Rolls-Royce utilized by Field Marshal Montgomery and Winston Churchill throughout D-Day planning heads to public sale

A unique Rolls-Royce steeped in historical significance is set to go under the hammer at a UK auction next month.

The 1936 Phantom III limousine was used extensively during the Second World War to transport Field Marshal Montgomery, the commanding officer of the British Eighth Army, in the crucial months leading up to the D-Day invasion of Europe – with the car part of the tight security and secrecy surrounding those meetings. 

Over this period, Montgomery’s Roller carried some of the most iconic high-ranking military figures during the war.

General and 34th President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower was a passenger in the rare British luxury motor, as was HM King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. 

And the car, which is set to be offered to the highest bidder on May 3, still boasts a very unique feature that was custom installed for Churchill at the time – an electric cigar lighter in the rear compartment for the PM to light up. 

Historics Auctioneers says the Rolls-Royce has a ‘unique connection to the military and political leadership of World War II’ and has issued a guide price of between £115,000 and £130,000 ahead of its sale.

The Phantom III was originally delivered new to Frederick Wilcock, the CEO of the Talbot Motor Company, in 1936. 

However, at the outbreak of World War II, it was requisitioned by the Ministry of War’s Transport Section for use by Montgomery.

The commanding officer, famously known as ‘Monty’, had the Roller for his personal staff car during the war.

It was his mode of transport between his homes in Virginia Water, Surrey, and London and was deployed during his time at Southwick House near Portsmouth during D-Day planning sessions. 

Always chauffeur driven, the vehicle went on to be called the ‘Green Car’, due to its unique British Racing Green and black livery – a notable change from Montgomery’s usual black Rolls-Royces.

After the Allied victory in Europe, the Phantom III’s service continued. 

It was reassigned to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army Air Force, General Carl Spaatz. 

Unfortunately, while in American hands, a US Army fuel tanker backed into it – though the damage was subsequently repaired.

After its military deployment ended in the 1950s, the car was purchased by a rubber-planter in Malaya and shipped to Penang during the Suez Crisis.

Given the closure of the waterway, the car had to be driven across Europe to Italy, then transported to Africa before being shipped from Cape Town to its new home.

The car is one of only 710 examples of the Series III Phantoms made before production was cut short due to the Second World War – and fewer than 300 examples survive worldwide today.

It is historically significant to Rolls-Royce too, as the Series III is the British brand’s first ever V12 motor car. 

It is famed for its smooth-running 7.3-litre 12-cylinder engine and unparalleled comfort that is testament to the marque’s engineering prowess. 

As such, the Phantom III is widely recognised as the benchmark for luxury motoring in its day.

‘It is an extraordinary piece of history, with direct connections to some of the most iconic figures of the Second World War, including Field Marshal Montgomery and Winston Churchill,’ Historics Auctioneers said.

The auction house says the car has faced ‘mechanical challenges’ during the time spent in more remote regions after its retirement from military duties.

Its engine was rebuilt ‘several years ago’ but is said to remain in superb condition today. 

‘It now benefits from the fitment of overdrive, enhancing its refinement for modern road use,’ the lot description says.

Plenty of funds have been dedicated to the maintenance of the car in recent years, too. 

It was serviced at Cheshire Classic Cars in 2017 at a cost of around £11,000 plus VAT.

A restoration effort consisted of a comprehensive engine service, a new exhaust system, and an alloy carburettor to replace the fragile Mazak original. 

‘In more recent years, the car has seen very little use, so some recommissioning would be recommended but the engine ran very smoothly during our photography, with some coughs from the exhaust, possibly due to either old fuel or an exhaust leak,’ the auctioneer says.

In 2014, registration ‘DGY 1’ was driven back to Southwick House for a commemorative event marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day. 

Present at the event were prominent figures such as Patrick Churchill, Winston Churchill’s grandson, and Lady Arabella Stuart-Smith, Montgomery’s granddaughter. 

‘The car’s participation in this event, along with its mention in various media outlets, solidified its status as an important historical artifact,’ the auction experts said.

The car is sold with an extensive history file, including its original wartime requisition letter. 

‘This 1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III (DGY 1) is a rare and historically significant motorcar, offering a unique connection to the military and political leadership of World War II,’ Historics Auctioneers said. 

‘It is a true collector’s piece, preserved in remarkable, possibly original, condition and benefitting from a well-documented provenance. 

‘A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, this Phantom III is a must-see for any serious collector of automotive or wartime history.   

‘Supplied to auction with V5C registration document, highly detailed history folder and fitted toolkit in the boot, this Phantom III would be welcome at many top-level events and deserves to be shown around the world.’

The guide price of £115,000 to £130,000 is some way short of the price paid when this motor vehicle last changed hands in December 2017.

Sold by Bonhams, it went for £143,750, suggesting Historics Auctioneers’ estimate might be a little conservative.