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Cars of 1998
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Car of the Month - October 2008 |
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 Introduction of a new model by a manufacturer whose products were considered to be so very perfect that there were no ‘competitors’ in the true sense of the word was particularly significant as regards the Rolls-Royce Phantom V. – In that specific market niche there simply was no offer from any other motor car manufacturer that could really be considered as being in the same league. Standing there was a giant of a motor car with a comfort level to satisfy even the most demanding expectations. It is worth a note, too, that the car could be manoeuvred with almost no stress even in dense traffic. The powerful engine, the smooth gearbox, the efficient brakes and the well-tune suspension did work in perfect harmony.
H.J. Mulliner and Park Ward did
build the lion's share of bodies for this model that was delivered as
chassis cum engine. Rolls-Royce Ltd. did own both the coachbuilding
companies and had decided to opt for some rationalization effort by
re-grouping both into H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward in mid-1961. It is true
though that H.J. Mulliner and Park Ward for some considerable time carried
on almost independently after amalgamation. Each built body designs as
hitherto and even affixed the "coachbuilder plates" on completion. |
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Hence
it is understandable to list the car shown here as a Limousine by Park Ward
as per their Design-No. 980 – although when the finished product was
delivered in October 1961 there did exist H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward. A note
from the factory's documents might be mentioned because that says the car
did not get an English registration prior to 1963. After the first owner
(the gentleman was an industrialist) the car was employed by actor Ralph
Richardson. Another owner at some later stage decided on a complete new
interior entirely in black. He insisted on this option so consequently that
even the headlining was in black cloth.