The Dawn of Motoring Sale 2023 4th August 2023

51 + buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter This important motorcar, #37LC, has been confirmed by the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in London in 1985 as being formerly owned by His Late Majesty, King Mohammed V of Morocco. According to correspondence with the Ambassador, the chassis was specially prepared in Paris by James Radley, a phenomenally talented driver for Rolls-Royce who had a series of spectacular wins in Alpine Rallies in a self-prepared Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. It was fitted with a fabulous cabriolet body by Carrosserie L Gallé before having a later body, based loosely on a paper design by Gallé again, originally for a Bugatti, but built on to #37LC. It was considerably lighter which consequently unlocked huge performance improvements, making the Phantom far more ‘racy’ with a turn of speed that now matched its looks. The car was owned by His Majesty from 1925-1932 and resided in Paris but is known to have visited London at least once during this period. #37LC was discovered by renowned Rolls-Royce guru Michael Forrest in the early-1980s, and through his knowledge and research into its historical importance, set about restoring the car to its former glory. As with many projects and restorations, the pursuit of perfection can dominate the process, and whilst the project was started in the 1980s, the car wasn’t finished until after Michael Forrest’s unfortunate passing when the mantle was picked up by the current custodian with the final touches being made in 2023. A 40-year restoration is extraordinary, but when looking at the car and the exquisite level of detail one can understand why it took so long. The history file is fairly minimal due to the nature of an enthusiast restoration, with the bulk of the paperwork being copies of the original Purchase Order from Rolls-Royce including all specifications as well as parts ordered and required at the time with a huge amount of photos documenting the restoration process. Upon completing the restoration, the car was run up to temperature to check for any leaks or issues and, thankfully, there were none, with the engine reportedly running and driving as beautifully as it looks. Presenting in simply outstanding condition, this fabulous, early Rolls-Royce Phantom I has been restored and rebuilt with absolute perfection in mind. A collage of Dove Grey, Navy Blue, Bakelite, chrome, brass, copper and polished steel, it’s simply exquisite, a work of art and an image from the time when men of impeccable taste and unlimited funds met passionate craftsmen with hard-won skills in order to create an automotive statement. With the mammoth restoration completed after 40-years, the car was then displayed with justifiable pride in our vendor’s office entrance, with the doors built in afterwards. Unfortunately, this meant that to extract the car in order to prepare it for the sale, the whole front of the office had to be deconstructed, which is a new one for us! Our vendor’s goal with #37LC was to complete the restoration correctly to Michael Forrest’s standards, which we can comfortably say has been achieved and with this fabulous project completed, it’s now time for this glorious Phantom to move on to its next home. Its sheer style, elegance and unique Royal provenance mean that #37LC would be welcome in any collection of important motor cars, but after 40-odd years of not going anywhere, it would be wonderful to see it out and about enjoying the English countryside. Lot 275 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Prepared in Paris by renowned Rolls-Royce racer, James Radley, for the late King Mohammed V of Morocco, this fabulous Carrosserie-bodied Phantom has been subject to a recently finished, no expense spared, long-term restoration that started in 1985. Registration: BF 9933 Chassis No.: 37LC Estimate: £130,000 - £150,000 Consignor: Harry Fox-Edwards Telephone No: 07398 872032 More Details Lot 275 Bid On Lot 275