Vehicle Description
After the Silver Ghost had fully cemented Rolls-Royce's status as
constructor of the world's finest motorcars, the company began the
difficult task of engineering a worthy replacement. The Silver
Ghost chassis was incredibly over-designed and built to a standard
that was virtually unmatched by its rivals, so the task of
improving it would be certainly be a challenge. Rolls-Royce had to
make sure the new car lived up to the lofty standards it had set
with the Silver Ghost, and far exceed the demands of their
exclusive clientele. The Ghost's replacement was developed in
intense secrecy, with the project even gaining a code name of
"Easter Armoured Car" to throw off potential industrial spies. Once
revealed, the New Phantom made headlines with its 7.7 liter
inline-six, a development of the Ghost's unit but heavily reworked
to feature advanced pushrod-actuated overhead valves. The block was
cast in alloy, with the cylinder head cast in iron on early cars,
which was switched to aluminum alloy after 1928 to correct
corrosion issues. Suspension, steering and brakes were an evolution
of the Ghost's but thoroughly improved to provide more modern ride
and handling and to ensure stopping power in keeping with the new,
more powerful engine. Thanks to the success of the Silver Ghost, an
assembly plant had already been established in Springfield,
Massachusetts to build cars specifically for American buyers. The
New Phantom debuted in 1925 (only renamed Phantom I following the
arrival of the Phantom II), and by 1926, they were leaving the
Springfield works to very strong demand. A vast array of catalog
body styles were offered, with the famous coachbuilders at Brewster
getting a large number of contracts for the Springfield cars, which
was only natural as Brewster had come under the control of Rolls
Royce in 1925. Between 1926 and 1931, 1,241 Phantom 1s left the
Springfield works. One of the most handsome and elegant Brewster
designs for the Phantom 1 was the All Weather Phaeton; officially
known as the Newmarket in Brewster's catalog. In the tradition of
the American convertible sedan, the Newmarket is full convertible
that when open, looks like a sporting Phaeton, but is fitted with
roll up glass windows and foldable B-pillars that when in place,
lend the appearance of a formal sedan and provide excellent
protection from unpleasant weather. This fine example is chassis
number S138FR, a 1929 model that benefits from many of the factory
upgrades made through the course of production, including the
desirable alloy cylinder head. According to the Schoellkopf Card
provided by the Rolls Royce Owner's Club, this car was originally
delivered to a Mrs. C. Rosenbloom of New York, and fitted with an
Etoile body. The car was sold in 1931 and, as was common practice,
a new body was fitted to suit the new owner's tastes. In this case,
it was refitted with the elegant Brewster Newmarket body it still
wears today. Finished elegantly in all-black livery with a striking
polished reveal, this handsome motorcar wears an older restoration
that does shows some light patina in places, yet remains very
attractive. The quality of the restoration is very good, with
excellent panel fit and fine detailing. A CCCA 1st Place badge
attests to the fact that the car was restored properly when it was
done. It is well accessorized with dual sidemount spare wheels,
dual horns, and a covered trunk on the original trunk rack.� The
black paintwork is in fine order, with good quality bodywork
lending straight and deep reflections. Subtle red coachstripes
accent the black and polished alloy beautifully. Inside, black
leather trim is attractive and lightly care worn, showing some use
since the restoration. Seats, carpets and door cards are free of
any damage or issues, and the cabin is a marvelous place to spend a
day or more touring the countryside. Correct original
instrumentation resides in the polished wood dash and Rolls-Royce's
signature aircraft-quality switchgear remains in excellent order.
The Phantom benefits from a conventional drive arrangement, with
traditional three pedals and a center mounted gear lever, allowing
for easy operation in modern conditions. The convertible top wears
new black canvas upholstery, and the mechanism works as it should.
A matching canvas boot covers the works when in the open position
and an upholstered trunk cover ties the look together nicely. Out
on the road is where this example truly excels. The well detailed
and correctly presented 7.7 liter inline-six delivers endless
torque and exceptional smoothness, which allows drivers to simply
select top gear and motor virtually anywhere without shifting. This
car has been very well sorted and cruises effortlessly, the strong
engine backed by tight suspension and powerful brakes. Versatile
and desirable coachwork, a nicely mellowed and handsome restoration
and excellent mechanical condition come together in a wonderful
Phantom I that is a prime candidate for RROC tours, CCCA CARavan
tours, or other casual shows and events.
