1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

25 Jul

From the The 1963 Royal Tour of New Zealand

Our August Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles, & Automobilia live auction features nearly $3 million worth of collectible cars and bikes, comprising 23 cars, 8 bikes, and a selection of automobilia. This catalogue truly has no shortage of highlights. One of the most significant vehicles in this auction is the 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, used during two momentous Royal New Zealand tours in 1963 and 1970. The other car from the same tour fleet is in the permanent collection of Southward Car Museum.

Estimated to sell between $175,000 - $200,000, this is an excellent example of a post-war Rolls-Royce in its own right, this Phantom V lacks no elegance, engineering acumen, or history. It has lived an important professional life over its 83,167mi travelled and is now ready to be admired in its retirement by a marque enthusiast, history lover, or collector.

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Official car for state visits being driven on the street. Likely during the 1963 Royal Tour of New Zealand. From the Westfield Collection, Auckland Libraries.

For those who were there, the year 1963 will forever stand out in New Zealand’s history for the arrival of two very special guests: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Spanning just under two weeks from February 6 to February 18, the much-anticipated Royal Tour may have been short, but it marked a pivotal moment in the relationship between the Crown and a little country in a far-flung corner of the Commonwealth—the brevity of the visit only adding to Royal fever that took hold of the country for its duration.

At its core, the visit was an exercise in reinforcing ties between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, coinciding with the 11 year anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the Throne, and also the one hundred and twenty-third anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Arriving at the Bay of Islands in the Royal Yacht Britannia, the couple made their way down the east coast of the country, stopping in Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Picton, Christchurch and Dunedin. At each stop they were joined by a vehicle you might recognise in this catalogue: a 1963 Rolls Royce Phantom V that was custom outfitted and imported into New Zealand specifically for the tour.

From the moment the royal entourage set foot on New Zealand soil—in time to attend commemorations at Waitangi—they were greeted with fervour. Crowds thronged the streets, waving flags and banners, eager to catch a glimpse of the Queen and her consort as they passed in their Crown vehicle. Notably, the Nelson stop left some local fans disappointed when the couple chose to leave the city in the enclosed Phantom (rather than an open top vehicle), affording them only the briefest glimpse. Never the less, the stop was still described by local media as “a day to remember”.

From formal receptions with dignitaries to intimate gatherings with local communities, the itinerary was meticulously planned to encompass a wide spectrum of engagements. As is the case with royal tours even today, each event was carefully orchestrated to strike a balance in showcasing the pomp of royalty while also demonstrating the humility of service. This is not to say the tour was without its trials: crossing the Cook Strait the Royal couple was subjected to the full ferocity of Wellington weather, with winds of up to 50kmph.

Beyond its ceremonial aspects, the 1963 tour left an indelible legacy on the collective consciousness of New Zealanders. It galvanised national pride and reinforced the country’s place within the Commonwealth family. The tour’s cultural impact was profound, inspiring a renewed interest in heritage and tradition, and, most notably, symbolising continuity amidst a time of great change. In an era of evolving geopolitical landscapes and shifting alliances, the Royal Tour affirmed New Zealand’s allegiance to the Crown while embracing its role as an independent sovereign nation.