Vehicle Description
For More Information, visit: A Legend Born in America: The Story of
S335RL When Rolls-Royce established its American subsidiary in
Springfield, Massachusetts in 1919, it marked the start of a bold
new venture. By 1921, the first American-built Silver Ghost was
complete, carrying forward the marque's impeccable standards while
tailoring details to suit American tastes. Subtle but significant
changes appeared: left-hand drive layouts, American Bosch or
Westinghouse electrical systems, fuel pumps replacing the British
Autovac, and refinements like drum headlamps and tubular bumpers.
Over the next decade, most Springfield-built Silver Ghosts received
bodies from either Brewster or Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork. Among
these, the Piccadilly roadster emerged as one of the most coveted
designs - a sleek two-seater convertible with side curtains, a
rumble seat, and unmistakable open-air charisma. Of the Silver
Ghosts built in America, just 79 were dressed in this elegant
style. Chassis S335RL: An Extraordinary Life Completed in June
1926, chassis S335RL began life as a company demonstrator and
trials car. Rolls-Royce routinely used certain cars to test new
parts and improvements; when these experiments proved successful,
the updates often made their way into production models. After two
years in this role, the car was comprehensively refreshed at the
factory and sold on December 28, 1928, to its first private owner,
A.J. Davis of St. Louis, Missouri. Its sale price was a remarkable
$13,450 - at a time when the average American earned less than half
that in a year. S335RL passed through the hands of several notable
custodians over the decades. Edward M. Bergen acquired it in 1937,
followed by John B. Davis of Missouri and then Carroll Vail, a
prominent St. Louis collector and then-president of the Rolls-Royce
Owners' Club. Vail later sold the car to Conrad Karras, who
famously drove it on the 1973 Alpine Tour - a challenging European
rally known for steep mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. The
car later joined the esteemed collection of William B. Ruger, the
founder of Ruger Firearms and an avid Rolls-Royce enthusiast. Ruger
kept the car until his estate sale in 2002, after which it
underwent a significant mechanical restoration. Work included
installing two new cylinder blocks, rebuilding the gearbox, brakes,
front axle, and kingpins - overseen by the respected Frank Cooke's
Vintage Garage. Revived for the Road The next owner, then president
of the Silver Ghost Association, added a Gear Vendors overdrive for
modern touring capability and a stainless-steel exhaust system. In
2003, he and his wife entered the car in a reenactment of the
historic Alpine Trials - a grueling, three-week European trek that
included the formidable Stelvio Pass between Austria and Italy. The
car completed the journey flawlessly. In 2022, S335RL found a new
caretaker, who entrusted Rolls-Royce specialist Steve Littin of
Vintage and Auto Rebuilds (Chardon, OH) as well as RM Auto
Restoration (Blenheim, ON), to perform a comprehensive service. Six
brand new wire wheels were fitted, shod with Excelsior radial
tires. Discreet LED headlamp and sidelight conversions were made
within the original housings for improved night driving. The
period-correct tail lamps were retained and made fully functional,
with the addition of subtle turn signals for added safety. Several
other mechanical repairs were completed including rebuilt wheel
bearings and seals, wiper motors, clock, cooling fan, steering gear
and column. Newly fitted, water pump, fuel pump and lines,
alternator/generator, battery, clutch, exhaust, brake booster and
more. Further updates included a new convertible top and side
curtains, a fresh period-style trunk, and reupholstered black
leather front seats, rubber flooring with leather binding. The
entire body was refinished in a striking black ov
