1931 | Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental

1931 Rolls Royce Phantom 2 Continental LHD
Chassis number 286AJS
Registration Number: Denmark
Rolls-Royce of America, the parent company established in 1919 by Rolls-Royce to build cars under license, stopped the production of chassis and engine components in 1929, therefore the left-hand drive Phantom 2's were erected in the UK. The "A" in the chassis number stands for American, just as "S" stood for Springfield in the American Silver Ghost and Phantom I chassis numbers.
The speedometer registered up to 160 km/h and surprisingly the chassis cards show that the chassis number was stamped on the frame 14 inches behind the dashboard; this detail is absent from the other chassis records. The bonnet was plain with three flip open flap shutters instead of the usual louvres 286AJS was fitted with central gear change and brake levers as were all the left-hand drive AJS and AMS series.
Engine: J55U; Body Maker: James Young: Foursome Drophead 3/4-Light Coupé; Off-Test: 9 December, 1931
Just 5 Left Hand Drive Phantom 2 Continentals were built making this a very very rare car indeed.
It was ordered new by His Excellency Enrique "Harry" Luis Wessel (1881-1951) of 21 Kristianagede, Copenhagen/.Denmark,
Ambassador to Chile. He was trained as an engineer but went into business in New York and Valparaiso. In 1922 he was appointed as Chiles charge d'affaires in Denmark, in 1925 he became Minister and in 1951 an Ambassador.
He previously bought a Phantom 1 23LC and later a 20/25HP GHA5.
The current owner purchased the car in 1994 & has maintained it in his extensvie collection of some 200 plus cars ever since. During this time it has been run regularly but sparingly covering few miles each year. During his tenure the engine was fully rebuilt & as a result runs in silence. The previous owner, proprietor of the Aalholm Castle collection acquired the car in the 1960's.
The coachwork is by James Young of bromleyn& is very pleasingly proprtions providing seating for 4. Exterior paint is a very dark blue in excellent condition whist the interior is St James red leather again in lovely order. The dash board & door tops are all of highly polished english burr walnut giving the interior an opulent feel.
The lined black mohair hood folds flat & may be raised & lowered by just a single person. Unusually for Nordic climes a removeable ski rack comes with the car allowing for skis to be carried on the running board.
The coachwork is particularly attractive with side steps separate from the front wings & twin rear mounted spares in de-rigeur continental fashion affixed to the rear. Indicated miles are 63,000 which may well be correct from new given the absence of wear to the throttle pedal & the scant use since the 1960's
The car is located in Denmark where it may be viewed by prior appointment an hour & a half south & west of Copenhagen.