• Unique coachwork; the only such example on the Phantom II Continental chassis
• Originally delivered to prominent British provisions magnate Arthur Sainsbury
• Formerly owned by Vernon Jarvis and Robert Bahre
• Older restoration in attractive overall condition
• A Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic

Chassis number 203RY, offered here, was one of only 10 Phantom II Continentals fitted with coachwork by Freestone & Webb. According the recently-published work on the coachbuilder by James Taylor, this car was body number 1110 and was the only example built of design number 1499. A very attractive and well-proportioned drophead coupe with a three-position sedanca roof, it offers a spacious luggage compartment for Continental touring. It was delivered in April 1934 to Arthur Sainsbury, a member of the British retailing family, who managed the factory that produced meat pies and sausages for the Sainsbury stores. Charcuterie had been very good to Mr. Sainsbury, as this was one of eight new Rolls-Royce automobiles he purchased between 1930 and 1938: five Phantom II, two Phantom IIIs, and a 25/30 for good measure. The build sheet indicates that this car was built with engine number NZ45, still present today.

A letter in the Rolls-Royce Foundation files indicates that the car was acquired by a Park Lane dealer in 1960. It was soon purchased by the Jack O’Lantern Garage and in 1961 sold to Michel Nöel Mavrogordato, who kept the car for several years, and displayed it in the Rolls-Royce Pageant at Goodwood in 1964.

Later in the 1960s, the Rolls-Royce moved Stateside and became part of the famed early collection of Vernon Jarvis. Much of Mr. Jarvis’s collection, which also included many other outstanding Classics, was exhibited in the Early American Museum in Silver Springs, Florida. After some two decades on display, following Mr. Jarvis’s passing the contents of the museum were sold en masse to legendary enthusiast, Robert Bahre, in 1986. Thereafter, the Phantom II Continental was sold and found its way into its present collection.

203RY is pictured and described in André Blaize’s well-known reference work, Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental (pages 891–892). It is believed to have been cosmetically restored in its present livery some time before 1992, when it was acquired by present ownership; the interior exhibits considerable stretching of the leather upholstery, but the rich silver and blue color scheme has held up very well for its age and is still quite striking. Its engine compartment is largely clean and tidy, but would benefit from minor detailing for regional shows, while the undercarriage shows minor age and use.

Alternatively, and perhaps most appropriately, this unique Phantom II Continental could be sorted for use on the road—gobbling up miles in “continental” travel, exactly the use for which it was designed, and sure to provide much pleasure to the new owner.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo22.