Originally bodied by Grose; gained current “woodie” design during a 1960s rebuild Remarkably remained under single-family ownership for 75 years Powered by its matching-numbers 7,668-cc straight-six engine The economic fallout following World War I moved Rolls-Royce to expand its range.

No longer could the marque reliably bank on just one offering.

As such, to sit alongside the existing 40/50 HP Silver Ghost, the 20 HP model was introduced.

With the new car came more advanced technology, not least pushrod-operated overhead engine valves.

Accordingly, in 1925, when the time came to update the Silver Ghost flagship to create the first-generation Phantom, these developments carried over.

An accompanying copy of the data card from the Derby factory records that this example, chassis 118KR, was sold on 18 April 1929 to the Arthur Mulliner dealership of Northamptonshire for a final price of £1,850.

Although a note reads, “the body off a Mercedes is being transferred to the Phantom”, th...