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The Phantom III was the final large pre-war Rolls-Royce. Introduced in 1936, it replaced the Phantom II.
The III was distinguished by its novel all-aluminium V12 engine. With a 3¾ in (95.2 mm) bore and 4½ in (114.3 mm) stroke, the new twelve displaced 7.3 L (7338 cc/447 in³). It was a pushrod engine with overhead valves operated by a single camshaft in the valley between cylinder banks. This would be the last V12 Rolls-Royce until the 1998 introduction of the Silver Seraph.
Another major feature was an independent suspension in front, based on a General Motors design. This coil spring-based suspension was complemented by a carryover semi-elliptical spring unit in the rear.
Again, a 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on gears 2, 3, and 4 was used. Overdrive was added in 1938. 4-wheel servo-assisted brakes were also specified.
Movie Appearances
A 1937 Phantom III painted yellow-gold (and supposedly including tonnes of smuggler's 18 kt trim) is Goldfinger's vehicle in the movie of the same name. See List of James Bond vehicles.
External links
"Rolls-Royce Phantom III"