Based on the Silver Cloud II, the Phantom V was equipped with extended landing gear. The long undercarriage offered the coachbuilder a vast opportunity, while the suitable weight distribution provided excellent handling, typical for smaller models.
Source: Mad4Wheels
Until the first half of the 20s, the only automobile of the British brand, well known to the world, were models 40-50 HP, also famous as the Silver Ghost. Much water had flowed under the bridge before the producer of the “best car in the world” finally accepted that even the best automobile couldn’t be equally suitable for all owners without exception. In addition, some owners wanted to drive themselves rather than hire a driver. However, to sit behind the wheel of your Rolls-Royce on your own was not the most straightforward task to handle: the automobile was heavy and oversized, and without proper skill, a driver couldn’t tame it easily. Consequently, the division of the brand’s vehicles into “senior” and “junior” into “cars for the driver” and “cars for the owner” was laid. From 1925, the Ghost was succeeded by the Phantom, and until the very outbreak of the Second World War, the title of “senior” was retained by it.
Source: Automotive Heritage
According to the British etiquette of the pre-war years, gentlemen should be strictly in the back seat of Rolls-Royce vehicles. However, times were changing, and the company understood that it was necessary to change the brand concept and highlight at least two independent vehicle lines. The first was for dandies – ready to turn the steering wheel on their own, while the other one – with ample space in the rear seat area intended for trips with a hired driver and respectable gentlemen and aristocrats. With the outbreak of World War II, the “phantom” tradition was interrupted for a while: the Silver Wraith moved to the position of the “senior.” It was a “silvered” version of the Wraith that debuted just before the war (1938) and replaced the “younger” series, known under the index 25/30. The fourth model appeared in the Rolls-Royce production program in 1950 but did not go on sale: it was made in single copies and exclusively used by royal families and heads of state. The situation changed dramatically at the end of the fifties – with Rolls-Royce and Bentley engines transitioning to V-shaped eight-cylinder engines. Therefore, the old-fashioned and prim Silver Wraith was ceased, and the long-wheelbase modification of the Silver Cloud took its place. In 1959, the Rolls-Royce Phantom became the most prestigious vehicle in the world. If the previous IV model was created exclusively for the British royal family and leaders of foreign states, the V version was designed for the wealthiest representatives of other classes: from presidents and governors to movie stars and pop stars. From 1959 to 1968, the company sold 516 Phantom V.
Source: WallpaperUp
Phantom V was built on the Silver Cloud II chassis with a wheelbase extended to 3683 mm. It was powered by a 6.2-liter 90° aluminum overhead cam V8 engine with two SU carburetors. The power was rated as “adequate” and provided a top speed of 160 km/h with a total weight of at least 2500 kg. The package included hydraulic drum brakes, a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission, and power steering. There was still no factory body for the model: the chassis was sent to James Young or Mulliner Park Ward. The former offered a more classic design with a sharply curved fender liner, overhead rack, and “Razor’s Edge” drop-down C-pillars, while the Park Ward was characterized by 1950s styling with a voluminous trunk and a high roof. The interior of the 1959 edition received a range of amenities to ensure passengers had everything they needed for a comfortable journey. These amenities included air conditioning, power windows, a radio, and even a built-in telephone. The car was also spacious, with ample legroom and headroom for up to six passengers.
Source: Wikipedia
This model’s owners were Queen Elizabeth II, the Governor of Hong Kong, Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King Olaf V of Norway, Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, and musician John Lennon.
Contact us if you have this or another classic car to sell.
| Mon - Fri Saturday Sunday |
9am - 6pm 9am - 3pm Closed |