Beschreibung:

Rolls-Royce Phantom 71AL was ordered by Baron Max Michaelis on November 27, 1928 and sent to Hooper and Company for coachwork. Although originally intended to be fitted with a sporting sedanca body, the order was changed to the name of his wife, Lady Michaelis, and a landaulette body was specified. Completed, 71AL was delivered to 7 Bellaria Strasse in Zurich, Switzerland where the car spent much of its life. An avid collector of Dutch masters paintings, Lady Michaelis reputedly used 71AL to visit collectors and owners throughout Europe. In 1931, the car was sold to a Londoner named B. Blagden, Esq. At that time, the petrol gauge was changed from liters to Imperial gallons. Like most large horsepower cars, 71AL sat out WWII. Returned to Rolls-Royce for re-commissioning in the 1950s, Hythe Road fitted new pistons and performed a full service. Well cared for, it remained in excellent shape with no rust, corrosion or wood rot. Later in the 1950s, the car was brought to the United States by an English collector and then sold to German collector Ralf Peter Gower, who lived in Fresno, California. Gower drove the car briefly and then dismantled it for restoration. Apart, the car sat in Fresno until 1978 when it was purchased by noted restorer Tom Batchelor. Tom stored the Phantom in his Reno garage for ten years before beginning its restoration. The car was rewired, retrimmed and paint and bodywork commenced. However, Batchelor started another restoration and sold the still-disassembled car to the current owner. In November 1998, the car—and 21 boxes of unlabeled parts—arrived with its current Vermont owner. The former technical Vice-President of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club and a prolific writer about Rolls-Royce and Bentley Restoration, the new owner restored and reassembled the car including a complete mechanical and cosmetic overhaul. The block was de-tubed and de-scaled, bored-out and new pistons, rings and small-end bearings were fitted, with all machine work handled by Frank Cooke’s establishment. All engine ancillaries were rebuilt including oil pump and pressure regulator, tappets, rockers, valves (including new guides and springs); distributor tower, oil servo, carburetor, fan bearings, and slipper flywheel. The eight-liter, iron-head engine is the ultimate evolution of the New Phantom engine before it evolved into the later aluminum head version. Mated to its original four-speed gearbox, it runs powerfully and silently as a Rolls-Royce Phantom should. Even the governor works. All chassis components of the 6,420-pound vehicle were cleaned, lubricated and checked before new gaiters were fitted. Although it has a theoretical top speed of nearly 80, this New Phantom drives comfortably at 55 and has been test-driven at more than 70. Much of the lacquer was coach painted using a brush and hand-rubbing between coats, resulting in a period 1928 finish. The maroon body color is referred to as “bug lacquer” because the paint is pigmented using ground beetle wings. A small supply of this original lacquer--which costs more than $1,000 per gallon--will be included with the sale. Using the correct materials, the interior was also trimmed to the highest standard by a Harrah Collection employee in Reno. The interior woodwork maintains all its original veneers and is a fine example of period woodwork. The chauffeur’s compartment is trimmed in leather, ebony and nickel plate, while the passenger’s compartment—with its hinge-down landaulet top--is upholstered in Bedford cord cloth and features ivory fittings and silver-plate trim. The clock in the rear compartment is a rare minute repeater car clock. The car is also fitted with an Auster Sun shield and a Dictograph that allows the owner to communicate to the chauffeur via voice and “buzzer.” Because the car was shipped to the Continent, it was equipped with an extensive tool kit stored under the running boards, in the side-mounted tool boxes, and under the front seat in custom trays. Even its