1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer

Production of Rolls-Royce automobiles in Springfield, Massachusetts began in 1921. The location where the cars were built was close to major northeastern markets and important suppliers, as well as strategically located near a large supply of skilled craftsmen trained in the armories of the Connecticut River Valley and the New England machine tool industry. Rolls-Royce shipped the 40/50 horsepower Silver Ghost chassis from England and assembled in Springfield under the direction of a cadre of some 50 experienced Rolls-Royce hands who emigrated from Derby.

The custom-ordered coachwork that was constructed to fit the Derby-built chassis did not fit American buying patterns, so Rolls-Royce offered standard coachwork, which was usually painted and trimmed to order. Several independent coachbuilders were sourced to provide custom bodies in quantities up to 20 at a time. They were badged 'Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work' and were mainly built by Brewster, but also by Biddle and Smart, Hibbard & Darrin, New Haven, Merrimack, Smith Springfield, and Willoughby. Sales were strong enough to allow Rolls-Royce to establish its own coachworks in Springfield by 1923.

In 1926, the Silver Ghost was superseded by the Phantom I. Several new offerings by Brewster's coachworks included the open Ascot, the Derby, and the Derby Speedster Tourers.

Further refinements continued, and by 1929 this included an aluminum cylinder head, chrome-plated exterior brightwork, flat-bar bumpers, servo-assisted four-wheel brakes, and thermostatically controlled radiator shutters. Even though the Great Depression was just around the corner, Rolls-Royce sold around 350 automobiles in 1929.

This particular example, chassis number S398KP, was originally delivered to M.G. Patton, the Rolls-Royce dealer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 12th of 1929. It is an Ascot Tourer that is equipped with a sporty top of the same design as the Derby model and wears early-style bumpers. The car was used by prospective customers as the dealership's 'trials car' for five months before it was delivered new to Paul Butler on September 27th.

The car was later owned by Marty Whalen, Stamo Papadaki, of Washington, Connecticut, and then Fred A. Wilsea, of New Preston, Connecticut.

Hans Dieter Holterbosch, the American importer of Lowenbrau beer, acquired the car on December 29th of 1977. During his ownership, the car was restored by Crossthwaite & Gardner in England, where it was painted in period-correct colors that it wears today. In recent years, the car has been carefully maintained and seen little use.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2014