Some cars just have a certain format. In front of you. It's hard to explain this in words, so we were very happy to see that out of all the cars available for a test drive, Jay Leno chose the Rolls-Royce Phantom this week. This model embodies automotive presence and this vintage has all the right touches to make it timeless. Like the masked character with the same name, this Phantom has also played a role in pop culture history and has remained popular for decades.
The early 1930s was not a good time to be hawking ultra-luxury cars. When the stock market fell, several manufacturers pointed their way to the luxury market. This means that the top end of the market is crowded with cars aimed at a relatively small number of buyers who have the deep pockets to consider buying a car that costs as much as 12 average-priced homes. I meant it. One of his brands that had no trouble finding customers was Rolls-Royce. This Phantom is a prime example of the cars that old Hollywood elites bought during the Great Depression and paid as much as $250 a day to rent and use in movies. 1930s.
This particular Phantom's body was built by Brewster in Town Car configuration. In this arrangement, the driver sits forward behind a windshield and side windows more befitting a speedboat than a car, while passengers enjoy the luxury of a fully enclosed cabin. Although its tiny vanity mirrors and clock are comical compared to modern luxury cars, the car was dignified enough to attract the attention of Constance Bennett, her highest-paid actress of the 1930s. She bought that car in her 1936 and rumor has it she regularly drove around town in it until her husband lost it to her game of poker in 1949. .
And what a loss! The power output of the Phantom's 468 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine is only 120 horsepower, but the power is delivered smoothly and linearly. This is exactly what you want in a car that weighs over 7000 pounds. That's more than three of his current-generation Mazda Miatas. Did I mention we don't even have space to put our luggage? Out on the road, Leno points out that the weight of the roll becomes apparent as soon as you start turning corners.
I can't tell if it's the camera angle or if the car is actually 5/4 scale. Both Jay and the car's owner, vice president of Nethercutt Collection, look like they're about to drive through their living room. It's a really nice living room.
The car was restored by JB Nethercutt in the 1980s and debuted at the 1992 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, winning the top prize at the show. This car is old enough that it is exempt from regular road use and spends most of its time hidden away. So the fact that Jay employs it to spin out on the freeway is something really special and cool. I would have liked to see it in person if possible, but I'll stick to the video this time.
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