1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer

The open coachwork of the Pall Mall tourer body style was provided by the Massachusetts firm Merrimac under the 'Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work' label. The American coachwork designs were often distinguishable from their British counterparts, being visually lighter, less formal, and more suited to use by owner-operators. Arguably, the American components were often better than those available in the U.K. Case-in-point, the Springfield-built Rolls-Royces soon featured American-made wire wheels, American-made Bosch magnetos and coil ignition, as well as Bijur generators and starters.

Styling features of the Pall Mall tourer included a sharp and angular front, a more rounded cabin with seating slightly elevated. The all-weather canopy collapses in a conventional 'accordion' style upon the rear bulkhead.

Between 1921 to 1926, a total of 179 examples of the Springfield-built Silver Ghosts with Pall Mall touring coachwork were built. This particular example was originally delivered to Mrs. J.B. Miller of Houston, Texas. It wore the Pall Mall Tourer coachwork by Merrimac and was equipped with a 7.5-liter, straight six-cylinder engine delivering 80 horsepower.

By the 1980s, the car resided in Michigan and subsequently passed to re-war Rolls-Royce collector S. Prestley Blake of Somers, Connecticut, who later commissioned a complete restoration. The work was completed around 2004. The car was later sold to Cornelis and Mary Frances Wentges of Naples, Florida. With Cornelis' passing in June 2006, Mary Frances subsequently sold this Pall Mall Tourer to another local enthusiast in March 2007. The car remained in their care through June 2021.

This car wears a polychrome blue exterior with matching wire wheels with a pleated black leather interior and a fabric top. It has been updated with a professionally installed Gear Vendors overdrive unit. This Rolls-Royce has been driven approximately 870 miles since the restoration was completed approximately fifteen years ago.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022