Rolls-Royce 40/50 Phantom Newport Town Car 1931
General description :
The Phantom I, officially known as the New Phantom, succeeded the long-running Silver Ghost in 1925. Over the nearly two-decades of Ghost production, countless improvements were made to the engine and chassis, therefore it was of little surprise that the New Phantom would be an evolutionary step, rather than a radically new car. While the chassis remained essentially of the same design, the biggest news was under the bonnet – in the form of a new 7.7 liter inline six featuring overhead valves, replacing the Ghost’s side-valve unit. Power output was described as “adequate” by the factory – which was delivered with the exceptional smoothness their clients had come to expect.
Like the 40/50 Horsepower Silver Ghost before it, the New Phantom (retroactively named Phantom I after the introduction of the Phantom II) would be produced in parallel at Rolls-Royce of America’s Springfield, Massachusetts works. Springfield Phantoms accounted for 1,241 of the 3,453 Phantom I chassis produced. When demand was at its peak, Rolls-Royce of America purchased the legendary coachbuilder Brewster & Co. of New York. Brewster would become the exclusive supplier of catalog coachwork for Springfield-built Phantoms through the dissolution of Rolls-Royce of America in the mid-1930s. Numerous open and closed styles were offered, all built with Brewster’s typical quality and restrained elegance. Aside from the ongoing mechanical improvements, a number of late production Phantom I chassis would be delivered well after production officially ended, wearing bodies designed for the more modern Phantom I
This 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom I, chassis S209PR, is a late production example and one of just 11 Phantoms produced with this crisp and elegant Brewster “Newport” town car coachwork, a style originally intended for the Phantom II. The body exudes elegance; with a low roofline, raked windscreen and the signature Brewster “sweep” to the bonnet shut line that is highlighted in chrome. A single rear-mounted spare wheel makes for clean lines, and the subtle two-tone black and blue paintwork is understated. This car is wonderfully presented with a high-quality older restoration, backed by a meticulously compiled history file that shows a string of passionate, enthusiastic owners.
According to documents supplied by the Rolls-Royce Foundation, chassis number S209PR is the 32nd from the last Springfield car completed, and was originally delivered on January 13th 1934 to S.J. Gaines, wearing the same elegant Brewster Newport town car body it wears today. After just over a year with Mr. Gaines, S209PR was sold to Miss. Belle Bacon of Massachusetts and one short year after that, the car found a longer term home with Ira Morris Nelson and his wife Constance L. Morris (herself of the legendary de Rothschild family and the former Mrs. Paul Guggenheim). Mr. Nelson was a prominent Chicago meatpacking heir, philanthropist as well as a diplomat. The car remained with Nelson until 1946, when it was acquired by York L. Wilson of Washington D.C. The transaction is well documented with numerous letters between Mrs. Nelson’s personal secretary and Mr. Wilson.
Still very much in fine running order, the handsome Rolls-Royce remained with the Wilson family for many years. Family photos show the Phantom I with Wilson’s daughter, Minerva Wilson, while she was in college in the late 1940s – making mention that it became her unofficial class mascot! Minerva Wilson would go on to become a very prominent attorney in her own right, and one of her subsequent law partners, Stanley M. Franklin, would become the next owner of this wonderful Rolls-Royce. Mr. Franklin acquired S209PR from the Wilson family in 1978, with photos showing the car being pulled from a lockup in Washington D.C., across from the Bulgarian Embassy. The photos depict the car in complete state, still wearing its original Brewster coachwork, albeit a bit tired by this point and in need of restoration.
Stanley Franklin immediately recognized the importance and rarity of the car. He researched a great deal of the history and was an active member of the Rolls Royce Owner’s Club. Franklin commissioned the complete restoration of the car with White Post Restorations beginning in the early 1980s. By 1986, S209PR was in the hands of Robert Pell of LaHabra, California who completed the restoration to very high standards. The restoration proved to be a supremely expensive undertaking, topping $250,000. Pell, who owned the car through 2000, continued participation in the RROC, and the car would win awards with the AACA and CCCA as well.
Most recently, S209PR was part of a very important private West Coast collection, and was maintained in beautiful order both cosmetically and mechanically. The world-class restoration has developed a slight patina over the years, taking on a charm and warmth that is well-suited to the coachwork. The cabin presents in beautiful order both in the chauffeur and passenger compartments, with fine detailing and high quality finish work. The sale will include a comprehensive original tool kit, service and repair manuals, and two large binders of historical documentation. Believed to be one of just a small handful of survivors, this elegant Phantom I Brewster Newport town car remains in fine running order and will make a most welcome participant in RROC and CCCA CARavan tours.
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6078
1931 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Phantom Newport Town Car is listed sold on ClassicDigest in St. Louis by Mark Hyman for $139500.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : 40/50 Phantom Model Version : Newport Town Car Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1931 Location : Missouri
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About Rolls-Royce
Well, ladies and gentlemen, today we're diving into the illustrious history of a brand that has always embodied the very essence of British luxury and craftsmanship - Rolls-Royce.Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when two visionaries, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, decided to join forces. In 1904, the very first Rolls-Royce was born, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp. It was a modest start for a company that would go on to redefine automotive excellence.
But it wasn't until 1907 that Rolls-Royce truly made its mark with the introduction of the Silver Ghost. It was hailed as the "Best Car in the World" and set the gold standard for luxury motoring. With its whisper-quiet engine and exquisite craftsmanship, it was a statement of opulence and refinement.
The 1920s brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom I, an icon of its time. It was the first Rolls-Royce to feature a 6-cylinder engine and set the stage for the legendary Phantom line. This was the era when the Maharajas of India commissioned custom-bodied Rolls-Royces that were nothing short of automotive palaces.
Fast forward to the post-war years, and we have the Silver Cloud, a symbol of post-war British optimism. The Silver Cloud was elegance personified, with its flowing lines and handcrafted interiors. It was the choice of royalty, celebrities, and captains of industry.
But if we're talking about the epitome of Rolls-Royce luxury, it's the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which graced us with its presence from 1968 to 1991. This was a car that made the statement that "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." Customization was the name of the game, and the Phantom VI was a canvas for the world's wealthiest to express their unique tastes.
Now, it's impossible to discuss Rolls-Royce without mentioning the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Produced from 1971 to 1995, it was a convertible and coupe version of the Silver Shadow. The Corniche was the quintessential grand tourer, a car for those who wished to traverse continents in absolute luxury.
But, alas, even the mightiest must face their decline, and Rolls-Royce was no exception. The company went through financial turmoil in the 1970s and 80s, leading to the takeover by Vickers plc. Then came the controversial BMW and Volkswagen ownership period, which divided enthusiasts.
Rolls-Royce regained its footing under BMW ownership, and the new millennium brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, a return to the company's roots of uncompromising luxury. The Phantom VII was a testament to British engineering and craftsmanship.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to today. Rolls-Royce continues to produce some of the most opulent, bespoke vehicles on the planet, a symbol of British imperiousness that has not waned with time. The spirit of Sir Henry Royce and Charles Rolls lives on in every car that bears the Spirit of Ecstasy, a testament to the enduring legacy of British automotive excellence.