1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer In the style of Brewster | RM Sotheby's | The Arizona Auction

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Arizona Auction event, 28 - 29 January 2027.
Offered Without Reserve | $150,000 - $200,000 USD

• Desirable Springfield-built Rolls-Royce, made in the USA
• Delivered new to Mrs. J.W. Cushing of Garden City, New York with Kenilworth Sedan coachwork by Brewster
• Restored in the 1980s by Enfield Auto Restoration of Connecticut, including building an Ascot Tourer body in the style of Brewster
• Shown at the 1986 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it won First in Class for European and American Classic New Coachwork
• Formerly part of The Robert Atwell, Jr. Collection and Gordon R. Granger Collection, and now offered from The Groendyke Collection
• A Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic

There was little doubt that Rolls-Royce’s Silver Ghost represented a tough act to follow, but the New Phantom proved a worthy successor. The New Phantom, later referred to as the Phantom I, debuted in 1925 with a commanding 7.7-liter six-cylinder engine featuring advanced pushrod overhead valves. The new flagship delivered a quiet, smooth performance that became the absolute envy of the automotive world. While examples for European clients were built in Rolls-Royce’s Derby factory, the American elite would receive cars built at Rolls-Royce of America’s facility in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Chassis number S 205 KR was a Springfield-built Rolls-Royce Phantom I completed with Kenilworth Sedan coachwork, one of 35 examples produced by Brewster. The car was delivered on 13 September 1929 to Mrs. J.W. Cushing of Garden City, New York, an affluent suburb of Long Island 20 miles east of New York City.

Its ownership history picks up in Pennsylvania in the early 1950s, first with Murray Early of Philadelphia in 1951, then P.H. Shavney, Jr. of Springfield in 1952, and then Henry K. Yocom of Reading in 1953. By 1958 it was noted as being owned by Dan J. Bihler of Moundsville, West Virginia, before returning to the Keystone state in 1960 under the ownership with R.T. Sendell of Greensburg, just southeast of Pittsburg. The Phantom I was subsequently acquired in 1962 by Alexander Dunbar Speer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and by 1970 the Kenilworth Sedan coachwork by Brewster is noted as having been removed and placed on another Rolls-Royce.

In September 1971 the Rolls-Royce was acquired from Mr. Speer by Robert Atwell, Jr. of Houston, Texas, joining an impressive stable of pre-war Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. In the 1980s, Mr. Atwell commissioned Jon P. Abrahamson’s Enfield Auto Restoration in Connecticut to produce an Ascot Tourer body, a beautiful dual-cowl phaeton design offered in period by Brewster, and one of the most desirable body styles on the Springfield Phantom I. The restoration was completed in May 1986, with invoices on file. It was subsequently shown by Mr. Atwell at the 1986 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it won First in Class for European and American Classic New Coachwork, an achievement celebrated by the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club in the following issue of the Flying Lady.

Later the Rolls-Royce joined the collection of Gordon R. Granger of Texas, who went on to own the car until his passing. It was subsequently sold through his estate and later acquired by The Groendyke Collection in the Fall of 2024. Since acquisition, Mr. Groendyke had the car converted to 12-volt electrics and had an EZ Electric Power Steering unit installed, improving low-speed maneuverability and overall ease of use.

A stunning older restoration, this beautiful Phantom I has lived a life of luxury for nearly four decades, gracing three private collections. Now sporting what many revere as the most desirable body style on the Springfield Phantom I chassis, its exceptional craftsmanship is further distinguished by its past Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class win.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/az27/.