Phantom III 3CP76 This Phantom III was another originally not intended for India, but sad circumstances saw it going there. The chassis left the factory on 2 June 1937, set up for work in the UK and Europe for town work and touring. It had engine C78Z, and steering at the middle E rake.
The chassis was sent to Thrupp & Maberly on 7 June 1937, and they built one of their standard limousines on the chassis, to design SLE.1162; it was body number 6654. There were three other Phantom IIIs with this type of Thrupp & Maberly limousine body.
The car was ordered by Rootes Ltd. (owner of Thrupp & Maberly) on 8 March 1937, to hold as stock. They had it for sale in the London Times in September and October with the following description: "7-passenger enclosed drive limousine, cellulosed black, rear compartment upholstered in West of England cloth, front in black leather, woodwork Circassian walnut. Price 2,750 pounds."
RR Records indicate that on 26 October 1937 the car was sold to W Wilhelmsen Jnr, but T&M records indicate that he died only 3 days later. The car was put in the hands of London dealer Jack Barclay Ltd, who held it for six months.
In late 1937 Mr J N Mookerjee, a partner in English and Indian company Messrs Martin & Co. had ordered 25/30HP chassis GGR54, a Park Ward cabriolet. But, he must have seen 3CP76 at Jack Barclays, as he decided to buy it. He traded in the 25/30HP, unregistered, plus paid 600 pounds and got the Phantom III. It was registered with English number ELD678. He gave his addresses as Queen Anne's Mews, St James's, London, and 12 Mission Row, Calcutta, India. He took the car on 19 May 1938
In the RR Enthusiasts Club Bulletin no. 168 of June 1988 there is a short history of the car by Raja Mookerjee of Calcutta, grandson of J N, showing some photos of the car. He mentions that the car was used firstly to tour Europe before being sent to India. An obituary in The London Times shows that J N Mookerjee died on 3 October 1938, so he did not have the car for long. But, it has been in the same Calcutta family all that time, and had done only 10,000 miles by 1988 (that is, in 50 years!). It has registration WBA2222.
The following photo shows the car when new, and held by Jack Barclay Ltd. |