Rolls Royce Phantom II “Star of India” for sale for 8 million pounds

The epitome of the classic, luxury automobile is going on the market, and is expected to fetch a record-setting price.  When the 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental was first commissioned by Thakorsaheb Dharmendrasinhji, the then-Maharaja of Rajkot, it was named after the Star of India, a 563 carat Star Sapphire.

Built with a polished aluminum hood and wing panels, the Star of India is expected to fetch a mind-boggling £8 million.  That price is 10 per cent higher than the current most-expensive car, a 1957 Ferrari Testarossa that sold at auction earlier in 2009 for £7.2 million.

The 7.7-liter V8-engined car is currently owned by German collector Hans-Gunther Zach, and is part of a vast collection of Bentleys and Rolls-Royce machines.  It is a truly one-of-a-kind vehicle, in that it is painted in a saffron tone, has 14 headlights at the front (including adaptive lights that work with the wheel), as well as the all-weather Torpedo Convertible top, custom made by Thrupp and Maberly.