Highlights

Beautifully presented ivory over garnet car
Former Club concours winner in 2009
One of only 281 Continental models from 1,671 Phantom II chassis produced
$111,000 restoration in the mid-1990s in the USA by chief judge of the RROC of America
Further £40,000+ spent by current keeper since 2002 on improvements
Mechanical rebuild by Hofmanns of Henley
Complete body restoration by Jim Denne of West Hoathly
Documented in Raymond Gentile's book "The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental"
Current enthusiast keeper since 2002

The Appeal

Owning a classic, but particularly a rare pre-war classic, is a labour of love. It’s a relationship that is easy to let flag, but when owners fully commit, the result is a car such as this 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental.

Just 281 Continentals were built, and this car is surely one of the best. It is a former Club concours winner, after all. Bodied by Thrupp & Maberly and finished in cream with dark maroon and a tan leather cabin, it is a very good example of these well-proportioned saloons.

The car comes to market with a truly vast history file. Highlights show a $111,000 restoration in the mid-1990s by Sam Rawlins, chief judge of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club of America. The car returned to the UK in 2002 and has been with the current keeper ever since. He has kept it in at concours level throughout, helped by an expensive mechanical overhaul by Hofmanns of Henley and a body restoration by West Hoathly. We ran out of counting when the bills for this work exceeded £40,000. You can discover the full details in the photos.

You may approach this car as a very good example of Rolls-Royce’s pre-war output that can be used and enjoyed. Alternatively, it has the makings of a show star or even a winner at the highest level.

The vendor says:

“Since her return to the UK, 150MS has undergone significant restoration and now resides in East Sussex. Once the mechanical restoration was complete (by Hofmanns of Henley), which included new gearbox bearings, replacement engine mountings, a new camshaft, replacement head gasket, a slipper drive, magneto rebuild, improvements to the central lubrication (one-shot) system and other detail improvements, Jim Denne of West Hoathly carried out a complete body restoration from November 2006 to April 2008, finishing the motor car in the choice of colour of the current owner - Rolls-Royce 'Ivory over Garnet'.”

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History and Paperwork

First registered in 1932 according to DVLA
Vendor states the car was first registered in 1933
Delivered to its first owner Mr. C.G. Menzies of Edinburgh at a cost of £2,650
Chassis 150MS completed on 17th November 1932 and sent to coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly
Subsequent registered keepers detailed below
Re-registered in UK in July 2002 following period in USA
Current keeper since arrival in UK
Documented in Raymond Gentile's book "The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental" published by Dalton Watson
Complete set of invoices from Sam Rawlins detailing extensive mechanical restoration work totalling over £100,000
Imported back to the UK from the USA in 2002 after spending several decades in America
Class concours win in 2009 as shown in photos
Large history folder with highlights shown in photos
Typed history from 1993 to 1997 as shown in photos
Handbook for gearbox
V5C in current keeper’s name
Registered as a Historic Vehicle
Restoration book as shown in photos
Chassis records and other early documentation
Various old MOTs

The vendor says:

“The Continental version of the Phantom 11 is considered by many to be one of the finest motor-cars ever built. This was a distinct improvement over the standard Phantom 11 - already recognised as a magnificent automobile - in its performance, looks and handling.

“Apart from the overdrive, both the coachwork and mechanicals on this motor-car are correct. The car and its authenticity are documented in Raymond Gentile's book, "The Rolls-Royce Phantom 11 Continental", published by Dalton Watson.

“1,671 Phantom 11s were built at Derby from 1929 - 1935 over a period of 6 years; of these

“281 were 'Continentals' - a shorter wheel-base, sporting model. The chassis of 150MS was off Test on 17h November 1932 and was then sent to the coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly; the body is aluminium covering an ash frame.

“150MS was delivered to H.R. Owen Ltd., 17 Berkley Street, London. W1 on 27th February 1933. At this point, final detailing to the motor car took place before it was delivered to its first owner, Mr. C.G. Menzies, 33 Moray Place, Edinburgh (the W.H. Smith of their day) at a cost of some £2,650 (£1,750 for the Chassis, £700 for the Body and £200 for 'extras').

“On 27* April 1938, the car was sold to W. Armitage Owen, 75 West Parade, Rhyl, North Wales, who, it is believed, owned the car until 24*" May 1950.

“In the 1960s 150MS was shipped to America to her new owner, Mr John Reid (of Little Rock, Arkansas, who "drove her all over the US"

“In 1980, John Reid sold 150MS to Mr George Walker (of South Carolina), who was a dealer in antiques. At some point he had the body retimbered but substantial mechanical problems existed: 150MS then sat idle for a long time.

“In 1993, George Walker sold 150MS to Mr John Mathews (of Sedgwick, Maine). The motor car was then placed with the firm 'SRS' in Georgia, where Sam Rawlins (a notable engineer and chief judge of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club of America), assisted by Bob Jefferson, carried out a complete rebuild of the engine and ancillaries from early 1994 to mid 1997: the body restoration was then carried out in Florida and involved the replacement of much of the ash frame, new paint, new Connally leather, new Wilton carpets and satin finish varnish to the instrument panel and window cappings. In addition to the above the current owner has the complete set of Invoices from Sam Rawlins detailing his work on 150MS; this amounted to over $100,000.

“In 2002, John Mathews sold 150MS to Mr David Lees-Jones (then Headmaster of Lockers Park, Hemel Hempstead, UK), who is the current owner.”

The Condition

Aluminium bodywork over ash frame, completely restored by Jim Denne of West Hoathly between November 2006 and April 2008
Finished in Rolls-Royce Ivory over Garnet, chosen by the current keeper
Interior features new Connolly leather upholstery in tan as shown
New Wilton carpets throughout
Instrument panel and window cappings finished in satin varnish
Body frame underwent significant restoration with the replacement of much of the ash structure
Practical four-seat layout with a large boot and a sliding sunroof
Chromework presents well in photos
Black wire wheels in good order with well-kept vintage tyres

The Phantom II was a high point in Rolls-Royce’s development and the final evolution of the 40/50 model. The svelte Continental was built in tiny numbers and is one of the best–looking of its era. As this car proves.

It is easy to throw money at a classic car, what is important is that it is spent with the right people. The car was restored in the mid-90s in America by a senior judge with the Owners Club. On return to the UK the bodywork renovation on this car was done by Jim Denne at West Hoathly and including extensive renewal of the ash frame. The car was then refinished in Rolls-Royce Ivory over Garnet, personally selected by the current long-term keeper.

The quality of the work is obvious from the photos. That it remains so presentable is a credit to the craftsmen and the enthusiast keeper.

The Mechanics

7,668cc inline-six engine
4-speed manual transmission with overdrive
Engine number UQ75 matching the chassis 150MS
Complete mechanical rebuild carried out by Hofmanns of Henley
New gearbox bearings and engine mountings installed during restoration
New camshaft and replacement head gasket
Slipper drive installed
Magneto has been professionally rebuilt
Improvements made to the central lubrication (one-shot) system
The Continental specification features an overdrive for enhanced performance

This car retains its matching numbers engine and is now fitted with a 4-speed manual gearbox featuring overdrive for long-distance touring. On its return from the USA, it was entrusted to specialists Hofmanns of Henley for an expensive mechanical overhaul, the invoices for which run to many pages and considerable five-figure sums. You can inspect the details in the photos. The car is said to run and drive very well.

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