A GHOSTLY PRESENCE
Octane|September 2023
Rolls-Royce's Phantom II defined luxury car supremacy in the early 1930s. Richard Heseltine drives a special Weymann-bodied example that escaped a premature death
Richard Heseltine
A GHOSTLY PRESENCE

OK, whose cockamamie scheme was this? The vistas are sensational, as befits a house atop a big-boned mountain. They should be, given that the owner once operated the Orient Express. It is extremely tranquil here, the palatial gardens ending somewhere above the clouds; the bit where you are advised not to walk in case you upset the wild boars. Heaven forbid. None of this is remotely of interest right now, mind, not least because the driveway has 90° angles and the sort of incline where ideally you would have a bit of a run-up first. About a mile or so should do it.

As such, this is not the ideal location to become au fait with a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. It is cosy in here, despite the enormous dimensions. The view through the shallow windscreen comprises mostly sky, and the sun is glinting off its unpainted aluminium bonnet like the refraction of a diamond. The car emits only the faintest of burbles, as is to be expected, and it's a case of right full rudder and up, aiming for the narrowest of entrances. And finally we are through.

The Phantom II has the turning circle of an ocean liner yet thankfully-sufficient torque to flatten the topography and steering that doesn't quite require the upper body strength of Charles Atlas to conduct. This is clearly going to be a day of surprises. Whatever metric you judge things by, this car is magnificent. That, and perhaps a mite peculiar, too, simply because it was tailored to suit the exacting whims and requirements of the Portuguese Rolls-Royce concessionaire.

Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Octane.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Octane.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE OCTANEVer todo
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
Octane

Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically

China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.

time-read
5 minutos  |
September 2024
Jem Marsh
Octane

Jem Marsh

The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 2024
Vandamm House
Octane

Vandamm House

A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 2024
Making light
Octane

Making light

Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers

time-read
7 minutos  |
October 2024
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Octane

FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE

Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates

time-read
5 minutos  |
October 2024
Before the beginning
Octane

Before the beginning

This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration

time-read
9 minutos  |
October 2024
Ben Cussons
Octane

Ben Cussons

As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution

time-read
7 minutos  |
October 2024
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
Octane

BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES

We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them

time-read
10+ minutos  |
October 2024
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
Octane

Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg

As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it

time-read
5 minutos  |
October 2024
Flying the Scottish flag
Octane

Flying the Scottish flag

Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness

time-read
7 minutos  |
October 2024