Two restored 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantoms from Lord Bamford’s collection head to auction
Gooding Christie's will sell a pair of meticulously maintained prewar luxury cars from the JCB chairman at its inaugural New York sale next month.
Gooding Christie’s will present two 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs at its debut appearance at Retromobile New York. Both vehicles come from the collection of Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, and will cross the block without reserve, each carrying an estimate of $450,000 to $650,000 according to the auction house announcement.
Bamford, a noted collector for over five decades, has assembled a stable that spans postwar racing and sports cars alongside prewar luxury marques. He acquired the first Phantom in 2011 at a Gooding & Company sale at Pebble Beach and the second in 2014.
The Henley Coupe
One offering combines J.S. Inskip coachwork with 1937 Phantom III engineering. The car originally belonged to Margaret Dunlop of New York before entering Bamford’s hands. Its restoration demanded an eight-year, two-million-dollar rebuild by Clark & Carter, marque specialists who restored or rebuilt every component. The finished work earned First in Class honours when exhibited at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The Park Ward Sedanca
The second vehicle features bodywork by Park Ward & Co. on a 1937 Phantom III chassis. It previously passed through notable collections, including that of Malcolm Pray, before Bamford purchased it a dozen years ago. Over the past decade marque specialists have maintained the car meticulously, completing a major engine overhaul recently. The Sedanca has won concours awards and appeared at venues including the Cartier Style et Luxe gathering at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2016 and Salon Privé events.
The Sale
The auction runs November 20 and 21, with public previews available from November 19 through 21. James Knight, a consultant and senior specialist at Gooding Christie’s, said the firm is “honored to present these magnificent motorcars” on behalf of Bamford, characterizing them as vehicles that “represent the very best of prewar engineering, style and excellence.”
This article was compiled by the CityLifeBytes editorial desk from the official announcements and reporting listed under Sources.
