1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 ‘Jarvis Torpedo’ at R.M. Auctions

When we went off to Salon Prive last month for a day of lobster, champagne and exotic cars, we did piece on the Salon Prive Classic Cars. And in amongst the Classic Cars was a 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 ‘Jarvis Torpedo’, which RM Auctions were displaying as a prelude to their ‘Automobiles of London’ Auction in October.

Well, we’ve now got a bit more information on the Phantom, and a few of the other goodies RM have in store, so we thought you might like the gen.

The elegant, streamlined 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I ‘Jarvis Torpedo’, chassis number 17EX, boasts a rich history. One of only three experimental chassis produced by Rolls-Royce at the time, 17EX was completed and sold new to Maharaja Hari Sigh Bahadur, ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, who kept the car until 1932. The car remained in India up until 1976 when it was shipped to Europe.

Beautifully restored, 17EX has since been shown on numerous occasions, including at the distinguished 1996 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where it was awarded the Trofeo Rolls-Royce award for the most elegant Rolls-Royce, followed by an appearance at Pebble Beach in 2004 where it was displayed as part of the marque’s 100th anniversary celebrations. Joining 17EX at the Battersea auction will be a unique 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Boattail Skiff, chassis number 54PB, which is well known in Rolls-Royce circles and regarded as one of the most instantly recognizable of all Rolls-Royces

Another notable early consignment for the London auction is the 1950 Aston Martin DB2 Team Car ‘VMF 64’, which boasts an impressive race history, including Le Mans and Mille Miglia provenance. Retained by the factory for five years and employed by Aston Martin Chairman, David Brown as his personal transport in the 1950 – 1955 era, VMF 64 is regarded as the most successful of the three early Team DB2 sports cars.

Over the years it has been driven by such period greats as Abecassis, Macklin, Sommer and Brackenbury, and its competition career has included two Le Mans, two Mille Miglias, two Alpine Rallies and one Ulster TT, Shelsley Walsh and Silverstone event. Notably, in 1951 it finished third overall at Le Mans. In 1956, after the Factory’s conversion to fast road specification, David Brown sold VMF 64 to his friend, the Honourable Gerald Lascelles who at the time was the President of the B.R.D.C. This example has remained in the family’s ownership for the past 53 years.

There’s a heap of other tasty stuff on offer at the RM Auction, which takes place on 28th October at Battersea Evolution.