list of the special features for this Roller includes Garnet
Red upper body paint with Double Gold to exterior pinstripes. The
interior was specified Black leather (Connolly) hides with Garnet
piping in the front. This appears original and true to form as it
sits today. The rear cabin features "Twill Cloth dyed to Bottle
Green piped in Garnet with matching Velvet Bottle Green Headliner
and Maroon carpet welted in Leather."
This luxurious setting also includes a center armrest that will
accommodate full length cigars, cigarettes and lighter. Additional
touches are folding tables, footrests, wing mirrors, power windows,
tinted windows (darker in back), burled wood dash and door trim,
Kienzle dash clock, power double Shadowlite glass rear division
window, interior courtesy lights, Clarion cassette stereo,
barometer, Angelus dash clock, Phillips 45-rpm vinyl record player
in rear, wood television cabinet with Sony unit, window curtains,
telephone, plus an additional Clarion cassette for the rear
passengers.
A tremendously expensive automobile; it was produced solely to
individual special-order. As with earlier Rolls-Royces, the
tradition of bespoke custom coachwork continued, with the world's
few remaining coachbuilders turning out ash forms to be skinned in
aluminum and finished in the owner's choice of paint colors and
trim - rare indeed.
Addendum:
Please note this vehicle was not delivered to Tom Jones, as stated
in the catalog. It is believed to have been delivered to talent
agent Gordon Mills.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/.
