Converted in 1997 at a cost of £89,240 plus VAT each, the seven Harrods’ Phantoms were used to ferry high-net-worth and valued customers around the capital and beyond: All were painted Harrods’ Green and finished with gold basket weave-effect side panels, a tan roof, and faux pram irons – and, of course, the interiors were every bit as luxurious as you imagine.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

In March 1962 Lord James Hanson bought it as a standard Phantom.

Painted black, he hung onto it until September 1996, at which point it had racked up fewer than 32,000 miles.

Its refurbishment included a change of colour to Harrods Green with lavish appointments that included special-order Connolly leather and cloth trim, a period TV, video player, and fax machine, three mobile telephones, a cut-glass decanter and glasses, an electric privacy screen between the driver and passenger compartments with an intercom, air-conditioning, lamb’s wool rugs, and much, much more.

It stayed with the...