This is a beautiful 1929 Rolls-Royce Springfield Phantom I All
Weather Cabriolet that was bodied by Locke and Company and then
later updated by Rolleston. This Town Car was specially ordered new
for one of the wealthiest families in America, the Fahnestocks of
the Oppenheimer financial empire. Ordered on the heels of the Great
Depression, this Rolls-Royce cost $20,000 in 1929. Today, the Town
Car presents itself beautifully as an older restoration that can be
used for concours or touring. S195FR has been registered with the
RROC for the past 70 years!S195FR drives very well and would be a
delight for touring. HISTORY: S195FR comes with a wonderful file
history spanning its entire life. William Fahnestock ordered it
from his office at 2 Wall Street and their Manhattan home at 457
Fifth Ave. According to the extensive correspondence between the
Fahnestocks and Rolls-Royce of America, S195FR was custom ordered
to be a special long wheelbase of 150 inches. This was because
S195FR was replacing their 1914 Silver Ghost (37CD), which had its
151 inch wheelbase. 37CD was used as a trade in while specifying
that they could continue enjoying it until S195FR was delivered.
Ultimately, Rolls-Royce built S195FR as a special order 148 inch
wheelbase (according to letters the front axle was moved back 1.5
inches), which is likely a unique specification. In 1927, the
Fahnestocks built what is said to be the last of the great Newport
mansions, the Charles A. Platt designed Bois Dore on Narragansett
Avenue . S195FR was delivered on July 8, 1929 to their estate in
Katonah, NY. The next documented owner was HL Cook from Ohio which
submitted his ownership of S195FR to the RROC records on November
3, 1952. Mr. Cook was a significant collector and an active member
of the RROC. S195FR appeared in the Flying Lady (FL266) in 1956. By
1963, the Town Car was acquired by Harry TN Graves from Virginia.
Mr. Graves was also a significant collector of Rolls-Royces and
owned it for 30 years. Its last owner, Mr. John B Kinkead of St,
Paul, MN acquired it in 1994. RESTORATION: Mr. Kinkead was a noted
collector that enjoyed driving and touring his classics. S195FR was
no exception. Mr. Kinkead invested about $100,000 in its
restoration relying on many of the top names including: Coldwell
Engineering, Bill Cooke, Leanard Reece Co in the UK and Odyssey
Restorations, Inc in Spring Lake Park, MN. The restoration was from
2003 through 2009 and resulted in the beautiful example we are
presenting today. The restoration receipts are included in the
history file. S195FR was an early Springfield Phantom I with the
smaller grille, manual vertical radiator shutters, drum headlights,
dual side mounts and the attractive rounded chromed pipe bumpers.
Being a later Springfield Phantom, S195FR was one of the first
Phantoms with chrome rather than nickel and is left hand drive. In
total, 1,241 Springfield Phantom I's were produced. The body and
fenders are believed to be original to the car, but it is said that
in the mid 1930s it was sent to Rollston of New York to have the
original fenders "skirted" to give it a more updated appearance.
EXTERIOR: The livery is an elegant two-tone blue that is in overall
nice enough for most concours events but what we refer to as
touring quality. The paint presents itself with very nice shine and
luster but has many small touched up chips and a few small cracks.
The chrome has largely been redone and in very good to excellent
condition with some signs of wear. The black vinyl top looks
correct and in very nice condition. The original trunk with three
fitted suitcases is still original and in beautiful condition. The
glass is all excellent having been replaced during the restoration.
INTERIOR: The chauffeur's compartment of the interior is black
leather that is in very nice condition. It is very correct and soft
and supple. The dash is original and in very nice condition. There
is carpet that appears to be original in front and it is in nice
condition. The rear compartment is in tan wool broadcloth and
features a full rear seat with a divider armrest and a full jump
seat for one additional passenger. The tan carpeting is also wool
and in very nice condition. S195FR was ordered with dual vanities
and a cigar lighter and additionally has a Motor Dictograph and a
sliding division window. The rear passenger area has two vanities
which include a beautiful cigarette case, lighter, pen set, bottles
and other items befitting such a car. The wood inside the
passenger's compartment is also in nice condition. Overall, the
interior has a consistent patina with the rest of the Phantom I. It
is very presentable and correct for touring and regional shows.
S195FR comes with its original luggage trunk with three suitcases
and its canvas cover, all in very nice original condition.
DRIVETRAIN: The engine and engine compartment are very impressive
and in beautiful condition. The engine was replaced with a correct
series SPI 7,668 cc six-cylinder inline engine with its 4-speed
transmission (Engine No. 23006). The gauges all appear to work well
including the speedometer, oil pressure, temperature, amp meter and
fuel gauge. The clock is not working but is correct and original to
the car. The drivetrain was completely restored during the
restoration including the engine, transmission, suspension, Bjur
lubrication, radiator, etc. The chassis is well detailed for a tour
car and appropriate for show. The Phantom drives very well with
cool operating temperatures and great oil pressure. We have
serviced the oil, lubricated the chassis and completely serviced
the carburetor. For more details and information please call, text
or email Harry Clark at 1.602.245.7200 or
[email protected]. The Phantom I is available for viewing
in our Phoenix showroom.
