Although unveiled to the public at the October 1935 Olympia Motor Show, the Phantom III did not enter series production until May 1936.

A fabulous design that reasserted Rolls-Royce's right to be considered as the world's pre-eminent car manufacturer, its cruciform-braced chassis featured independent coil-sprung front suspension, a fully-floating 'live' rear axle, hydraulic shock absorbers, and gearbox driven servo-assisted four-wheel drum brakes.

Drawing on decades of aero-engine experience, it was powered by a 7340cc OHV V12.

Fabricated largely from aluminium alloy, this technically advanced unit boasted a seven-bearing crankshaft, eight-bearing camshaft, hydraulic tappets, and dual downdraught Stromberg carburettors.

Effortlessly potent and eerily smooth, it required a level of care and maintenance not dissimilar to that of its Schneider Trophy winning siblings.

Allied to a four-speed manual gearbox (complete with synchromesh on second, third, and fourth gears), it gave most va...