1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Drophead Coupé | Bonhams | Goodwood Revival | 19 Sept 2026

Coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly

Chassis no. 3MW

Engine no. FG 55

• Ordered new by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton for her first husband, Prince Alexis Mdivani

• One of only three Phantom II Continental Sedanca Drophead Coupés by Thrupp & Maberly

• Well-documented ownership history from new

• Accompanied by numerous copies of factory build records

• An older restoration

The Phantom II was introduced in 1929 as a successor to the New Phantom (retrospectively known as the Phantom I) with deliveries commencing in September of that year. Unlike its predecessor, which inherited its underpinnings from the preceding 40/50hp model, the Silver Ghost, the Phantom II employed an entirely new chassis laid out along the lines of that of the smaller 20hp Rolls-Royce. Built in two wheelbase lengths - 144" and 150", the former used for the more sporting Continental model - this new low-slung frame, with its radiator set well back, enabled coachbuilders to body the car in the modern idiom, creating sleeker designs than the upright ones of the past.

The engine too had come in for extensive revision; the PI's cylinder dimensions and basic layout - two blocks of three cylinders, with an aluminium cylinder head common to both blocks - were retained, but the combustion chambers had been redesigned and the 'head was now of the cross-flow type, with inlet and exhaust manifolds on opposite sides. The magneto/coil dual ignition system remained the same as on the PI. The result of these engine changes was greatly enhanced performance, particularly of the short-wheelbase Continental model, and the ability to accommodate weightier coachwork. Out of 1,681 Phantom IIs made, 281 were genuine Continentals.

Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, chassis number '3MW', was ordered new by Barbara Woolworth Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth retail fortune and among the world's wealthiest women by the age of 21. She had been dubbed the 'Poor Little Rich Girl' - first when she was given a lavish and expensive debutante ball in 1930 during the Great Depression, and later due to a notoriously troubled private life. '3MW' is the first of only three Phantom II Continentals fitted with sedanca drophead coupé bodies by the respected London-based firm of Thrupp & Maberly, a concern noted for a succession of coachbuilding innovations during the 1920s and 1930s.

Hutton's involvement with '3MW' had resulted from her liaison with the dashing Georgian Prince Alexis Mdivani, who at that time was living in exile in Paris. The couple soon got engaged and Hutton ordered the Rolls-Royce to celebrate their forthcoming marriage. One only has to look at the copies of the factory build sheets, to see that '3MW' was among the most opulent Phantom II Continentals ever built.

The car incorporates some of Mdivani's ideas, featuring a bonnet extended 4", the louvres raked 13.5 degrees, and a larger 28-gallon fuel tank. A qualified pilot, the Prince was mainly responsible for the aviation-inspired cabin which features turned aluminium panels throughout, including the dashboard, which mounts a specially ordered 6" speedometer and tachometer together with an altimeter and variometer, measuring altitude and rate of climb. Andre Telecontrol adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers were specified, enabling the suspension to be stiffened for high-speed driving. Before delivery, Rolls-Royce displayed '3MW' prominently at the 1933 Paris Salon.

Reportedly, the Rolls-Royce accompanied Barbara Hutton and Prince Mdivani on their honeymoon although the relationship was not to last, ending in divorce in 1935. Mdivani kept the Rolls-Royce. Shortly after the divorce, while holidaying in Spain, Mdivani was driving at high speed when he crashed the car and was killed.

The car was returned to Barbara Hutton, who is understood to have sent it back to Rolls-Royce and Thrupp & Maberly for total refurbishment. After passing through the hands of a series of UK-based owners, and undergoing restoration by FLM Panelcraft at some time in the 1950s or 1960s, this stunning Rolls-Royce sailed to the USA in the mid-1970s onboard the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth II.

While in the USA, '3MW' was cosseted in a manner befitting an automobile of such stature, enjoying careful maintenance, reputedly including an engine rebuild by noted Rolls-Royce enthusiast, Frank Cook. The Continental remained in single ownership for nearly 50 years before passing in 2018 to the immediately preceding owner, who continued the meticulous care. Our vendor purchased the Rolls-Royce at a US auction 2023 and despatched it to pre-war car experts Restocar SA in Clarens, Switzerland to be comprehensively serviced (see invoice for CHF18,000 on file).

Elegant and opulent in equal measure, '3MW' represents a wonderful opportunity to experience the joys of owning a unique Rolls-Royce possessing well-documented history that includes notable celebrity origins and ownership. It is being offered with a cancelled Swiss registration document and a history file.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Car Department.