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Details
1973 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM VI LIMOUSINE
COACHWORK BY H.J. MULLINER, PARK WARD
Registration No. WVM 51L
Chassis No. PRH 4749
Engine No. 4749
Black with black leather interior
Engine: V8, overhead valve, aluminium alloy crankcase, blocks and heads, single gear driven camshaft in the vee, 2 inclined valves per cylinder via pushrods and hydraulic tappets, two 1¾ inch SU carburettors, 6.7 litres; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension; front independent wishbones and coil springs, rear semi-elliptic leaf springs and live axle; Brakes: dual-circuit hydraulic, working on drums all round. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantoms of the late 1920s and 30s were built as chassis to be bodied by the best coachbuilders of the day who fitted them with luxurious limousine coachwork, or sportsman's saloon and open bodywork for effortless touring. The Phantom I and II had straight six engines of increasing refinement with the passing of the years, and were beautifully engineered. The Phantom III had a vee-twelve engine of spell-binding complexity. After the Second World War, from 1950 to 1956, Rolls-Royce built chassis for the Phantom IV using an eight cylinder, in-line engine of 5,675cc, but it was manufactured for Heads of State only; a mere eighteen were made.
The Phantom V which followed, in 1960, was the first Phantom to have the vee-eight engine and was sold without restriction. Similarly, the Phantom VI, introduced in 1968 had no restrictions on sales; it was similar to the V but the engine capacity was increased to 6.7 litres, the gearbox was changed to three speeds, the brakes were operated hydraulically and power steering was fitted. Despite the restrictions to sales being removed for the Phantom V and VI, their customers remained heads of state, diplomatic missions and wealthy corporations. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had Phantoms IV, V and VI serving together in the Royal Mews. One Phantom VI (Chassis No.PGH 101) was presented to Her Majesty by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to mark her Jubilee Year, although it was not actually delivered until the following year - 1978.
This Phantom was sold new to Lex Mead of Manchester for stock, and appears to have been a sister car to one that they had also ordered for their Maidenhead dealership. The Maidenhead example was featured in a contemporary article in The Autocar when the magazine noted that there is almost no limit to the individual alterations from the basic specification that H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward can make for a customer on a Phantom, but unfortunately very few customers seem to have any idea of the special features that could be provided. With this in mind Rolls-Royce distributors Lex Mead (Maidenhead) Ltd have ordered for stock - this itself is most unusual as Phantoms are normally built to customer's specific order - a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI with a number of modifications which make it unique. The article goes on to describe the car in minute detail.
The Manchester example was supplied in walnut livery with a gold coachline, and had an interior of brown leather to the front compartment and 'Parkerstex Savoy Draylon' in the rear with dark brown carpeting. Almost every conceivable extra was fitted to the car including: shaded 'Sundym' glass to the windscreen and 'Purdah' glass to the rear with plain 'Sundym' glass to all other windows; electric intercom between the front and rear compartments; electric rear seat adjustment; central cocktail cabinet incorporating Stereo 8 track tape player, Sony TV and cocktail requisites; grab-handles to the rear door pillars; head cushions to the rear seats; reading lights to the rear seats.
Whilst externally the car had recessed rear light clusters, an unusual feature which was more common on Bentley Continental models, it also carried stainless steel trim strips to the sills and wheel-arches, a badge bar, and chrome G.B. letters to the boot lid.
Completed in September 1972, this would be the epitome of luxury travel, at the time its cost was twice that of the standard Silver Shadow car.
By 1973 Elton John had already purchased a Phantom VI, a white example and it was in that limousine that he was being driven through Manchester when he saw this car in Lex Mead's Showroom window. Long-term employee, Bob Stacey, who was responsible for Elton John's concert staging and equipment, at this time, recalls how he and the crew were waiting for Elton to appear at the concert venue in the white Phantom VI, as expected, and were looking for him everywhere. Suddenly he appeared in the brown Phantom, Stacey told us that on the way to the concert, 'they had stopped at some lights next to a Rolls-Royce showroom and there was this big brown [Phantom] exactly the same model as the white one he was in, but a newer version. He got his chauffeur to drive in, did the deal, put his bag in the new one and off they went. That's Elton all over..surprise'. The warranty is signed for by his manager, then John Reid, on 14 March 1973.
Sir Elton has kept the Phantom ever since, and it has been used throughout; at one stage his coat-of-arms were added to the driver's door. In recent years the car was maintained by Weybridge Automobiles, and underwent a complete restoration to its present configuration, in 1995/1996 at a cost in excess of £100,000.
Today the Phantom has been updated from its original order to a modern specification. Stylistically, it is unquestionably, the most obvious 'Rock and Roll' car in Elton John's collection.
Now in Mason's black paintwork and with a matching interior of black leather upholstery and black trim, the car has black tinted windows. The interior fittings have been revised completely, the division carrying two small permanent seats, a television, video and even fax machine. But the most incredible addition is a huge Stereo system, which we are told cost £28,000 to install. Elton's staff recall that when the stereo system was originally fitted, the back windscreen had to be strengthened as it was in danger of blowing out - such is the force of the volume!
Sir Elton John is very fond of this car and said that it was one of his favourites in the collection. His staff affectionately refer to it as 'The Bus' or 'The Tank' and Sir Elton said that it is one of the cars he has used most of all. It has also transported numerous celebrity guests to various high-profile events over the years: Elton John recalled 'I've used this car a lot. It's really comfy, we did tours in the country in it, it's got a great stereo system, thirty-six speakers, a fax machine. I'm attached to it.'
Derek Baulcombe, Elton John's main driver and John Newman, his fleet manager, both have fond memories of driving 'The Bus', although they admit that this car is more enjoyable for the passenger to travel in, than the driver. Newman describes 'The Bus' as a character to drive, and they both stated that this car has primarily been used for special occasions. Baulcombe remembers driving Elton John to Buckingham Palace in this Phantom, when he was awarded his CBE in 1995. He said 'We mainly use it for big occasions premières and things like that, or if we go to the palace'. He also remarked, that on the day Sir Elton collected his CBE 'we had the bomb-squad all over it [this car], opening it up, making sure it was safe'. Baulcombe also confirmed that Sir Elton 'Loved going out in it..'
Both Derek Baulcombe and John Newman also commented on the sound system in this car. Newman said 'You can certainly feel the music when you're in this car. It's all around you, you get a body massage, free'. Adding 'There's many occasions I've brought the cars to the back door and he'll [Elton] have guests sit in just to listen to the music. I class it as a very expensive set of headphones!'
COACHWORK BY H.J. MULLINER, PARK WARD
Registration No. WVM 51L
Chassis No. PRH 4749
Engine No. 4749
Black with black leather interior
Engine: V8, overhead valve, aluminium alloy crankcase, blocks and heads, single gear driven camshaft in the vee, 2 inclined valves per cylinder via pushrods and hydraulic tappets, two 1¾ inch SU carburettors, 6.7 litres; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension; front independent wishbones and coil springs, rear semi-elliptic leaf springs and live axle; Brakes: dual-circuit hydraulic, working on drums all round. Right hand drive.
The Rolls-Royce Phantoms of the late 1920s and 30s were built as chassis to be bodied by the best coachbuilders of the day who fitted them with luxurious limousine coachwork, or sportsman's saloon and open bodywork for effortless touring. The Phantom I and II had straight six engines of increasing refinement with the passing of the years, and were beautifully engineered. The Phantom III had a vee-twelve engine of spell-binding complexity. After the Second World War, from 1950 to 1956, Rolls-Royce built chassis for the Phantom IV using an eight cylinder, in-line engine of 5,675cc, but it was manufactured for Heads of State only; a mere eighteen were made.
The Phantom V which followed, in 1960, was the first Phantom to have the vee-eight engine and was sold without restriction. Similarly, the Phantom VI, introduced in 1968 had no restrictions on sales; it was similar to the V but the engine capacity was increased to 6.7 litres, the gearbox was changed to three speeds, the brakes were operated hydraulically and power steering was fitted. Despite the restrictions to sales being removed for the Phantom V and VI, their customers remained heads of state, diplomatic missions and wealthy corporations. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had Phantoms IV, V and VI serving together in the Royal Mews. One Phantom VI (Chassis No.PGH 101) was presented to Her Majesty by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to mark her Jubilee Year, although it was not actually delivered until the following year - 1978.
This Phantom was sold new to Lex Mead of Manchester for stock, and appears to have been a sister car to one that they had also ordered for their Maidenhead dealership. The Maidenhead example was featured in a contemporary article in The Autocar when the magazine noted that there is almost no limit to the individual alterations from the basic specification that H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward can make for a customer on a Phantom, but unfortunately very few customers seem to have any idea of the special features that could be provided. With this in mind Rolls-Royce distributors Lex Mead (Maidenhead) Ltd have ordered for stock - this itself is most unusual as Phantoms are normally built to customer's specific order - a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI with a number of modifications which make it unique. The article goes on to describe the car in minute detail.
The Manchester example was supplied in walnut livery with a gold coachline, and had an interior of brown leather to the front compartment and 'Parkerstex Savoy Draylon' in the rear with dark brown carpeting. Almost every conceivable extra was fitted to the car including: shaded 'Sundym' glass to the windscreen and 'Purdah' glass to the rear with plain 'Sundym' glass to all other windows; electric intercom between the front and rear compartments; electric rear seat adjustment; central cocktail cabinet incorporating Stereo 8 track tape player, Sony TV and cocktail requisites; grab-handles to the rear door pillars; head cushions to the rear seats; reading lights to the rear seats.
Whilst externally the car had recessed rear light clusters, an unusual feature which was more common on Bentley Continental models, it also carried stainless steel trim strips to the sills and wheel-arches, a badge bar, and chrome G.B. letters to the boot lid.
Completed in September 1972, this would be the epitome of luxury travel, at the time its cost was twice that of the standard Silver Shadow car.
By 1973 Elton John had already purchased a Phantom VI, a white example and it was in that limousine that he was being driven through Manchester when he saw this car in Lex Mead's Showroom window. Long-term employee, Bob Stacey, who was responsible for Elton John's concert staging and equipment, at this time, recalls how he and the crew were waiting for Elton to appear at the concert venue in the white Phantom VI, as expected, and were looking for him everywhere. Suddenly he appeared in the brown Phantom, Stacey told us that on the way to the concert, 'they had stopped at some lights next to a Rolls-Royce showroom and there was this big brown [Phantom] exactly the same model as the white one he was in, but a newer version. He got his chauffeur to drive in, did the deal, put his bag in the new one and off they went. That's Elton all over..surprise'. The warranty is signed for by his manager, then John Reid, on 14 March 1973.
Sir Elton has kept the Phantom ever since, and it has been used throughout; at one stage his coat-of-arms were added to the driver's door. In recent years the car was maintained by Weybridge Automobiles, and underwent a complete restoration to its present configuration, in 1995/1996 at a cost in excess of £100,000.
Today the Phantom has been updated from its original order to a modern specification. Stylistically, it is unquestionably, the most obvious 'Rock and Roll' car in Elton John's collection.
Now in Mason's black paintwork and with a matching interior of black leather upholstery and black trim, the car has black tinted windows. The interior fittings have been revised completely, the division carrying two small permanent seats, a television, video and even fax machine. But the most incredible addition is a huge Stereo system, which we are told cost £28,000 to install. Elton's staff recall that when the stereo system was originally fitted, the back windscreen had to be strengthened as it was in danger of blowing out - such is the force of the volume!
Sir Elton John is very fond of this car and said that it was one of his favourites in the collection. His staff affectionately refer to it as 'The Bus' or 'The Tank' and Sir Elton said that it is one of the cars he has used most of all. It has also transported numerous celebrity guests to various high-profile events over the years: Elton John recalled 'I've used this car a lot. It's really comfy, we did tours in the country in it, it's got a great stereo system, thirty-six speakers, a fax machine. I'm attached to it.'
Derek Baulcombe, Elton John's main driver and John Newman, his fleet manager, both have fond memories of driving 'The Bus', although they admit that this car is more enjoyable for the passenger to travel in, than the driver. Newman describes 'The Bus' as a character to drive, and they both stated that this car has primarily been used for special occasions. Baulcombe remembers driving Elton John to Buckingham Palace in this Phantom, when he was awarded his CBE in 1995. He said 'We mainly use it for big occasions premières and things like that, or if we go to the palace'. He also remarked, that on the day Sir Elton collected his CBE 'we had the bomb-squad all over it [this car], opening it up, making sure it was safe'. Baulcombe also confirmed that Sir Elton 'Loved going out in it..'
Both Derek Baulcombe and John Newman also commented on the sound system in this car. Newman said 'You can certainly feel the music when you're in this car. It's all around you, you get a body massage, free'. Adding 'There's many occasions I've brought the cars to the back door and he'll [Elton] have guests sit in just to listen to the music. I class it as a very expensive set of headphones!'
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.