Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental (1934)

An unusual, very appealing car, being an attractive Sedanca de Ville on a desirable Continental chassis. The car is in lovely condition, with the benefit of long-term ownership by an enthusiastic collector, whose approach to maintenance was ‘do what needs doing, regardless of cost’. Consequently, the car is in very good order, particularly following an engine overhaul in recent times, which included new cylinder head and blocks. The car drives particularly well, with an excellent, smooth, quiet and responsive engine, as good as any Phantom II we have driven, excellent, light steering, efficient brakes, comfortable suspension, etc. Couple this with the advantages of the Continental chassis, high ratio back axle, etc, and you have a delightful, competent motor car, ready to use and enjoy. Desirable features include louvred bonnet, Correct P100 headlamps & long trumpet horns, twin fuel fillers and very unusually, plexiglass incorporated into the roof mechanism, including the folding arms. All being well, the car will soon be re-united with its original registration number, CG 6881, which will be included with the car if the application is successful.

SALE AGREED

Chassis No. 153RY Reg No. 3007 SR Price £110,000

Snippets: The International Scottish Connections

The 1st owner of 153RY was Capt George J. R. Cooper, son of Lady Mary Emma Cooper, an American heiress. She together with her brother James “Silent” Smith had inherited their private wealth from their Uncle George “Chicago” Smith (a Scot who emigrated to America) whose business included banking, insurance, railways. In 1906 James “Silent” Smith died whilst he was on his honeymoon with Annie Rhinelander-Stewart (nee Armstrong) - the New York Times headline read “Silent Millionaire’s Sister now becomes the Richest Woman in the World”. In 1902 the Coopers owned Hursley Estate in Hants; Grant Lodge in Elgin (designed in 1766 by Robert Adam for Sir James Grant) & Nr 26 Grosvenor Sq, London. In 1903 Sir Cooper (a wealthy Scottish Lawyer) gifted Grant Lodge for the use of the people of Elgin, such was the family’s wealth, this was further emphasised when during WWI the Coopers donated £5million to the War effort. When Capt George Cooper took delivery of 153RY he & his wife Isolde (daughter of 17th Lord Borthwick & Susanna, Duchess of Grafton) lived at Merdon Manor, part of the Hursley Estate which was once home to Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell. Capt Cooper only kept 153RY until 1937 when he part exchanged it for the newer, more exciting PIII, 153RY ended up with one of his neighbours – Eric William Muirsmith (1896/1963) who lived at an apartment in 20 Grosvenor Sq. Eric W. Muirsmith was also from a well known Edinburgh family whose firm A B Fleming (Est 1852) were oil refiners – side products of which were fuel, gas, varnishes, adhesives, coatings & inks. Eric W. Muirsmith trained as an accountant & held many directorships – Scottish Machine Tool Corp Ltd., Hoogly Ink, B. Winstone & Sons, Thermo-Plastics to name a few. In 1951 he was received into the Church & devoted his later years to charitable works - he was the recipient of the Knighthood of St Sylvester in recognition of his work with the Vatican in the Brussels Exhibition – a Knight of St. Sylvester has the privilege of being allowed to ride a horse inside St Peter’s in Rome! The 3rd owner of 153RY was Sir Ronald Hugh Campbell, British Ambassador to Portugal during WWII – he was known as the British Schindler for the assistance he gave to over 1,000 Jews fleeing Europe, this was done by issuing them with Visas for Mauritius which they could then use for safe passage through Europe until they reached safety. Upon retiring from the Foreign Office Sir Campbell returned to London leaving 153RY in Lisbon where the car remained until 1979 when it was repatriated to Great Britain. The next owner of 153RY was also of Scottish descent Sir James Cayzer who was a scion of the shipping firm founded by his great-grandfather Charles W Cayzer 1st Bt (in the late 1800s Charles Cayzer was wealthy enough to provide a Scottish estate for each of his sons – of which he had 6! Sir James Cayzer lived at Kinpurnie Castle which in 1908 Charles Cayzer commissioned the architects Thoms & Wilkie to design - they had earlier designed Gartmore House for the Cayzers.

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