Rolls-Royce Phantom III
1936-1939 · Rolls-Royce Phantom III — Luxury Saloon, V12, designed by Henry Royce.
The Story
The Phantom III (1936) was the grand finale of pre-war Rolls-Royce – and the only V12 the marque would build until the 1998 Silver Seraph. A complex 7.3-litre aluminium V12, the last design conceived under Sir Henry Royce, gave it effortless pace beneath vast coachbuilt bodies. Just 727 were made before the Second World War ended production in 1939.
Its immortality came from the screen. Auric Goldfinger’s black-and-yellow Phantom III in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger smuggles gold melted into its bodywork – making the Phantom III one of cinema’s most famous cars and forever linking the marque to 007.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Henry Royce
Co-founder of Rolls-Royce (1904, with the Hon. Charles Rolls) and its engineering soul. He designed the Silver Ghost and the great Phantom chassis; his final design was the Phantom III V12, completed after his 1933 death. His engineering ethos also shaped the RR aero engines.
Studio Motors POV
The Phantom III is the pre-war grail – the only V12 of its age, Royce’s swansong, and forever Goldfinger’s car; buy one only with a known, expertly-maintained engine.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce Phantom III V12 (7.3L)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Phantom III
Worth Knowing About the Phantom III
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) It was the only V12 Rolls-Royce until the 1998 Silver Seraph – and the last design conceived under Sir Henry Royce. 2) Auric Goldfinger's car in Goldfinger (1964) is a Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Barker (chassis 3BU168), originally built for Lord Fairhaven. 3) In the film, Goldfinger smuggles gold by melting it into the car's bodywork.
5 Fast Facts
- 1) 7.3L aluminium V12, ~165 bhp. 2) Only 727 built, 1936-1939. 3) The last large pre-war Rolls-Royce. 4) Sir Henry Royce's final design (the V12). 5) ~92 mph.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Lord Fairhaven of Anglesey Abbey commissioned the Barker Sedanca de Ville that later became Goldfinger’s car. The model’s fame is inseparable from Goldfinger (1964); broadly owned by inter-war royalty and aristocracy.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Mechanically the most complex pre-war Rolls – the intricate V12 demands expert care, so a properly sorted, well-documented engine is everything. Provenance (and any film or royal history) commands a huge premium. The grail of the pre-war Phantoms.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Rolls-Royce Phantom III
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 1936-1939
- Units built
- 727
- Variants
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V12
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce Phantom III V12 (7.3L)
- Displacement
- 7.3L (7,338 cc)
- Power
- 165 hp
- Torque
- lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- s
- Top speed
- 92 mph
- Power-to-weight
- hp/tonne · lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed manual (synchromesh)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-wheel drive · Petrol
- Curb weight
- lb
Questions
Phantom III FAQ
What engine does the Rolls-Royce Phantom III have?
The Phantom III uses a 7.3-litre aluminium V12 producing approximately 165 bhp — the only V12 Rolls-Royce would build before the Silver Seraph revived the configuration in 1998.
How many Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs were built?
Only 727 Phantom IIIs were built on coachbuilt chassis between 1936 and 1939. Production ended when World War II halted manufacturing at the Derby factory.
Which famous film featured the Rolls-Royce Phantom III?
The villain’s car in Goldfinger (1964) is a Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Barker, chassis 3BU168, originally built for Lord Fairhaven. Auric Goldfinger uses it to smuggle gold concealed within the bodywork.
How much is a Rolls-Royce Phantom III worth today?
Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIs typically sell across a broad range — auction averages cluster near low six figures, with exceptional coachwork and documented provenance reaching several hundred thousand (e.g., CHF455,000 at RM Sotheby’s). Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s regularly handle examples.
Was the Phantom III the only pre-war Rolls-Royce V12?
Yes. The Phantom III was the only V12 Rolls-Royce built before World War II. No Rolls-Royce used a V12 again until the 1998 Silver Seraph introduced a BMW-sourced unit.
The Rolls-Royce Lineup
Explore every Rolls-Royce
Phantom III ’36
Silver Wraith ’46Silver Dawn ’49
Phantom IV ’50Silver Cloud I ’55Phantom V ’59Silver Cloud II ’59
Silver Cloud III ’62Silver Shadow I ’65Phantom VI ’68
Corniche (1971) ’71Camargue ’75Silver Shadow II ’77
Silver Spirit / Silver Spur ’80
Corniche (2000) ’00Phantom VII ’03Ghost (1st Gen) ’09
Wraith ’13Dawn ’15Phantom VIII ’17Sweptail ’17Cullinan ’18
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