Rolls-Royce Phantom II 1931
General description :
1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Town Car by Brewster LHDThis 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Left-Hand Drive was ordered with a "Special Town Body with all-weather front" and built by Brewster. A unique car with an intriguing early history that is exquisitely documented in Rolls-Royce Owners Club records. Delivered new to New York City, the car would remain close to home for the first fifty years of its existence. Copies of original correspondence with the factory prior to and during the ordering process give amazing insight into the level of detail and care that was taken in creating each motorcar. Subject of an older restoration, a pair of photos from just after the completion of the work show the car in all its glory. In the ensuing decades, the restoration has aged and taken on its own patina. Undriven in the current ownership, at the very least mechanical recommissioning will be required prior to active use. Ordered new by Mrs. Jeanne G. Postley, she was by that point the ex-wife of multiple times divorced millionaire Sterling Postley. Mr. Postley came from a family whose lineage could be traced to the very founding of New York and whose occupation (and that of his father) could best be described as 'professional man of leisure'. Raised in a massive Fifth Avenue mansion and later adding to that a 75 acre Oyster Bay, New York estate, Sterling was married several times to similarly well-to-do women and blossomed in his career from a yachtsman like his father to an automobilist later in life. His ex-wife was of similar taste and means. Residing at 420 Park Avenue, a copy of the original Rolls-Royce Motor Carriage Proposal indicates Mrs. Postley ordered the car on June 30, 1931 specifying an English Phantom II in left drive with a "Special Town Body with all-weather front" to be built by Brewster. The lengthy 'Special Equipment' section was filled to capacity, with two specific optionshand painted cane work on the rear bodywork and doors for $450 and special marquetry for $850. Copies of the original Brewster sales contract dated July 8th detail the specifics of the order down to the fact a special compartment was to be made to fit Mrs. Postley's "toilet case ... which she furnished." Finished in all blackbody, chassis, hood, and fendersthe rear quarter and back panels as well as rear doors featured the aforementioned hand painted canework in pure white. Up front the driver sat on black leather and in back Laidlaw cloth ensconced the cabin. Interior wood inlays and trim as well as blind corners in the roof took inspiration from another Phantom delivered to Bulova, 437MR. Other unique details included slightly narrower bodyworkroughly four inches slimmer than other seven -passenger limousines, and a specific request for a Dunhill lighter in place of the standard cigar lighter. Delivered the day before Halloween, 1931, Mrs. Postley would retain the Rolls for a decade before selling it to Warren Leslie of the Jamaica Water Company at 24 E. 94th Street in Manhattan on July 25, 1941. Kept by Mr. Leslie for yet another decade and change, J.S. Inskip acquired the car on October 23, 1952. Listed for $1700, it took nearly a year to find a new owner with H.K. Baumeister of The Bronx purchased 238AJS on September 11, 1953. It was not until February 1972 when Robert Jay Castle took ownership of the car that it finally left New York Cityonly to travel just north to Herkimer in central New York. After nearly half a century in the Empire state, 238AJS finally left New York when joined the garage of Louisville, Kentucky collector Mark Miles on March 11, 1980. Mr. Miles would retain the car for over three decades before it was acquired by the previous owner in 2013. Coachwork by BrewsterChassis no. 238AJSEngine no. C15TDelivered new to New York CityFactory Left-Hand Drive Phantom IISpecial Town Body by Brewster with All-Weather FrontFabulously documented early history and known history from newPrice: $67,500
1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in New York by Gullwing Motor Cars for $67500.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : Phantom II Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1931 Location : Astoria Vehicle Registration : Undefined
67500 $
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About Rolls-Royce
Well, ladies and gentlemen, today we're diving into the illustrious history of a brand that has always embodied the very essence of British luxury and craftsmanship - Rolls-Royce.Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when two visionaries, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, decided to join forces. In 1904, the very first Rolls-Royce was born, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp. It was a modest start for a company that would go on to redefine automotive excellence.
But it wasn't until 1907 that Rolls-Royce truly made its mark with the introduction of the Silver Ghost. It was hailed as the "Best Car in the World" and set the gold standard for luxury motoring. With its whisper-quiet engine and exquisite craftsmanship, it was a statement of opulence and refinement.
The 1920s brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom I, an icon of its time. It was the first Rolls-Royce to feature a 6-cylinder engine and set the stage for the legendary Phantom line. This was the era when the Maharajas of India commissioned custom-bodied Rolls-Royces that were nothing short of automotive palaces.
Fast forward to the post-war years, and we have the Silver Cloud, a symbol of post-war British optimism. The Silver Cloud was elegance personified, with its flowing lines and handcrafted interiors. It was the choice of royalty, celebrities, and captains of industry.
But if we're talking about the epitome of Rolls-Royce luxury, it's the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which graced us with its presence from 1968 to 1991. This was a car that made the statement that "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." Customization was the name of the game, and the Phantom VI was a canvas for the world's wealthiest to express their unique tastes.
Now, it's impossible to discuss Rolls-Royce without mentioning the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Produced from 1971 to 1995, it was a convertible and coupe version of the Silver Shadow. The Corniche was the quintessential grand tourer, a car for those who wished to traverse continents in absolute luxury.
But, alas, even the mightiest must face their decline, and Rolls-Royce was no exception. The company went through financial turmoil in the 1970s and 80s, leading to the takeover by Vickers plc. Then came the controversial BMW and Volkswagen ownership period, which divided enthusiasts.
Rolls-Royce regained its footing under BMW ownership, and the new millennium brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, a return to the company's roots of uncompromising luxury. The Phantom VII was a testament to British engineering and craftsmanship.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to today. Rolls-Royce continues to produce some of the most opulent, bespoke vehicles on the planet, a symbol of British imperiousness that has not waned with time. The spirit of Sir Henry Royce and Charles Rolls lives on in every car that bears the Spirit of Ecstasy, a testament to the enduring legacy of British automotive excellence.