“The coachwork on this magnificent car is recognised as the finest to be found anywhere in the modern world. It is the culmination of a century of superb craftsmanship,” so claimed coachbuilder James Young, and when you inspect this extremely rare Phantom V Sedanca de Ville you’ll surely agree. Yet for all that tradition, the sumptuous Phantom V limousine of 1959 also embraced modernity with the lusty 6230cc V-8 that delighted chauffeurs just as much as the automatic transmission and power steering. As for customers, Rolls-Royce was happy to sell you one if you had the money for the most expensive car in the world, costing three times more than the priciest Cadillac limousine. True, you did get a lot for your money with a 144-inch wheelbase and overall length of 238 inches that gave British coachbuilders the chance to express their flair. The art and exquisite craft of coachbuilders including H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward and James Young appealed not just to heads of state, but to tycoons, heads of industry, rock stars and celebrities.
