1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Dual Cowl Phaeton

The partnership between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce began in 1904, with production based in Derby, England, but by the early 1920s, they were also building cars in America. In 1921, the first 'Springfield' Silver Ghosts were assembled from kits shipped from England to Springfield, Massachusetts. They had several unique attributes, including tubular bumpers and Bausch & Lomb headlights. Springfield chassis were bodied with American-built coachwork, distinguishable as aesthetically lighter and more suited to the owner-driver than British-built models.

This Springfield Silver Ghost was initially delivered with a formal Pickwick closed body to be used as a demonstrator by the Penn Motors dealership. Robert M. Stein of Baltimore, the car's first private owner, purchased it in 1926 and returned it to the Springfield factory to have a sporting Pall Mall Tourer body fitted from an existing 1921 Silver Ghost - the body it wears today.

This Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost currently wears a dual-cowl Pall Mall bodystyle by Springfield. However, it was delivered to Penn Motors in Philadelphia, PA in June of 1924 with an enclosed town car Pickwick body. The dealership used it for two years as a company demonstrator and 'trials' car. The car's first private owner was Robert M. Stein of Baltimore, who purchased it from Penn Motors in September of 1926.

The car is finished in black lacquer paintwork, soft gray leather upholstery, and a pale beige cloth top. It has a Waltham speedometer odometer, tubular bumpers, and a split front windshield with wind wings. On the right side of the running board is a drum-closed spotlight mounted on a pedestal.

Dr. M. Dow Scholl of Chillicothe, Ohio acquired the car in 1951 from Mr. Stein. The next owner was Jack Scheve of Fairfield, Ohio who purchased it in 1972, followed by Mr. Thomas Lester of Florida in 1983. Matt and Barbara Browning, Ogden, Utah was the next owner, followed by Richard C. Paine Jr. of Seal Cove, Maine. The current owner acquired it in 2008.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016