As the forthcoming Great Eight Phantoms Exhibit put together by British luxury automaker Rolls-Royce draws closer, the third Great Phantom joins Fred Astaire’s and Field Marshall Montgomery’s rides. This one is courtesy of motoring icon, Sir Malcolm Campbell.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental is touted as a sportier iteration of the standard Phantom II. We say sportier as it could do something like 95mph (152kph), which was pretty heady in 1932. This particular example, with registration AGO I, had a few modifications that gave it a bit more oomph, not to mention putting the Bespoke “Campbell” touch.
The short wheelbase Phantom II Continental’s upgrades included a wireless set, spotlight, fire extinguisher, and an exhaust pipe that was around 9 inches longer. This last bit gave it a more vocal exhaust note—befitting Malcolm Campbell’s stature.(more on this later)
The Pole Blue luxury touring saloon had coachwork done by Barker and featured a black roof with dark blue leather. The paint was made even more vibrant thanks to the use of ground herring scales.
But who exactly was Sir Malcolm Campbell, you ask? He was a daring individual who had won many a Grand Prix title. Moreover, he had set six land speed records that earned him the title of The Fastest Man on Land in the 1930s. One of his most famous escapades was on February 22, 1933, when his Blue Bird, powered by a 36.5-liter Rolls-Royce motor producing an insane 2,300hp, powered its way on Daytona Beach, Florida to the tune of 272mph (437kph).
Get to see Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Phantom II Continental, the other Great Phantoms, and of course, the all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Great Eight Phantoms Exhibit at Bonhams, located on Bond Street in London, at the end of July.
