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1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Most automobile manufacturers offered several models to their clients, but Rolls-Royce stuck to a 'single model' policy. When The Great War came to an end, the recession prompted Rolls-Royce to offer a smaller and less expensive 20hp car, built alongside the existing 40/50 Silver Ghost. The Henry Royce design introduced a number of modern features such as a center-change gearbox, 'Hotchkiss drive' rear axle, and an overhead valve-gear for the six-cylinder engine.

The New Phantom (retrospectively known as the Phantom I) was introduced by Rolls-Royce in 1925 and served as a replacement to the Silver Ghost. It came powered by an entirely new overhead-valve six-cylinder engine with a displacement size of 7,668cc. In a similar fashion to the contemporary 20hp model, the New Phantom had adjustable radiator shutters and a disc-type clutch replacing the old single dry plate clutch. Several changes were suggested by Sir Henry to improve the inefficient radiator, but they were opposed by several engineers at Rolls-Royce. The grille lacked aerodynamics, yet it was instantly recognizable as a Rolls-Royce trademark.

The chassis, however, was the same as the Silver Ghost and would continue basically unchanged until the introduction of the Phantom II in 1929. Just like the Silver Ghost, the New Phantom was also produced by Rolls-Royce of America Incorporated, a subsidiary set up in December of 1919 when the parent company acquired the American Wire Wheel Company's plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Production of the New Phantom at Springfield began in 1926 and by the second half of 1929 production had increased to 12 cars per week. The October 1929 Wall Street Crash would reverse the fortunes of the Springfield plant, and they were unable to finance the re-tooling needed for the Phantom II. Production of the Springfield-built Phantom I models continued until 1931. The UK-built models ran parallel with the Springfield cars but ended in 1929.

The American-built Phantom I's could be ordered with 'factory' bodywork, unlike its British-built counterpart. Most of the factory Springfield bodies were built by Brewster, which had been taken over by Rolls-Royce in December of 1925.

The New Phantom was available in two different wheelbase lengths including a 143.5-inch or 150.5-inch platform.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by Brewster

The production of the Rolls-Royce 40/50, also known as the Silver Ghost, started in 1921 in the United States to reduce manufacturing costs and void hefty import duties. In 1925, the Phantom I was introduced in Britain and a year later in the United States. It had many similarities to the Silver Ghost but had a more modern long stroke, OHV engine. Production would continue until 1931 after 1,240 examples had been built in the U.S.

This car is an American-built Phantom I Chassis from the Rolls-Royce factory in Springfield, Massachusetts. It has Newmarket coachwork by the Brewster Company, located on Long Island. Brewster was purchased by Rolls-Royce of America in the early 1920s, and it was responsible for building most of the body styles on the Phantom I. The Newmarket was a rather formal six-passenger convertible style and was very popular at the time. This car was first delivered to a Mr. Ogilvie in December 1930 toward the end of Phantom I production.

Transformable by Hibbard and Darrin
Chassis number: S317KP
Engine number: 20178

This Rolls-Royce Phantom I was presented as a gift by a director of Paramount Studios to a Hollywood actress named Marlene Dietrich as she exited a train at Pasadena Station on April 14, 1930. It is one of five Springfield-built Phantom Is with the dual-cowl Transformable Phaeton body from Parisian coachbuilders Hibbard & Darrin. The Rolls was featured alongside Dietrich in her debut Paramount film, Morocco. The Rolls-Royce was transferred from Paramount Studios to Dietrich on November 26, 1930. She rarely, if ever drove the car, instead preferring chauffeured travel with her studio-appointed driver, Harry Wright.

The car's next owner was J.R. 'Bob' Creighton whose family would retain it until 1995 when it was sold then exhibiting a partially disassembled, highly original 'barn find' state.

In 2007, the car entered the care of John O'Quinn who sent it to Rick Hamlin of Wellington, Kansas for an exacting, multi-year, six-figure restoration back to its original specifications. During the restoration process, fascinating details of Hibbard & Darrin's patented Sylentlyte cast-Alpax construction method were revealed, along with remnants of its original gold-flaked Medium Green Metallic paint.

Hibbard & Darrin's design cues include tightly nested trapezoidal windows, heavy beltline moldings, and scrolled door handles. The interior contains fine hardware, book-matched wood inlays throughout, an unusual rearview mirror, and a sporty two-piece Vee-windshield design.

When the car left the O'Quinn Collection, it moved to the Mitchell Collection of Montgomery, Texas until 2015. Under their care, it was shown at many concours events throughout the United States, including Hilton Head, Amelia Island, and Pebble Beach.

The car is currently part of the Terence E. Adderley Collection.

by Dan Vaughan

Springfield Dover Tourer by Brewster
Chassis number: S123 PR

This Springfield Rolls-Royce Phantom I, S123 PR, with a Brewster Coachworks special Dover body style, was constructed for Jacob Lang of Buffalo, NY. Unique are the Marchal headlights, the side mounted spare tires and landau bars. The car has no division since the family chaffeur was considered a friend. Mainly used by Lang's two sisters, the car had a perfume bottle for each in the rear seat armrests. Lang was a beer and bakery baron in Buffalo and had a Rolls-Royce coupe for his personal use.

The car is powered by an inline, 6-cylinder, overhead valve, 7.7 liter (7,670 cc), engine producing 113 horsepower to propel the 5,700 pound vehicle to a top speed of 75 mph. Production of these cars reached a peak of 12 units per week before the stock market crash, and sold for about $19,000 an outrageous sum for the period.

Touring by Brewster
Chassis number: S126PR
Engine number: B5750

This Brewster-bodied Rolls-Royce Phantom I Newmarket was given a restoration in the 1990s. It was entered in the Primary Division at the 1998 CCCA Grand Classic Annual meet where it won first place. It has its CCCA Senior Badge number 2227.

The six-cylinder engine breaths through a single updraft carburetor and produces 100 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes.

At the 2010 Gooding & Company Auction held at Amelia Island, Florida, the car was estimated to sell for $190,000 - $230,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $170,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Newmarket Tourer by Brewster
Chassis number: S484MR

Arthur M. Loew took delivery of this Phantom I Newmarket on June 3rd of 1930 in New York City, NY. As the only formal, fully open Brewster model, the Newmarket was a specialty for the ultra-wealthy. It was finished in black with clean black wheel discs and minimal chrome.

The next owner was D. Rosenheim in June of 1946. The following year, the car was in the care of an E.M. Wurzel. On March 30th of 1949, the Phantom I again changed hands to a New York resident, Judson H. Cox IV of Macy's department store fame. John W. Straus, owner of R.H. Macy & Co. subsequently purchased the car from Mr. Cox.

Mr. Straus owned the car for 62-years. Currently, the car is original and proudly displays its age.

In 2011, the car was brought to Pebble Beach and offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction. It was estimated to sell for $85,000 - $125,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $99,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Springfield Tourer by Brewster

This Phantom I open touring car, one of thirty built by Brewster, was first sold to a New York stockbroker. It has the rare rounded fenders and open top as found on the very best Rolls-Royce of the period. It has retained all its original features and made its concours debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Phantom I, introduced in 1925 as the New Phantom, was Rolls-Royce's second 40/50 hp model. To differentiate between the two, Rolls-Royce called the new model the New Phantom and renamed the old model the Silver Ghost. New Phantoms were built in Derby in England and in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Touring by Brewster
Chassis number: S126PR
Engine number: B5750

This Rolls-Royce Phantom I Newmarket was sold on December 3rd of 1930 to the wife of Edward J. Williams of Cincinnati for the sum of $20,075.50. This was one of the last late-model Phantom I models off the US assembly line, as Rolls-Royce ceased American operations due to the Great Depression. The car would have a series of prominent owners, eventually coming into the care of Lawrence Smith, who had it completely restored in the late 1990s. After the work was completed, it won first place in the Primary Division at the 1998 CCCA Grand Classic.

Since this is a late-model example, it has many technological advances not often seen on the Springfield Phantom. This Rolls-Royce had servo-assisted brakes, a vacuum-fed fuel pump and an updated Bijur lubrication system.

This Rolls-Royce wears open 'Newmarket' coachwork from Brewster. It offers the advantages of open motoring or the elegance of a closed top. It is finished in navy blue paint, has its original coachwork, original mechanical components, and has achieved Senior Award Status at national events.

by Dan Vaughan

York Roadster by Brewster
Chassis number: S111FR
Engine number: 21118

This Rolls-Royce Phantom I wears York Roadster coachwork in the style of Brewster. Enfield Restorations in Enfield, Connecticut undertook the restoration and coach building. It is finished in two-tone green and has a tan cloth top.

by Dan Vaughan

Windblown Coupe by Brewster
Chassis number: S132PR

In 1921, Rolls-Royce opened a new factory in Springfield, Massachusetts to build its famous Silver Ghost cars. After building 1,701 Ghosts the model was supplanted by New 40/50 hp Phantom (later known as the Phantom I) in 1925.

In the Pre-War era, Rolls-Royce did not make bodies for its cars. Customers could choose bespoke coachwork from any coachbuilder, but American customers were encouraged by the factory to choose Brewster Coachwork because Rolls-Royce had a financial interest in the coachbuilder.

The Phantom employed a new pushrod-OHV straight-6 engine displacing 7,668cc's. Constructed as two groups of three cylinders with a single detachable head, the engine was described by Rolls-Royce as producing 'sufficient' power. Features included adjustable radiator shutters and a disc-type clutch replacing the old single dry plate clutch.

The chassis is the same as the Silver Ghost and would continue unchanged until the Phantom II in 1929. Just like the Silver Ghost, the New Phantom was also produced by Rolls-Royce of America. This was a subsidiary set up in December of 1919, when the parent company acquired the American Wire Wheel Company's plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.

This unusual-looking Springfield-made Phantom I Brewster Coupe is known as the 'Windblown Coupe' because of its unique rear-slanted body style - although, when it was presented, it was named the 'Super Sport.' The 2-door, 4-passenger Phantom I boasts laminated running boards, Marchal headlamps, and diamond-pleated broadcloth upholstery. The body was originally designed for the new and as-yet-unseen Phantom II chassis but due to production difficulties, this Phantom I chassis was made available just in time for the car's debut at the New York Auto Show titled 'The Aristocracy of Motordom,' held at the Commodore Hotel in November 1929. The body was built by Brewster and publicity photos were taken on the windswept roof of Brewster's New York showroom. This Rolls-Royce has been in the same family (three generations) for 40 years.

Derby Dual Cowl Tourer
Chassis number: S402MR
Engine number: 22029

14 Derby Tourer were built and currently, 11 examples survive. Four nearly identical Speedster versions were also constructed. This particular example, a Dual Cowl Derby Tourer, was one of the last Phantom Ones built and the last of the Derby Tourers. Late production features include the C.M. Hall torpedo head and sidelights which replaced the earlier 'drum' design.

The original owner of this example Mrs. Margaret Dunlop of Amsterdam, New York, who received it two days before Valentine's Day 1930 and would retain it for seven years. It then passed to another New York state resident, first with another lady, Mrs. Dorothy Tuckerman then in March 1939 it passed into the possession of Francis DeBeixedon of Easthampton. Its next owner, F. Ryden Skinner of Alta Lodge, Utah, acquired it in 1945 and brought it across the country. The next year it traveled farther, to San Diego, and into the care of Lester P. Wegeforth.

By 1966 it was in the ownership of James Leake of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and remained in his stable until 1990 when it was acquired by Mr. Robert M. Lee at auction.

It currently wears an older restoration that is finished in a chestnut hue, with matched fenders coach-lined in cream and rides on whitewall tires. There is an off-white top and covered trunk. Features include the chrome radiator, dual windshields and the aluminum trim swage molding. The interior is finished in burgundy hides. The 7,668cc overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine has a single carburetor and delivers 100 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission, four-wheel servo-assisted drum brakes, and a semi-elliptical leaf spring front suspension with a cantilever spring setup in the rear.

by Dan Vaughan

Salamanca by Hibbard and Darrin
Chassis number: S476MR
Engine number: 22769

The New Phantom was introduced by Rolls-Royce in 1925 and featured an entirely new overhead-valve six-cylinder engine with a 7,668cc displacement size and, like the contemporary 20hp model, adopted a disc-type clutch and adjustable radiator shutters. The chassis, however, remained essentially the same as the Silver Ghost and would remain fundamentally unchanged until the Phantom II arrived in 1929 with an entirely new frame.

Rolls-Royce of America Incorporated subsidiary was established in December 1919 when the parent company acquired the American Wire Wheel Company's plant in Springfield, Massachusetts. Like its Silver Ghost predecessor, the New Phantom was available with Springfield construction. The Wall Street Crash in October of 1929 reversed the momentum, and the cost of re-tooling for the Phantom II was too steep, signaling the beginning of its decline. Phantom I production lasted for five years and the Derby-built models ran parallel with the Springfield cars but ended in 1929, whereas the Americans continued until 1931.

This particular Springfield Phantom wears Salamanca coachwork by Hibbard & Darrin. It was built for Louis A. Mitchell of Evanston, Illinois, and delivered on May 14, 1931. It remained in Chicago for many years, later joining the garage of inventor Walter Goodman of Skokie. By the late 1990s, it was in Southern California and restored around 2000 by restorer Stu Laidlaw.

Over the next decade, the Salamanca was used sparingly before the engine was rebuilt in 2009 by Rolls-Royce specialist Roger Ford.

The current owner acquired the Rolls-Royce in January of 2010. It currently wears polished aluminum bodywork offset by is blue paintwork and a matching blue top. The 7,668cc overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine has a single carburetor and delivers 100 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. There is a three-speed manual transmission, four-wheel servo-assisted drum brakes, and a semi-ellitpical leaf springs suspension with rear cantilever springs.

by Dan Vaughan

Regent Cabriolet by Brewster

It was 1925, and the fabled Silver Ghost, which had been launched in 1906, was being retired. After seven years of experiment and test, the 40/50 horsepower six-cylinder Phantom chassis was introduced. The New Phantom, as it was called, received the Phantom I designation retrospectively when the Phantom II appeared on the scene in 1930. From 1926 until as late a 1931, the American version of the Phantom I was produced in Springfield, Massachusetts. Of the 3,340 Phantom I's produced, 1,241 were built stateside, including this car which wears a Regent Convertible Coupe body by Brewster; one of 22 produced. It has just 22,000 miles from new and remains in original, unrestored condition. It was delivered new on November 19, 1929 to Charles F. Glore, a Chicago banker, who also served as a director of the Studebaker Corporation.

Ascot Tourer by Brewster
Chassis number: S401MR
Engine number: 22019

The Rolls-Royce New Phantom was introduced in 1925 as a replacement for the long-lived Silver Ghost. At its heart, a new overhead-valve six-cylinder engine displaced 7,668cc.

The New Phantom could be ordered with 'factory' bodywork, usually by coachbuilders Brewster & Company. Brewster had built its own automobiles from 1915 up to the time of its acquisition by Rolls-Royce. With design input from sales manager J.S. Inskip, the list of bodies included the Ascot sport phaeton, the New York roadster, the Regent convertible coupe, and the closed Avon sedan.

This particular New Phantom was built in Springfield, Massachusetts, and originally wore a Huntington Limousine body. It was sold new to a Margaret Wallin from New York in 1930, who kept it until 1957 when it was sold to a Mr. Matthews, also from New York. In 1976, Drew Anderson acquired the car from Mr. Matthews.

The Rolls-Royce remained in the Anderson family for over three decades, long after Mr. Anderson's passing. It rested patiently in a barn for many years until it was acquired by the current caretaker in June 2009. The current owner, along with his father Giuseppe Fusco, had a passion for restoring classic Rolls-Royce automobiles. The car was then transported to Germany, where it underwent a nut & bolt restoration with no expense spared by a Rolls-Royce specialist. The bodywork was crafted in Italy, drawing upon original documents and measurements from other Ascot Phaeton Tourers. It was given an original Midnight Blue Rolls-Royce color, and the interior and roof were crafted from Chesterfield design leatherwork. Custom-made side windows and a trunk for storage in front of the rear luggage compartment were added, and the 1930s-style trunk was reupholstered and restored. The six chrome wire-spoke wheels were made in England and wrapped with new tires.

Upon its restoration competition, the car was shown at the international Concours in Schwetzingen, where it claimed victory in Class C. In 2017, it won again at the Schwetzingen Concours, securing not only the Class C award but also second place in the Best of Show category, along with the Classic Gala Trophy.

This 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer is powered by a 7,668cc overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine breathing through a single Rolls-Royce carburetor. It produces 113 horsepower at 2,300 RPM and has a three-speed manual transmission, four-wheel drum brakes, and a leaf spring suspension.

by Dan Vaughan

Transformable by Hibbard and Darrin
Chassis number: S317KP
Engine number: 20178

It was 1925 and the fabled Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which had been launched in 1906, was being retired. After seven years of testing, the six-cylinder Phantom chassis was introduced. The New Phantom, as it was called, received the Phantom I designation retrospectively when the Phantom II appeared on the scene in 1930. From 1926 until as late as 1931, Phantom I's were built in Springfield, Massachusetts, in addition to those in England. Of the total 3,340 Phantom I's produced, 1,241 were built stateside.

This Hibbard and Darrin Rolls-Royce is unique because it is a 'one of a kind' body. The windshield is not only split, but it is also 'vee' shaped. It is believed Hibbard and Darrin built this car to be unique under the instruction of Joseph Von Sternberg, Marlene Dietrich's director, who was responsible for bringing her to Hollywood. He purchased the car under instructions from Paramount Studios, who paid for it. The car was presented to Miss Dietrich along with a dozen roses and $10,000 in a checking account when she arrived in Hollywood. The car was used in several of her movies, including 'Morocco.' The green gold-flaked paint is the original color, which was duplicated by PPG and applied to the car. With a powerful 7.7 liter, 113 horsepower, six-cylinder engine and luxuriously appointed interior, it is no wonder this car remained her favorite car for many years.

This is one of 35 Phantom I's to wear coachwork to varying styles by Hibbard & Darrin. Howard 'Dutch' Darrin designed and held a patent for the Torpedo Transformable Phaeton of this model, which features distinctive trapezoidal-shaped side windows.

Although the Silver Ghost had been constantly improved over its life span, by the 1920's other manufacturers had begun to close the performance gap, and the decision was made to produce a new car.

By 1925, the New Phantom (retrospectively called the Phantom I when the Phantom II was introduced in 1929) was ready.

A new chassis had not been built so the car used the Ghost chassis. This meant that initially the only difference between the Ghost and the New Phantom was the method of mounting the steering column on the chassis and the new power unit. The six-cylinder overhead valve engine was similar in many ways to the Twenty, but was of 7,668cc. This was over twice the capacity of the little Twenty at 3,127cc.

The Phantom had been prepared in great secrecy, as would its namesake be, 70 years later. During its development the car was codenamed EAC, which stood for Easter Armored Car. Pieces of armor plating were even left around the factory to lend credence to this cover-up story.

Two chassis lengths were offered, the standard being 190.25 inches (4.83m) with a 196.75 inches (4.99m) version for more formal coachwork.

A special open sporting body was fitted to the fourth experimental chassis and even though the New Phantom's engine performed better than that of the Silver Ghost, the New Phantom was found to have a slightly lower top speed. This led to Rolls-Royce testing at Brooklands to investigate the effect of weight and, more importantly, of aerodynamics in relation to performance. With completely redesigned bodywork, this car subsequently ran at around 100 mph.

by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

by Rolls-Royce

Rolls Royce launched the new Phantom in May of 1925. Rolls-Royce's replacement for the original Silver Ghost, the Phantom was built in both the U.K. and the U.S. following a year later in introduction and two years in replacement. Usually listed as Phantom I, it featured a new pushrod-OHV straight- 6 engine, which was a vast improvement over the Silver Ghost. The engine was constructed with three groups of two cylinders with detachable heads, and produced impressive power that could pull the large, very heavy vehicle. This engine utilized a '4¼ in (107.9 mm) bore and long 5½ in (139.7 mm) stroke for a total of 7.7 L (7668 cc/467 in³) of displacement'. In 1928, aluminum was substituted for cast iron in the cylinder heads.

The front was suspended by semi-elliptical springs while cantilever springs were utilized in the rear. Though some original U.S. models lacked front brakes, 4-wheel servo-assisted brakes were also specified.

UK models featured a long-wheelbase model that was longer at 3822.7 mm than the American version at 3721.1 mm. Other differences between the two models included the transmission, while the UK models used a 4-speed while US models used a 3-speed transmission, both with a single dry-plate clutch. The US Phantoms were constructed in Springfield, Massachusetts while UK models were built at Rolls' Derby factory.

A total of 226 Rolls-Royce Phantom I's were produced during its production span.

by Jessican Donaldson

Background

Frederick Henry Royce was an engineer and the Honorable Charles Stewart Rolls was a man with many talents. He was an aviator, driver, and automobile enthusiasts. In the world of business, he excelled at marketing.

The Rolls-Royce Company began its distinguished career in the early 1900's, focusing on quality and performance. During 1905 and 1906, forty vehicles were produced, all with four-cylinder engines producing 20 horsepower.

1906 was a big year for the young company, with Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce officially registering the Rolls-Royce Limited Company. The legendary 40/50 six-cylinder Silver Ghost was introduced with much acclaim. During the same year, Rolls and Royce entered the Tourist Trophy Race, one of the most prestigious events of the time. Their powerful and durable car outran the rest of pack, beating the nearest competitor by 27 minutes. In 1907 the company further showcased their vehicles durability by participating in a 15,000 mile reliability event.

In a time when maintenance and durability were on the minds of every consumer, Rolls-Royce left their buyers with peace of mind. To add even more prestige to their vehicles, the vehicles were marketed to the most elite and well-to-do in society. By supplying their vehicles to British royalty, the Rolls-Royce Company concreted their reputation in history. The cars durability was matched by its comfort; they were outfitted with luxurious bodies by some of the top coachbuilders in the industry. The engines were powerful and provided a rather smooth and comfortable ride. The engines were engineering marvels, constructed of an aluminum alloy crankcase. Instead of chains, the timing and ignition drive were both run by gears. The parts were hand polished and constructed to a high degree of accuracy. The sturdy construction meant that conversation were possible, even while the vehicle was at top speed.

The 40/50 HP Silver Ghost models were sold for a period of fifteen years as the companies only offering. By 1922, the Rolls-Royce Company began offering the Twenty which was offered to a larger market, though still very exclusive. Competition such as Hispano Suiza had caught up with Rolls-Royce by 1925; Rolls-Royce responded. Development began on a more modern version of its Silver Ghost engine that would be more powerful and durable. The stroke was enlarged providing a greater increase in horsepower. The resulting vehicle was named the '40/50 New Phantom'. When the Phantom II was introduced in 1929, the '40/50 New Phantom' was retrospectively named the Phantom I.

Phantom I

The Phantom was built in secrecy, using the code name EAC which stood for Easter Armored Car. To reinforce the code name, pieces of armor plating was intentially left around the factory. The Phantom I was the successor to the Silver Ghost and produced for only four years. Though the engine had been modified to produce more horsepower and torque, the chassis was only slightly updated. This would prove to be a major drawback for the Phantom I.

In 1921 a Rolls-Royce factory had been opened in Springfield Massachusetts with the purpose of producing Silver Ghosts that were built with traditional Rolls-Royce quality but catered to the American customer. These vehicles were known as the 'Springfield' Silver Ghosts.

A year after the Phantom was introduced, the 'Springfield' Phantom became available. The late arrival was attributed to necessary modifications, such as converting to left hand drive. The Springfield plant continued Rolls-Royce production until 1931, when the American factory was closed.

by Rolls-Royce