To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Guyton
Collection event, 4 - 5 May 2019.
Estimate:
$175,000 - $225,000
- One of the most desirable body styles on the Springfield Silver
Ghost
- Original chassis, engine, and coachwork, as delivered to the
first owner
- Well-maintained restoration in very attractive colors
- Formerly owned by golf legend and Rolls-Royce enthusiast, Gene
Littler
- Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic
As with the cars built at Derby, the majority of the American
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts produced in Springfield, Massachusetts,
carried closed coachwork that was heavy and formal, albeit
beautifully constructed and finely detailed. Lightweight sporting
bodies for the Silver Ghost were rare indeed, but they did exist.
Most prominent was the Piccadilly Roadster coachwork provided by
Massachusetts coachbuilder Merrimac under the Rolls-Royce Custom
Coach Work label.
One hundred and five examples of the Piccadilly were produced for
Springfield Silver Ghosts, followed by another 45 on the successor
Phantom I chassis. They were popular choices as second bodies on
used chassis, which makes this car, an original body Piccadilly,
particularly rare and wonderful.
Chassis no. S369RK was originally delivered with its Piccadilly
bodywork to bond dealer A.E. Fitkin of New York City on 26 July
1926, as noted in the Rolls-Royce Foundation records. By 1959, the
car had moved to the sunny shores of Honolulu, Hawaii, where it was
owned by John D. Monnett. It then passed in 1962 to Victor Erenberg
of Los Angeles, then in 1983 to the late Gene Littler, the
well-known U.S. Open-winning Hall of Fame golfer known as "Gene the
Machine" for his powerful swing. Off the green, Mr. Littler was a
true automobile enthusiast, with a particular passion for vintage
Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and counted such luminaries as William
Harrah and Phil Hill among his friends.
Chassis S369RK was later acquired in 1990 by the Blackhawk
Collection, from which it was purchased by Fred Guyton in January
1997. It has had a good home in St. Louis for the past two decades
and during that time has been seldom seen outside of private events
at Mason's Garage. Its restoration is overall well preserved, with
very good medium blue paint and a tan leather interior showing only
minor signs of age and use. Much of the exterior trim is nickel,
with prominent Bausch & Lomb drum headlights and a rolled aluminum
bumper in evidence. The rumble seat is unusually cushy and
delightful, with full folding armrests and a particularly
comfortable backrest. The chassis and engine compartment are
overall clean and well detailed.
A lovely Springfield Ghost of excellent quality, this would be a
brilliant addition to any fine Rolls-Royce collection.To view this
car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit
the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/gc19.
