US$475,000.00 Between 1929 and 1935, the magnificent Phantom II sat atop the Rolls Royce range. Serving as a replacement for the original Phantom, the Phantom II was completely redesigned from the ground up, and shared very little in common with its predecessor beyond the bore and stroke dimensions of the 7,668cc inline six-cylinder engine. Engineers made a great deal of progress within the big six; with a cross flow cylinder head, separate inlet ports, improved exhaust manifold and a bump in compression finding an additional 20hp. The driveline was also improved with modifications to the gearbox and clutch and the addition of a Hotchkiss drive layout for the hypoid rear axle which allowed for a lower floor line. This of course delighted coachbuilders who could now fit ever sportier and sleeker bodywork. Performance was exceptional for a car of this size, and sales proved strong considering the price, with 1,767 built over a seven year run. Of course, Rolls Royce was never one to rest on its laurels, so over sixty running changes were made during the course of production to further refine and enhance the Phantom II.In the early 1920’s, the President of Brazil suggested to his wealthy friend Octavio Guinle that Rio de Janeiro needed a world class beachfront hotel. Guinle took up the challenge and hired French architect Joseph Gire to design a fabulous new building. The Copacabana Palace, as it would become known, was built to be the very best and it soon became a destination for royalty, Hollywood stars, and the social and business elite of the world. In the late 1920s, his hotel a rousing success, the time came for Guinle to order a new automobile and he looked no further than Rolls-Royce’s new flagship, the Phantom II. An aficionado of French design, Guinle...