1939 Rolls Royce Phantom III by Hooper
Coachwork by Hooper & Company
Specifications
- Make: Rolls-Royce
- Model: Phantom III
- Body: Limousine de Ville
- Coachbuilder: Hooper & Company
- Year: 1939
- Chassis No.: 3DL180
A Rolls-Royce Showpiece and Collector’s Dream
The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was a groundbreaking model, featuring a 7,340cc V12 engine, 165 bhp, and independent front suspension, making it one of the most technically advanced luxury cars of its era. With only 727 examples produced, the Phantom III was the final pre-war Rolls-Royce, and today it remains one of the most sought-after classics.
The Motorcar Offered
Among the most widely exhibited Phantom IIIs of its time, chassis 3DL120 was originally delivered as a Hooper Limousine de Ville, a masterpiece of design featuring:
- A distinctive long roofline
- Streamlined fenders with “spats” over the rear wheels
- Fawn cloth and curl walnut interior trim
- Overstuffed swiveling rear jump seats, regarded as among the most comfortable ever designed
- A complex disappearing metal roof over the chauffeur’s seat
- Sliding window shades in the rear compartment
As a Rolls-Royce factory show car, this Phantom III was proudly displayed at major European and international exhibitions, including:
- The 1939 Brussels, Amsterdam, and Geneva motor shows
- The British Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair (September - November 1939)
Post-War History and Rebodying
Following World War II, the original Hooper body was removed and famously rebodied by Jean-Henri Labourdette in a distinctive drophead coupe style for flamboyant furrier Louis Ritter. Despite the rebodying, the original Hooper body remains with the car to this day.
The “World’s Fair” Hooper-bodied Phantom III was sold to Dr. Samuel Scher, a pioneering New York plastic surgeon, early automobile collector, and founding member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club. In 1947, Dr. Scher mounted the Hooper body onto chassis 3DL180, a U.S.-delivery Phantom III originally bodied by Inskip as a Limousine de Ville for Mrs. Edith Haggin deLong.
Long-Term Enthusiast Ownership
Dr. Scher retained this Phantom III for an unusually long period, before selling it in May 1969 to Paul Lutey of Freeland, Wisconsin. Mr. Lutey kept the car for two years before it was acquired by Herb A. Schoenfeld of Washington. Schoenfeld later sold the car in 1978 to Morton Y. Bullock III of Baltimore, a respected Classic Car Club of America member, who preserved the car for 18 years.
Joining the Guyton Collection
In 1996, renowned collector Fred Guyton acquired the car from Mr. Bullock during a visit to purchase a Hispano-Suiza H6B. As his wife, Beverly Guyton, later recalled:
“In typical fashion, he went to buy one car and returned with two.”
Since then, the Phantom III has been part of one of the finest private Rolls-Royce collections, alongside other significant examples of the best coachwork ever applied to this chassis.
A Highly Original and Well-Preserved Example
This Phantom III has been largely maintained in static storage, with the paintwork likely dating to the 1970s, exhibiting an attractive patina.
- The driver’s area was reupholstered many years ago
- The rear compartment’s original broadcloth appears intact, and may be worth preserving
- Much of the chrome work is aged and could be original
- The original woodwork remains solid, featuring body number stampings on the front floorboards
At the time of cataloging, the car is accompanied by:
- Its original road and hand tools
- Copies of its build documents from the Rolls-Royce Foundation and Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club
- A detailed history compiled by Phantom III historian, Steve Stuckey
A Rare Opportunity to Own an Iconic Phantom III
This 1939 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Limousine de Ville by Hooper is a truly significant surviving example, offered from the estate of one of America’s foremost Phantom III enthusiasts. Whether retained as an authentic preservation piece or restored to concours standards, this Phantom III is a landmark automobile in the history of Rolls-Royce.