Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1937)
The 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III occupies pride of place in Yohan’s collection and is his favourite from his collection of rare vintage beauties. Apart from being the first car that he bought in 1999 to kick off his phenomenal collection, this Phantom III is a special car. The single word ‘Panchkote’ in place of the rear number plate betrays this car’s royal past, for it was originally commissioned by the Maharaja of the state of Panchkote. Custom-built for the Maharaja, this seven-seater convertible (the plush rigid bench at the rear can be augmented with a pair of folding captain seats) features a three-spoke steering wheel with the top one-third cut off to ensure that the visibility of the Maharaja’s short chauffeur remained unhampered.
The car is powered by a 7,338-cc naturally aspirated V12 engine and remained the only Rolls-Royce to feature a V12 powerplant until the introduction of the Silver Seraph in 1998. Power transmission to the rear wheels was accomplished via a four-speed manual gearbox with the shifter being placed to the right of the driver. Adjustability options from the large steering wheel included ignition timing, throttle and even suspension. Like the 20/25, the PIII’s drum brakes too are mechanically operated via cables. Interestingly, Rolls-Royces of the past (including the 1932 20/25) featured twin options for the horn. The chauffeur could opt for a ‘Soft’ horn for use within city limits while a ‘Loud’ one could be utilised on highways. A rather practical and thoughtful feature that we wouldn’t mind in today’s cars!
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