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1933 Rolls Royce Special Sportman’s Sedan
Custom
All Aluminum body by Freestone & Webb
THIS
CAR HAS BEEN SOLD
This
automobile is built on the magnificent 150" Rolls Royce Phantom
II chassis. Yet, it incorporates almost all of the sporting
Continental features usually found only on the 144" chassis.
Originally,
there were only four all aluminum bodies like this one manufactured.
Three were mounted on a Rolls Royce chassis and one was built for an
eight liter Bentley chassis. One of the Rolls Royce cars was
believed to have been destroyed in World War II, leaving only three
of these extraordinary bodied cars in the world.
A
couple of years ago, one of the three remaining "sister"cars
was sold at the world famous Beaulieu (Brooks/Bonhams) classic car
auction in Great Britain. Naturally, numerous automobile journalists
attend this important sale. I found a couple of their comments on
this particular car and body style to be of interest. One was from
Mr. Julius Thurgood, who is one of the most respected British
Classic car writers. Mr. Thurgood described this body style as
"sublimely executed" and Rolls Royce motoring at its most
elegant. Another comment was by the well-known publisher of the
Sports Car Market letter in the United States, Keith Martin. In
reviewing the same auction and the same car Mr. Martin said,
"The effect of the automobile is extra ordinary. Body could be
by Murphy or Dietrich, it’s killer."
Part
of what makes this body style so attractive, is the exceptionally
low roof line and the beautifully raked windshield that is only
seven inches tall at the center point. Equally beautiful lines
on the hood with a consistent eleven-degree rake on the hood and
cowl louvers all add to the "racy" effect. This body style
is strictly an “owner / driver” model with individual seating
for only four people. This classic Rolls was originally custom
ordered from the famous London Rolls Royce dealership known as the
Car Mart LTD, by Alan Sainsbury of Gloucester House in London’s
fashionable Park Lane district. A copy of the original seven-page
factory build sheet accompanies the car. I think it’s amazing how
many of the original parts that were enumerated on the factory build
sheet are in fact still on this car. Mr. Sainsbury was well known
for his passion and exquisite taste for Rolls Royce automobiles.
Another one of Mr. Sainsburys beautiful cars was a lovely 25/30HP
Sedanca Deville that resides today in the magnificent Nethercutt
collection in San Sylmar, California.
The
original purchase price of the chassis alone on the Phantom II was
1,800 British pounds. Equivalent to eight thousand US dollars at the
time. Then, in addition you could almost double the price with the
construction of the custom all aluminum body from a coach builder of
the caliber of Freestone & Webb. Therefore when new, this
automobile was in a similar price range to great cars such as
Mercedes Benz 540 K’s, Dusenbergs, Isotta-Fraschinis, Hispano-Suizas,
etc. Or, perhaps a purchaser would have preferred something like
twenty-five new Fords for the same amount of money.
It’s
been my pleasure to own this wonderful automobile since the late
1980’s. In fact, it’s been one of the most reliable and trouble
free classics I’ve ever been involved with. I know there are
stories about people having trouble with old Rolls Royce’s.
Personally, I’ve heard horror stories about most types of
old cars. However, a great deal depends on how well a car has been
treated and maintained during its lifetime. This particular car has
been very carefully maintained and cherished by all of its
owners, which accounts for the condition that it’s in today. As an
example, there has been meticulous care of the cooling system, which
is a weakness in all of the great classics with aluminum engine
components. Another example of the care that the car has had is the
fact that it still has a great deal of it’s original leather
interior.
I’ve
been asking $98,500 for the car, which I believe is less then half
of what a comparable open car would bring. I’ve had two legitimate
offers from two dealers at oddly enough, exactly the same
price, $75,000. They’re probably both trying to sell the car to
the same buyer for the same profit. I wish I knew who they were
because I’m sure I’d be happy to sell the car for the price
they’re probably paying.
So,
I guess this is the bottom line. Seventy-five thousand dollars is a
little too low for me and ninety eight thousand must be a little too
high. Perhaps we can meet somewhere in the middle.
If
you’re a serious buyer for an important classic Rolls Royce,
please give me a call.
Larry
Kay @ 480-483-2555 |
