Archive · 1 Aug 2025
Kolkata's 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III: A Time Machine's Legacy
Imagine a super cool car from a long time ago, like a really fancy, old-fashioned Rolls-Royce.
This specific car, made in 1937, used to belong to a governor in India.
It has a big engine with 12 cylinders and lots of parts.
A family in Kolkata loves this car, and they've kept it running for many years, instead of fixing it up completely.
It's been used in weddings and car shows, and is filled with family memories.
They don't want a new car, because this old one is special to them and part of their family history.
A 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III, once owned by the Governor of Bombay, remains in pristine condition in Kolkata.
The car was re-imported to India in the early 1950s by the current owner's grandfather, a car enthusiast.
The Phantom III features a V12 engine with dual ignition, dual fuel pumps, and 24 spark plugs.
The car has been preserved rather than fully restored and continues to be used regularly.
It has been a part of the family for generations, used for weddings and vintage car rallies.
- Who
- Azam Monem, a tea taster, is the current custodian of the car.
- What
- A 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III, once owned by the Governor of Bombay, still runs in Kolkata.
- When
- The car was built in 1937 and re-imported to India around 1951-52.
- Where
- Kolkata, India.
- Why
- The family cherishes the car as heritage, a symbol of engineering excellence, and a repository of memories.
- Car Model
- 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III
- Original Owner
- Sir Roger Lumley (Governor of Bombay)
- Current Owner
- Azam Monem
- Engine Type
- V12
- Spark Plugs
- 24
- Registration
- WBC 1
- Award
- Judges Choice Award & Best of Show (2023)