The original limousine body, which was completed a year after the chassis left the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, lasted until the 1980s, at which point the late, great Tony Robinson built the body it wears today.
And what a body it is! Stately and imposing, the side profile shows what an impressive footprint the long-wheelbase ex-limousine chassis has.
Yet, for all its length – and it is very long – the proportions are perfect with the elegant front cycle wings flowing into broad running boards that terminate in streamlined wings that cover the rear wheels.
The long bonnet, which must occupy a third of the car’s length, is beautifully balanced by the Brooks trunk on the rear. (And yes, it was made by the same folk who make what are arguably the world’s best bicycle saddles.)
It's all in great shape too with no visible rust or significant dents, scrapes, or other damage. The four doors still fit their apertures very well too, with shutlines that wouldn’t look out of place on a modern, mass-produced car – but then a skillful coachbuilder should be able to match, or even exceed, anything a robot is capable of, surely?
The wire wheels, which are painted black, are 20-inches in diameter but then anything smaller would look lost of a car as regal as this.
As you can see, they’re in a good condition and fitted with matching, high-quality Michelin tyres. These, along with the inner tubes, were fitted new in 2014. All have good tread on them, with the spares never having been used.
We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.
In addition to the full chocolate hood the Rolls-Royce comes with a both a full-length and half-length tonneau covers, giving you the flexibility to match the protection deployed to the prevailing weather conditions and the number of passengers you’re carrying.
All three are in fine fettle with no rips, loose seams, holes, or other issues to distract the eye other than a small hole at the base of the nearside rear and a couple more in the cover that hides the full roof when it is stowed.
It also rises and falls as it should and is easy to deploy but you do need to take care to keep your fingers away from the frame as it folds; modern cars might be idiot-proof, but the Phantom’s roof design assumes at least a modicum of commonsense on the part of the user. (Which reminds us; must complete the Accident Book…)
The brightwork is good too, with only light pitting and tarnishing plus a few light scratches on the radiator from being polished. These, along with the inevitable marks on the coachwork that every car collects over the years, give the Rolls-Royce a pleasing and slowly developing patina.
Other nice touches are a pair of huge Lucas headlamps, a badge bar that sports a nice selection of badges, and that incredible radiator grille with its newfangled shutters.
All of which means there’s simply nothing for the new owner to do other than continue to enjoy it.
The dashboard is as unpretentious and stylish as the rest of the interior appointments, featuring instruments that monitor time, speed, distance, fuel level, oil pressure, battery charge, and coolant temperature.
(Of course, there’s no rev counter because gentlefolk have no need to raise the engine above a whisper.)
As for the steering wheel, if you’ve got an advanced degree in physics the various levers and controls will make sense. If not, the vintage car world is one of the nicest out there and you’ll have no shortage of offers to help explain how to make the most of the Phantom’s engine.
The rear passenger compartment offers its occupants fold-down picnic tables as well as more legroom than you’d find in anything short of a nightclub limo.
Storage space is plentiful, with the seller advising us of the following:
The driver’s door pocket holds the key for the rear trunk lock, the key for the locks that secure the trunk to its support rack, an open-end spanner to remove Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, and a budget lock key to remove the floor panels.
The space under the driver’s seat contains the spanner to release the centre wheel nuts along with a rubber mallet, a wooden wheel chock, hi-viz jackets, a hazard warning triangle, a fire extinguisher, and an inspection lamp.
The nearside wiper arm and link rod are in the same place; these were removed because it has a tendency to go over-centre.
The main battery and the jack and handle for changing wheels are under the rear floor, and are easily accessible via a hatch.
Finally, the Brooks trunk, which serves as a boot, contains the following items:
• A ‘town cap’ to replace Spirit of Ecstasy mascot when it is removed for security
• Ignition parts including a distributor cap, rotor arm, contact breakers, and spark plugs
• Autovac components including a reproduction spare tap handle and cork seal, used valve components (which were working fine but were replaced as a precaution), and a set of eight stainless-steel cover screws
• Miscellaneous spares include radiator cap seals, an inlet and an exhaust valve, and steel bushes for dynamo drive coupling
• Sundry items include fasteners, gaskets, o-rings, hoses, etc., plus a container of Castrol XL30 engine oil, a lubrication can and a funnel
As for its condition, the seats are as gently patinated as the coachwork, with a few light rubbing marks and creases. There’s also a hole in the carpet under the driver’s heels.
