1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Drophead Coupé in the style of Vanvooren

3AZ72roadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 7.3L V12, up to 180 bhp
Colour: Two-tone light and mid blue

Chassis 3AZ72 is a 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III, one of only 727 produced, originally bodied as a saloon-with-division by Windovers and delivered to its first owner in London. After passing through several British hands and later forming part of the Max Lips Collection in the Netherlands, the car was acquired in 2004 and substantially transformed: a new body built to the precise dimensions of an original Vanvooren drophead coupé was fitted, the engine was fully rebuilt, and the chassis restored. The result is a two-tone blue Art Deco touring car accompanied by an extensive documented history.

Ownership

2019-06-30Auction sale
Sold €100,000 (≈ $110K)
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1947 →Acquisition unknown
C S Pollock
partial documentation
Based in Crowborough, Sussex; car remained in the UK through at least 1960.
→ 2004Acquisition unknown
Max Lips Collection
partial documentation
Dutch museum collection where the car was displayed publicly; original Windovers saloon bodywork still intact at this stage.
2004-06-01 →Auction
Current owner
full documentation
Acquired at Bonhams Rockingham Castle sale, Lot 509; subsequently had a Vanvooren-style drophead coupe body fitted, engine fully rebuilt, and chassis restored.
Date unknownFactory delivery
Alfred Sainsbury
partial documentation
First registered keeper, resident at Cadogan Square in London; car was originally bodied as a saloon with division by Windovers.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2004
Restoration
Following acquisition, a new drophead coupé body built to the exact measurements of an original Phantom III Vanvooren DHC was fitted, replacing the original Windovers saloon coachwork. A bespoke soft-top was fabricated and the interior retrimmed in leather with ergonomically adjustable seats. The two-tone blue colour scheme was inspired by period Vanvooren finishes.
Work carried out after the June 2004 purchase; restoration photographs are included in the history file.
2004
Engine rebuild
The V12 engine was completely stripped and reassembled, returning it to full working order.
2004
Mechanical
The chassis was restored to an as-new condition as part of the same programme of work following the 2004 acquisition.

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