West Coast Classics are proud to present this extraordinarily rare and fully documented 'James Young' coachbuilt 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, Chassis No. 5VE21, one of only 11 open drive Sedanca de Ville bodies built by the renown coachbuilder, and with this particular example as shown at the 1965 Earls Court Motor Show! Recently acquired from the renown Blackhawk Collection and as listed in the legendary Rolls Royce "The Elegance Continues" bible
- Unique coachwork by James Young on a Phantom V chassis
- James Young produced 11 open-drive Sedanca de Ville bodies for Phantom V chassis
- This example was the only car built to the Sedanca de Ville version of design number PV15
- Formal roofline
- True 7-passenger interior
- Chassis no. 5VE21
- Engine no. E10PV
- Body no. 9053
- Shown at the 1965 Earls Court Motor Show
- Formerly owned by renowned enthusiasts Dr. Erle Heath and Dr. Samuel Scher
- 6.2L V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Build sheet
- Rolls-Royce Foundation records
- Californias Behring Collection book
- Known ownership history
Formerly owned by renowned enthusiasts Dr. Erle Heath and Dr. Samuel Scher
Elaborately detailed and lavishly equipped
A fascinating, sumptuous Rolls-Royce; the ultimate luxury statement of its era
Recent 2022 Service Completed
- Featured in Lawrence Dalton's "Rolls-Royce: The Classic Elegance"
- Hand-painted faux cane-work
- Left hand drive
- 6,230cc V-8 engine
- 4-speed automatic gearbox
- Independent front suspension with coil springs and anti-roll torsion bar
- Rigid rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs
- 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
- Bustle trunk rear styling
- Power windows
- Leather upholstery in driver's cabin
- Wilton wool carpeting with lamb wool overlays
- Burlwood interior accents
- Rear jump seats and picnic tables
- Bar with cocktail requisites
- Square pushbutton door openers
- Spirit of Ecstasy mascot
- Fender-mounted mirrors
- Smiths instruments
- Whitewall tires
James Young produced 11 open-drive Sedanca de Ville bodies for Phantom V chassis, most of them variants of the coachbuilders PV22 or PV23 touring limousines. The example shown here, chassis number 5VE21, was the only car built to the Sedanca de Ville version of design number PV15, a limousine with a somewhat more formal roofline and a true seven-passenger interior. As the car has a rather early body, number 9053, on a later Phantom V chassis, it is believed that the coachwork may have been built as a standard limousine and then converted by James Young to a limousine de Ville for mounting on chassis number 5VE21. Lavish appointments included a leather-upholstered rear compartment with power-adjustable seat, facing a lighted bar, Mazal clock, and Motorola tape deck, as well as dual front and rear air conditioning systems.
The body was liveried for Swinging London, in ivory white and royal blue with panels of decorative sham cane. In this form it surely turned heads at the 1965 Earls Court Motor Show, as is noted on both its build sheet and in Rolls-Royce Foundation records; a book published by its later home, Californias Behring Collection, notes it received a bronze medal at the show. Afterward it was delivered to the original owner B.P. Jenks, of Astbury Hall in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. At one point it was used as the basis for a Top Marques 1/43-scale model.
The records of the Rolls-Royce Foundation indicate that the car made its way Stateside when relatively new; in July 1972 it was advertised in the New York Times. Not long thereafter it was purchased by the colorful collector Dr. Erle M. Heath of Pittsburgh. The car passed from Dr. Heath to Dr. Samuel Scher, once a pioneering American enthusiast of Brass Era automobiles, by now living in Palm Beach and more often seen in modern coach-built Rolls-Royces.
In 1985, this car was acquired by the Blackhawk Collection where it was displayed amongst some of the worlds finest cars. In 1992, the car joined a private collection where it has remained out of the public eye for the past 30 years before returning to the Blackhawk Collection in 2022. With the last of the James Young bodies being built on Phantom V's in 1968, there is no Phantom V like this one, a most unique automobile with a personality all its own.
The Phantom V served as the Rolls-Royce flagship model for nearly a decade (1959-1968), during which time fewer than 1,000 chassis were built. Of that figure, very very few were fitted with the exclusive James Young coachwork, let alone to such rare and distinct exclusivity as this particular Sedanca example. Lofty, stately and extremely dignified and built to be chauffeur driven, yet remarkably capable of 100mph +!
These cars were highly exclusive and equally conservative, using traditional ladder chassis and even four-wheel drum brakes (power assisted, naturally). The successor to the Phantom IV, this massive limousine shared the Bentley S Type & Silver Cloud chassis but used an appropriately longer wheelbase. Power was provided by the firm's new light alloy V8 engine and all the Phantom V's had custom crafted bodies by only exclusively appointed and "approved suppliers'. Rolls-Royce built the rolling chassis only. Similar styling to the Silver Cloud but much larger and with a multitude of interior refinements like this particular example which including seven passenger seating, division window, chauffeur equipment and rarely air conditioning.
In back, with occasional-use foldaway seats stowed, legroom for passengers seated on the wide, deep sofa-like bench is best measured by the acre. The left-side rear occupant has controls for the radio, and a wood drinks cabinet provides refreshments.
Phantom Vs are among the most exclusive RR automobiles ever built, and even by modern standards, their smoothness of operation, ride quality, and general levels of refinement still impress. This particular example is an exceptional example of the marque from the finest of coachbuilders and with the most distinctive and unique of appointments and would prove a fine addition to any collection.
