1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Henley Roadster

This Rolls-Royce Phantom II is one of seven Henley Roadsters built by the New York coach building firm, Brewster. When new, such a car cost $21,500.

This particular car was first bodied as a town car, not receiving the Henley Roadster body until 1938, when it was purchased by a MIT professor, Dr. Frederick Keyes. Dr. Keyes then owned the car for the next 0 years. A member of the Rolls-Royce Owner's Club, he showed the car at the club's inaugural meet in 1952.

In 1953, Dr. Keyes crated the car and returned it to Rolls-Royce in England to have it returned to new condition. The reward was a Best of Show prize at the RROC 1956 National Meet.

The car has been carefully maintained, driven, and enjoyed by only two other owners since.

The Henley Roadster by Brewster had flared open fenders, a raked cowl line, sweeping fenders that were mirrored at the back of the car, a vee'd windshield, dramatic proportions, and a stately stance. The 'dickey seat' could be accessed via the nearly invisible door.

Only eleven Henley Roadsters were built with two applied to the Phantom I chassis, and nine to Phantom IIs. This particular example was delivered in February of 1934 to Svante M. Swenson. At the time it rested atop chassis number 217AMS. In 1938 it was purchased by Dr. Frederick G. Keyes of Cambridge, Massachusetts and before it was delivered into his care, the body was removed and mounted to a lower-mileage chassis (224 AJS). The car would remain with Dr. Keyes for the next thirty-three years.

While in the care of Dr. Keyes, the car participated often in events of the Rolls-Royce Owners' CLub, including at the first RROC meet held in Springfield, Massachusetts, in June 1952 (where it won 2nd in class). Shortly after this event, the car was crated and shipped to the Rolls-Royce service depot at Hythe Road, London, where it was mechanically sorted before returning back across the Atlantic. At a later RROC National Meet (in Cobleskill, New York), the car won Best of Show.

Dr. Keyes parted with the Rolls-Royce in 1971, selling it to his neighbor, Mark Gibbons. His length of ownership exceeded Dr. Keyes, keeping it until the early 2000s. During that time, it was left untouched except for a new top and some plating. In 2003, it was purchased by Dennis Gibbs of California, who sold it in 2007 to Ervin 'Bud' Lyon of New Hampshire, who displayed it at that year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Adderley Collection acquired it in 2011.

It is believed that this Rolls-Royce retains its original Brewster Green paint scheme and black leather interior upholstery. The mechanical components have been maintained and sorted over the years but never truly 'restored.'

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022