Description
1936 Rolls- Royce Phantom III Limousine de Ville by Freestone and Webb, Chassis 3AX17, Registration No. VG9136, -total chassis up restoration including re-built Rolls-Royce B80 straight eight engine and winner of many awards.
This very attractive Phantom III was originally ordered by the millionaire businessman Mr Vincent Gluckstein, the Chairman of Bovis Construction who lived in Grosvenor Square, London. It has unique Limousine de Ville coachwork by the fashionable London coachbuilders, Freestone & Webb who were renowned for their sporty coachwork. This formal car has certainly their flair for being attractive from every angle , with opening Sedanca roof above the Chauffeur's compartment, side mounted spare wheel, swept D back with folding luggage rack, and seating for seven people including two folding jump seats. The luxurious fittings include a cocktail cabinet , his and hers vanity sets, cut glass flower vases, rear clock and a winding glass division. The car is traditionally upholstered to the front compartment in green leather and the rear compartment in fine wool West of England cloth. The coachwork is painted in cream and sage green which suits its shape well. This splendid car was rescued from being scraped by our vendor, Mr Harry Sunderland in 1977 who bought it from a farmer in Wymondham, Norfolk. He gave him £200 for it ( original bill of sale in the history file) and had to dig it out of the farmyard where it was buried up to its axles in mud. He then commenced a 20 year total chassis up restoration, replacing or rebuilding every component of the chassis and fitting a Rolls-Royce B80 straight eight engine ( a recognised suitable engine transfer for the original Phantom III V12 unit which often suffered from corrosion and tappet problems). The remnants of the body were stripped and a new ash frame was made and re-panelled in aluminium to the original specification. The car was then painted, re-upholstered, interior woodwork was re-veneered, and the metal work re-chromed all to the highest standards . The end result was spectacular and it is a tribute to Harry's dedication and passion to this car that it still presents so well to this day, some 25 years after the completion of the restoration. Sold with a period luggage trunk fitted with suitcases, a mostly modern toolkit, a fitted car cover, a quantity of photographs of the car before and during restoration, a handbook and copies of the original factory build sheets, a workshop manual and related paperwork. A truly loved car that has been well maintained by its knowledgeable owner and a wonderful opportunity to acquire a very good example of the ultimate luxury car of the late 1930s.
Auction date: Saturday 4th October at 11am at our Colchester saleroom.
