The Phantom III: The Best Car For Hauling Two Tonnes of Solid Gold

Picture the scene: Sean Connery, a suave tuxedo, and the gleam of a Rolls-Royce Phantom III taking centre stage. It’s been 60 years since Goldfinger hit the cinemas, and while Bond has a whole arsenal of gadgets up his sleeve, who would have thought one of the deadliest tools in Auric Goldfinger’s collection wasn’t hidden in a watch or a briefcase, but right there in the car park? That’s right, the 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III – a car so luxurious even Bond had to stop and admire it.

When Goldfinger decided to smuggle two tonnes of solid gold across Europe, he didn’t do it with subtlety – oh no, subtlety is for henchmen. Enter the Phantom III: sleek, imposing, and built with enough space to stash more contraband than Q’s entire lab. And this wasn’t just any old Rolls-Royce. This was the first V12-powered model in the brand’s history, delivering a whopping 165 bhp from its 7.3-litre engine. It wasn’t built for quick escapes – though you wouldn’t bet against it – but for gliding through Europe’s finest roads, with its hydraulic shocks keeping the ride smoother than Bond’s martinis.

Even Bond, the man who could walk past a rocket-launcher Aston Martin without batting an eyelid, couldn’t resist the charm of this machine. “She’s a beauty… Phantom III ’37, isn’t she?” he remarks, gazing at the car that’s about to ferry Goldfinger’s favourite loot. For a second there, you can almost see him considering swapping his trusty Aston for something a little more refined – though, let’s be honest, even Bond might have struggled to hide two tonnes of gold in his DB5.

Goldfinger, however, wasn’t just a man of taste – he was a man with a plan. And what a plan it was. Not content with hoarding his fortune, he used the Phantom to smuggle the gold right under everyone’s noses. After all, who’s going to suspect a Rolls-Royce of anything nefarious? It’s like doubting Bond’s charm – you simply don’t. And this Phantom wasn’t just for show. No, its number plate, ‘AU 1’, was a wink to the element that made Goldfinger’s world go round: gold. The car was as much a part of his operation as Oddjob himself – only with better suspension.

As for the car itself, the Phantom III was no ordinary Rolls. This was the last car Henry Royce himself oversaw before his death, which makes it the automotive equivalent of a final Bond showdown – grand, dramatic, and impossible to forget. It wasn’t just about luxury either. The Phantom III packed a serious punch for its time, and those adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers? Perfect for a villain needing to smooth out the ride when hauling his fortune across the Alps.

Sixty years later, and the legend of the Goldfinger Phantom III endures. Rolls-Royce hasn’t forgotten, either. On 25th October, they’re planning to unveil something that’s bound to carry on the legacy of this iconic car – and knowing Rolls, it’ll be the automotive equivalent of a Bond plot twist.

In the world of 007, speed and sophistication still reign supreme, and the Phantom III remains a symbol of both. If you ever find yourself lucky enough to get behind the wheel of one, just remember: no sudden moves, no ejector seats – and for heaven’s sake, don’t let Oddjob drive.

So here’s to the Rolls-Royce Phantom III: the ultimate accomplice for smuggling, a Bond villain’s dream, and a car so legendary that even James Bond had to take a second glance. Goldfinger may have been obsessed with gold, but the real treasure in his plan was always that Phantom. After all, nothing says “luxury” quite like sneaking two tonnes of the world’s most precious metal across Europe in a Rolls-Royce.

And if you ever fancy a trip through the Alps yourself? Just make sure MI6 isn’t tailing you – and whatever you do, keep the boot locked. You never know what someone might try to stash in there.