A very nice set of photos of what appears to be a 1923-26 four-wheel brake Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. These pictures originated from the Springfield, MA area, which would lead us to believe this LHD Rolls was a product of the R-R plant there. The company started producing cars there around 1920 and ceased production in 1931. The attractive, victoria styled coupe body is unusual and its body builder is unknown to us, but Coachbuilt.com can enlighten you on the many custom builders that produced bodies for these fine automobiles. Photos courtesy of the Richard Bolt Collection.
Posted for Steve Evans….
David –
Great photos of a Springfield Ghost. This car would appear to be a 1926 or 1927 base on the third rear taillight (first appearing in 1926) and the fact that it doesn’t appear to have a front apron below the grill (this would denote a later car). It’s interesting that the car doesn’t have the standard drum style headlights. The body would appear to be a Brewster Wimbledon two door sedan (Rolls-Royce in America by John Webb de Campi – pg 190).
Keep up the great work, Steve
Upon further review, this may be an early Phantom I (that would explain the lights). The records printed in de Campi’s book note that only 6 of these bodies were originally place on the PI chassis (and none on a Ghost chassis). Thus, the car could be an early PI or a Ghost that was re-bodied back in the day.
Steve
Steve, I admit to not knowing a great deal about Rolls-Royce cars, I was thinking that it maybe a Ghost based on the cantilever springs and chassis details. Did the P-1 have this type of springing? Thanks for the research, David
David –
Sorry for the delayed reply. Yes, the PI is sprung is a similar fashion to the Ghost. Of course, on many PIs (later bodies) there is a metal enclosure over this area (integrating the tool box).
Steve
Dear David,
In many ways the Springfield New Phantom may be thought of as an overhead valve Ghost with 4-wheel brakes and a FEW other minor changes. General performance and speed were greatly enhanced, build quality was still the best in the world, and the new Phantom was the acme of its type in its time. Chassis was largely unchanged but refined.
I love driving both models.
Laurence
And the Headlamps are appearing to be Hall mfg. rather than the earlier Haverhill drum-type with Bauch & Loam (sp?) lenses.
Laurence
Posted for Walt Gosden….Re the photograph of the Rolls-Royce series of photographs posted on June 17th.
Perhaps this is an early Phantom 1? Note the vertical shutters on the radiator, these are identical to the ones that were on a 1927 Phantom 1 I once owned. Body is by Brewster – you can see in the photo of the interior (photo 276D) just the tip of a body builders plate. this is where Brewster & Co. of L.I. CIty would mount their body plates on their coachwork.
My Father(Archie Joseph Belanger worked for Rolls Royce of America in Springfield as a teenage Motor Block Turner in The Motor Block and Head Seasoning Lot. The green motor castings were stacked outdoors like firewood and allowed to rust. They were turned over and over and made to rust(season) evenly. They would be checked for cracks and flaws by the Head Machinist(from England.) He became a Master Tin Smith and joined the United Auto Workers Union. Later he built Bodies By Brewster.He did many bodies for famous clients…and later worked building Brewster Buffaloes. He built bodies for Clark Gable and Marlene Dietriche’s Packard. He also built an armoured Lincoln body for his best friend Dutch Schultze.
I own the only known Rolls~Royce Wimbledon coupe’ which is almost exactly linked to this auto.
Chassis# S 136PM It was the 1927 Commodore Hotel Salon NY Showcar for 1927 !
I believe my Father(Archie Belanger ) may have worked on this car when it was built.
Definitely a Springfield New Phantom. Front spring shackle is doubled and rear should be single. Silver Ghost shackling was opposite. Late Ghosts had vertical radiator shutters as did the New Phantoms; the triple tail lights were available for very late Springfield Ghosts and could include a reversing light.
My Grandfather came from Denmark. Was a master woodworker, and made all the wooden parts for the Rolls Royce in Springfield. He was the only woodworker employed in the factory. Name was Hans Peter Stibolt. The ship he came to America was sail powered, and he had signed on as the carpenter. He made beautiful furniture! Wish I had a photo of him at the Rolls Royce factory. Also wish our City didn’t demolish so many historical buildings.