1929 Rolls Royce 40/50hp Phantom II Cabriolet de Ville
Marking Henry Royce’s final personal automotive design, this luxury model introduced significant innovations when it debuted in 1929. The Phantom II replaced the New Phantom (later called Phantom I) with a completely new chassis, moving away from the Silver Ghost underpinnings of earlier models.
The revolutionary low-slung frame positioned the radiator further back, allowing coachbuilders to create sleeker, more contemporary body styles than previous upright designs. The Barker & Co Cabriolet de Ville coachwork here is a good example.
Available in 144-inch and 150-inch wheelbase configurations (Continental models used the shorter length), this platform became highly favored by prominent coachbuilders.
Engine development included substantial revisions while retaining the basic two-block, six-cylinder layout with aluminum cylinder head. The redesigned combustion chambers and new cross-flow head design, with inlet and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides, delivered improved performance and supported heavier coachwork.
Source
