1919 Rolls Royce Phantom I Super Sport
Bodied by Barker
Specifications
- Make: Rolls-Royce
- Model: Phantom I
- Body Type: Super Sports
- Chassis Number: 23 SC
- Year: 1926
A Rare Sporting Rolls-Royce
This unique Rolls-Royce Phantom I was subjected to a complete restoration and fitted with a Barker Super Sports body, making it an exceptional and rare sporting variant of the model.
Originally, Rolls-Royce developed very few sporting versions of their models, and they were primarily intended for experimental and performance testing purposes. Chassis 23 SC falls into this rare category, making it a highly desirable collector's piece.
A True Performance Tourer
One of the most notable aspects of this car is that it was restored by the same individual who originally discovered the legendary 10EX prototype—a famous early sporting Rolls-Royce that is now housed in BMW’s museum in the UK. This connection adds to the significance of 23 SC as an important piece of Rolls-Royce history.
Unlike the standard Phantom I, this car was built for speed and agility. It retains its matching numbers, making it an authentic and historically significant example. The aluminum body ensures lightweight construction, enhancing its performance as a fast and capable tourer.
Despite its appearance as a two-seater sports car, 23 SC is actually a genuine four-passenger vehicle, offering a balance of luxury and high-speed touring capability.
As described by H.I.F. Evernden in the Rolls-Royce Section of the Vintage Sports-Car Club Bulletin
The Evolution of the Sports Phantom
By the early 1920s, Rolls-Royce had built a reputation for unmatched luxury and refinement. However, with the growing popularity of Continental touring among elite European owners and Indian Maharajahs, there was an increasing demand for higher performance and more aerodynamic designs.
One of the most significant early attempts at a sporting Rolls-Royce was 10EX, a special experimental sports Phantom I developed with a focus on speed and improved handling. Built by Barker & Co., this car served as a testing platform for the later Phantom I Continental.
The Continental variant was designed for high-speed, long-distance touring and offered improved aerodynamics, more powerful engines, and a refined lightweight chassis. Despite these improvements, the first attempts at enhancing the performance of the Phantom I were not immediately successful.
Aerodynamic and Mechanical Innovations
Early Phantom models struggled with increased frontal drag due to larger front wings, wider bodies, and taller radiators. However, the development team, led by Rootham, found that reducing side spare wheels, reshaping wings, and lowering the body height resulted in a gain of 11.4 miles per hour with only a 2-horsepower increase.
One of the most significant findings was that by simply optimizing exhaust design, an additional 11 horsepower was extracted from the engine, demonstrating the meticulous engineering that went into making the Phantom I Continental one of the most capable Rolls-Royce models of its time.
Conclusion
The 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Super Sports (23 SC) represents a rare and significant step in Rolls-Royce's journey toward creating high-performance grand tourers. This model, closely linked to the famous 10EX prototype, embodies the spirit of innovation that led to the development of the Phantom I Continental—a car built for high-speed touring without sacrificing the brand’s legendary luxury and refinement.
This is not just a car—it is a piece of Rolls-Royce history, embodying both performance and prestige in a way that few other models have.