An especially elegant and imposing example of the Phantom III, chassis number 3AZ210 was bodied by the preferred London coachbuilders to Royalty, Barker & Company, known for the superb quality of its construction and fitments. Styled as a handsome saloon with division window, tapered wings, and a relatively low roofline, it was originally fitted with bonnet 5.5 inches longer than standard with aggressively raked louvres, as seen in a surviving Barker linotype included in the file. Along with the single rear-mounted spare the effect is an unusually clean front-end design that emphasises the size and power of the engine beneath. It was also specified with a speedometer reading in both miles and kilometres, as well as a fuel gauge in both gallons and litres, perfectly suited to continental touring.

Delivery was made on 29 January 1937 to Commodore Louis D. Beaumont, an American department store magnate, yachtsman, and avowed Francophile, at his villa Eilenroc at Cap d’Antibes. Reportedly, the car was intended as a lavish gift to his second wife, Hélène, a former opera singer turned international socialite, known for her decadent parties on the French Riviera, close friendship with the Duchess of Windsor, and landmark jewellery collection, sold at a well-remembered auction by Sotheby’s following her passing in 1988. The Phantom III retains many of its original interior features, including elaborate painted cabinetry and a compartment for a Clayton heater, the door of which is carved with Mrs Beaumont’s initials in an appropriately Art Nouveau font.

Paperwork from the Rolls-Royce Foundation indicates that the Commodore’s spouse accompanied the car to the United States aboard SS Rex in December 1939. It remained with American owners until its acquisition for the present collection in 1995. Offered in well-preserved older restored condition, it is equipped with a correct replacement engine and is accompanied by a history file recounting its build and ownership over the years. It is a Phantom III of dignified stateliness and unusually bespoke nature, with a fascinating past on both sides of the Atlantic.