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United Kingdom - Cars |
See Also: Monty's Teas |
Montys Rolls Royce Cars
1936 Butler Phantom III
Montgomery’s favourite was the 1936 ‘Butler’ Phantom III. This unique Phantom was commissioned for Alan Samuel Butler, Chairman of the De Havilland Aircraft Company, with coach builders HJ Mulliner of Chiswick making the unusual bodywork. Its most striking feature is the front-sloping windscreen that makes the car more aerodynamically efficient than the standard design. The Butler Phantom lll’s aerodynamic ability was also improved by the sweeping tail and having the spare tyre enclosed. Using his knowledge of aerodynamics, Butler had concluded that a forward-raked, vee-shaped windscreen had a number of advantages. He claimed that tests in the De Havilland wind tunnel showed that wind resistance was reduced by up to 15%, while the reverse angle also helped to reduce dazzle at night and removed water from the windscreen in bad weather.
A brilliant military tactician, Montgomery was notorious for his lack of tact and diplomacy. So much so that colleagues and friends commented on his “lack of tact and egotistical outlook which prevented him from appreciating other people’s feelings”.
“In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable.” – Winston Churchill on Montgomery
A brilliant military tactician, Montgomery was notorious for his lack of tact and diplomacy. So much so that colleagues and friends commented on his “lack of tact and egotistical outlook which prevented him from appreciating other people’s feelings”.
“In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable.” – Winston Churchill on Montgomery
1936 Phantom III
The first of Montys Rollers, was a 1936 Phantom lll, coach-built by Freestone & Webb. It was owned by Frederick Wilcock, boss of the Talbot Motor Company, when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport Section, for Montgomery’s personal transport. The Field Marshal used it during the build up to D-Day, driving Winston Churchill, General Eisenhower and King George VI to D-Day planning sessions at his operations base in Southwick House, Hampshire. Wilcock had asked that the car stay in Great Britain to avoid any wartime damage.
1938 Silver Wraith
The 1938 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith had been damaged in the London blitz, and subsequently repaired by Park Ward, where apon it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defense and presented to the Field Marshal as his new personal staff car in the UK. It’s was shipped to Europe just after D-Day, 9th June 1944 and he used it through to when he finally took the unconditional surrender of the German forces on 4 May 1945, at Lüneburg Heath, south of Hamburg. It was not camouflaged and despite it being highly conspicuous it survived the War unscathed, while Rommel’s camouflaged Horch staff car was destroyed by a Spitfire. The Wraith belongs to the Royal Logistics Corps, and it now resides at the Army Transport museum where the vehicle occupies pride of place.