Saturday, April 13, 2013

1930: Real Springfield Phantoms

Like the Silver Ghost, Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. produced their US domestic Phantoms from Springfield, Massachusetts. These vary in detail from their English counterparts, but had the same successful engineering under their American bodies. Production began in 1926, one year after the English cars.
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer by Brewster
by sjb4photos, on Flickr

Many of the American cars came with bodies produced in house by Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork which unified the Springfield Phantoms somewhat. The purchase of Brewster & Co. in January of 1926 meant that many Phantoms were bodied in Long Island City in one of 26 distinct designs by Brewster's designer, Carl Beck.
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Drophead Coupe (originally a Lonsdale limousine by Brewster)
by Pat Durkin - Orange County, CA, on Flickr
 
Like the English Phantom, the new model greatly updated the Springfield Silver Ghost chassis and running gear. It was Rolls-Royce of America's flagship model until the Phantom II was released in 1929. Due to the high costs of factory tooling and the great depression, the Phantom II was produced exclusively in England.
1930 Rolls Royce Springfield Phantom I convertible sedan
by carphoto, on Flickr
 
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Springfield Brewster Ascot Phaeton
by Alain Schenkels, on Flickr
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