1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Tourer

In early 1931, Rolls-Royce made a delivery of 200 Derby-built Phantom II chassis to Brewster & Co. in Long Island City, New York, following the close of its assembly plant in Springfield, Massachusetts. Numerous modifications were required to make the newly introduced Phantom II suitable for the American market. The cars were converted to left-hand drive steering, adjustments made to the suspension, and 20-inch wheels were installed. Cars destined for the U.S. were given chassis names 'AJS' or 'AMS' suffix to help distinguish them from the other Phantom IIs meant for other markets.

Brewster bodied Phantom IIs were given several body styles including the Henley Roadster, the Newport Town Car, the Croydon Victoria, and the Newmarket Convertible Sedan. The bodies were built to high standards using high-quality materials and old-world construction methods.

This example, a Brewster-bodied Newmarket Tourer, wears chassis number 217 AMS. It was originally shipped to the United States aboard the SS Scythia, arriving at the Port of Springfield on November 8th of 1933. The car originally wore a Henley Roadster body when delivered to its first owner, S.M. Swenson on February 28th of 1934. Less than a year later, the car was returned and given a Newmarket body. With its new coachwork, the car was delivered to Charles J. Rosenbloom of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 16th of 1935.

After World War II, the car was in the care of Jack Carroll of Altoona, PA. It was sold by Mr. Carroll on July 6th of 1950 to Prew Savoy of Washington, DC. A month later, it was purchased by Malcolm C. West of Columbia, Tennessee. In 1955, R. Ridley of Nashville, Tennessee advertised the Phantom II for sale in the Bazaar section of The Flying Lady. Ownership later passed to Nelson Trabue of Nashville; from there it was sold to T.W. Douglas of Hardin, Kentucky. In April of 1959, it was purchased by Edward J. Schmitt of Louisville, Kentucky. It would remain in his care until his passing in the mid-1970s where it was offered for sale at the Kruse Cincinnati Auction in April of 1976. The current caretaker purchased the car at that auction.

In recent years, the car has been given a comprehensive body-off restoration. It is finished in light gray with contrasting dark gray chassis, fenders, and beltline molding. It has period-correct features such as the door crests, rear passenger screen, and accessory trunk. The engine has been rebuilt with new bearings, pistons, valves, and cylinder blocks. A power steering system has been installed to make it more suitable for touring.

The 7668cc overhead valve, six-cylinder engine is fitted with a single updraft Rolls-Royce carburetor and produces 120 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2013