Vehicle Description
The Silver Ghost was the car that fully established Rolls-Royce as
the undisputed king of fine automobiles. The Ghost was
over-engineered to a standard that was unmatched by its rivals and
often wore the finest bodies from the most respected coachbuilders
the world over. When a replacement was due, Rolls-Royce made sure
the new car lived up to the lofty standards it had set with the
Silver Ghost. The new car was developed in secret, and even code
named "Easter Armoured Car" to throw off potential spies. The
Phantom, as it would become known, featured an all-new 7.7 liter
inline-six with very advanced overhead valves and pushrods. The
block was cast in alloy, with cast iron cylinder heads. Suspension,
steering and brakes were an evolution of the Ghost's but thoroughly
improved to provide more modern ride and handling. Thanks to the
success of the Silver Ghost, an assembly plant had already been
established in Springfield, Massachusetts to build cars that
catered to American clientele. The Phantom debuted in 1925, 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. All told, 1,241 Phantom 1s left
the Springfield works from 1926 to 1931. This handsome Phantom 1
wears highly desirable All Weather Phaeton coachwork by Brewster of
New York. Officially known as the "Newmarket" style in the
Rolls-Royce catalog, it is full convertible that features roll up
glass windows and folding B-pillars to remain weather tight in all
conditions. Regardless of how it is presented, it is incredibly
handsome and a very desirable body style. Chassis S126PR was
delivered new to Mrs. E.J. Williams of Cincinnati, Ohio in December
of 1930. A very high specification car with pricey coachwork, it
set Mrs. Williams back a staggering $20,075.50 - an equivalent to
nearly $300,000 in today's numbers. As would be the case with such
an automobile, a large portion of that invoice covered the cost of
the Brewster-built coachwork. Brewster was favored by Rolls-Royce
for their Springfield-built cars as they were one of a select few
coachbuilders that could truly live up to the standard set by
Rolls-Royce in terms of both quality and elegance. As a late
specification Phantom 1 (Phantom II production had already
commenced in Derby in 1929), chassis number S126PR benefits from
the full array of running changes made during P1 production. These
improvements included four-wheel servo-assisted brakes, Bijur
chassis lubrication system, and a vacuum fed fuel tank, all of
which help to make this an extremely enjoyable motorcar to drive.
Given the considerable cost of entry and magnificent coachwork, it
is unsurprising to discover this fabulous car has been extremely
well-maintained and cherished from new. It retains its original
coachwork and remains correct and authentic in mechanical
specification. The chassis number is found stamped in to the
convertible top frame, confirming it retains the original body, and
comprehensive documentation related to its history is on file with
the Rolls Royce Owner's Club. A full restoration was undertaken in
the 1990s by then owner and a marque expert, Lawrence Smith of
Kansas. Following its restoration, it received a First Place award
in the Primary Division of the 1998 AACA Grand Classic Annual Meet.
Following its time with Mr. Smith, it was most recently part of two
prominent East Coast collections, where it was used regularly,
shown successfully in a variety of Concours d'Elegance and lovingly
maintained by respected specialists. Today, S126PR looks positively
resplendent in navy blue over silver finders and color-coordinated
wheel discs. The body and paint are finished to an extremely high
standard and still present exceptionally well considering the
restoration is approaching two decades old. A matching trunk
residing on the truck rack has been detailed with subtle red coach
stripes to mirror those on the wheel discs. Like the body, the blue
leather interior is also finished to a high standard and remains in
outstanding order since the restoration.� The color combination
along with the blue leather, polished wood trim and chrome
detailing impart a bit of a nautical feel, particularly when
presented with the roof and windows open. It is a stunning and
elegant machine in any configuration. The magnificent 7.7 liter
inline six presents in beautiful condition. In spite of the regular
and careful use in the past few years, it remains exceptionally
tidy and retains correct detailing throughout, having been recently
detailed and prepared. The sound and sorted mechanicals in
combination with the versatile coachwork make Mrs. Williams'
Newmarket an ideal choice for CCCA, RROC or AACA touring. Fabulous
history and exquisite cosmetics simply add to the appeal.