1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Dual Cowl Phaeton

This handsome Rolls-Royce Phantom, according to John Webb De Campi's book 'Rolls-Royce in America' was delivered new to Mrs. J.W. Crew of Garden City, New York, on September 13, 1929, with Close Coupled Sedan coachwork by Kenilworth. While in the noted collection of Rich Atwell Sr. the car was fitted with a dashing phaeton body beautifully crafted by Jon Abrahamson. Mr. Atwell had acquired many parts from a previous collector and set about making good use of those factory original parts by commissioning Jon Abrahamson of Enfield Auto Restorations in Connecticut to masterfully craft a new body for chassis S205KR. The body selected was perhaps the loveliest of all of Brewster's creations, the Ascot Dual Cowl Phaeton. At the time of his ownership, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance had begun their new coachwork class with this example being an ideal candidate. It would next find its way into the Gordon Granger collection and subsequently be displayed in a museum for many years. That museum is today the 200,000-square-foot world class auction facility of Worldwide Auctioneers in Auburn, Indiana. Several years ago it was acquired from Mr. Granger's estate where it would remain in Texas in the care of current ownership.

The catalogued bodies fitted to the American-built "Springfield" Rolls-Royce Phantom I chassis were noted for lines more gracious, elegant, and, yes, more sporting than their British counterparts. Few were more attractive than the Ascot, an open model with refined styling, including artfully flowing fenders, a nearly horizontal concave polished accent along the beltline, and a raked one-piece windshield, which was favored by socialites and film stars on both coasts. Historian John Webb de Campi's 'Rolls-Royce in America' also records production of 28 Ascot Tourer bodies, largely by Brewster and all originally mounted to Phantom I chassis. Many of these were employed as "trials cars," to be driven by prospective buyers, as they were considered to show the full potential of what an American Rolls-Royce could be.

The high caliber of its coachwork and restoration, while completed some time ago, and the attentive care it has received remains apparent today. Nonetheless, the interior upholstery does display a small amount of age-appropriate patina that adds to the old-world charm this Rolls-Royce exudes today. Presented in two shades of striking soft brown with a tan leather upholstery cloth top, its subtle design is complemented by the concave beltline indicative of the Ascot style, which in this case consists of the brightly polished underlying aluminum of the coachwork. Chrome wire wheels are mounted with blackwall tires, including the dual side-mounted tires and a tan cloth-covered luggage trunk that is fitted as well. Well-preserved, it is a particularly elegant design of a beautifully engineered motor car that is a delight to see and a pleasure to drive. The Ascot is recognized as one of Brewster's finest designs for the Springfield Phantom and this Phantom I, S205KR should be counted as the finest tribute of its kind.