1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Drophead Coupe

Sainsbury Esq. of Sainsbury's supermarket chain *A highly-collectible Rolls-Royce that presents beautifully THE ROLLS-ROYCE PII CONTINENTAL During the development of the Phantom II, the majority of the long-distance testing was carried out on the long straight roads surrounding Chateauroux in France. This fact and Mr.

Henry Royce's many journeys between the South of England and the South of France no doubt opened his eyes to the type of motoring not available upon England's narrow and windy roads. With long distance high-speed motoring in mind, the Phantom II Continental chassis was created, the project being personally overseen by Henry Royce with assistance from Ivan Evernden. The whole car was conceived by Royce to be a more sporting and compact four-seater owner/driver motor car when compared to the long wheelbase standard Phantom II.

Just 281 such chassis were produced, and they differentiated themselves from their standard cousins with thicker springs and a six-inch shorter chassis, measuring 144 inches. With lightweight coachwork being fitted, the final result was a motor car capable of carrying four people in comfort at high speeds for many hours at a time over great distance. The Continental is rightly considered by many to be one of the finest pre-war Rolls-Royces.

The majority of Phantom II Continentals were fitted with close-coupled four-door closed coachwork. However, a small number were fitted with more stylish designs and few possessed the exquisite elegance of the Drophead Coupe by Freestone & Webb. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED This stunning 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental comes with a copy of its original build sheet clearly stating that the automobile was ordered by A.

Sainsbury Esq. of Sainsbury's - the second largest supermarket chain in the UK, founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury, grandfather to Alan. Alan Sainsbury lived on Park Lane, London, and became the joint manager of the chain in 1938.

The build sheet - a rarity in a car over 80 years of age - offers some fascinating information, for example, this automobile was ordered on the rare and desirable, high-speed Continental chassis, specifically built for 'town work and touring' in the 'UK and Continent'. It used a short 'Continental wheelbase' with a two-door body, featuring a fully opening top. The springs were especially set for the load of four to five passengers, plus two pieces of luggage weighing 2 CWT or 214 pounds, and the 'close coupled drophead de Ville coupe body' weighed 10.

5 CWTS – or 1,176 pounds. Chassis 203RY was dispatched on June 12, 1934, and delivered the following day to Freestone & Webb, the London based coachbuilder renowned for coaching prestigious marques such as Bentley and Rolls-Royce. The Continental was completed and delivered in June of 1934.

This marvelous Rolls-Royce Phantom II presents today in two-tone paint with deep blue for the upper-bonnet and running boards, which arc elegantly over the wheels in a single curvaceous sweep the full length of the automobile. The body and rear cowl of the Continental present in sophisticated silver grey, coordinating with a lavish interior also dressed in light grey. The retractable top is grey and features a small glass window in the rear.

The dash comprises highly varnished burl wood, all the gauges and switches are polished chrome, and the car sports white-wall tires with two spares embedded in the wheel arches over the front fenders. Chassis 203RY retains the original engine (NZ45) that was built for the car in 1934, as is designated by the factory-stamped plate in the engine compartment and the factory built sheet. This delightful Phantom II Continental is in beautiful condition and complete with the build sheet for verification and its remarkable celebrity ownership, chassis 203RY represents one of the most collectible and rare examples of the model in exitance today.