1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Touring

There were just 20 Derby models built, including the Speedster, which featured a slightly different rear fender arrangement. The Derby and the Ascot were the only four-passenger tourers produced by Brewster for the Springfield Rolls-Royce.

This 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I is a Derby Tourer with coachwork by Brewster. This car was initially delivered in July of 1927 to Mr. Phipps and fitted with Warwick Limousine coachwork. Around four years later, another car (S172FR) was delivered to J.S. Swift of Chicago, Illinois, as a Derby Tourer, body B5552. Both cars, however, were soon returned to Rolls-Royce in Springfield. This car, S455FL, was fitted with Derby Tourer coachwork B5552, though it is believed that the early-style fenders were retained. Upon completion, the car was delivered to Revell J. Fisher and found a new home in Baldwin Park, California.

The Derby passed to AP Humphreys by December of 1932 and it is believed that the car remained in California until the 1970s. Around that time, Ben Paul Moser of Santa Barbra, Ca acquired the car. It was listed for sale in the RROC Flying Lady in 1972.

The car was purchased by Northwest collector Phil Schwartz and took delivery at the Harrah Swap Meet in Reno, Nevada. It remained with the car for around 15 years before selling it in the late 1980s to another Northwest collector, John Wallerich. After purchasing the car, it was sent to Alabama for a restoration. Unfortunately, the work was not completed and sent to another restorer in Connecticut. During this nut-and-bolt restoration, the fenders were replaced with more suitable Derby-style wings.

After the restoration in 1993, the car entered the RROC Meet where it won a Second Place in the Phantom I Concours class.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It had a pre-auction estimated value of $380,000 - $450,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $368,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2012