1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster

This ultra-rare Springfield Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster was first owned by famed billionaire aviator Howard Hughes.

On October 18, 1919, Rolls-Royce of America was launched in Springfield, Massachusetts. They adopted many refinements more suited to the American driver such as left-hand drive, three-speed transmission, and drum headlamps. After the 1929 stock market crash, Rolls-Royce of America was gradually liquidated until the doors were finally closed in October 1936.

Only 79 Silver Ghosts were fitted with the sporting Piccadilly Custom Coachwork body. Howard Hughes (at age 20) purchased two Piccadilly Roadsters (Rolls-Royces' term for roadster) with coachwork by Brewster during a 1924 Christmas trip to New York. He paid the list price of $13,450.00 for S135MK, twice the average American's annual income. It was delivered to him on October 5, 1925. He specified three-piece luggage - monogrammed 'HH' in gilded letters - along with a lowered windshield, custom paint, and an extensive tool roll that remains with the car.

Hughes gave the second Piccadilly Roadster, #411MF, a right-hand drive four-speed version, to his friend, actress Gloria Swanson.

Prior to the car being purchased by its current caretaker around 2014, it sat in a dank Florida barn for more than three decades. An extensive restoration has just been completed (in 2019), returning it to the original colors and condition. This car has 13,000 original miles.