7,668cc Overhead Valve Inline Six
Single Rolls-Royce Carburetor
108bhp at 2,300rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axle Suspension with Front Semi-Elliptical and Rear Cantilever Leaf Springs
Four-Wheel Servo-Boosted Mechanical Drum Brakes

* One of only 2,212 Phantom I's built
* Original chassis, engine and Barker coachwork
* Thoroughly restored and preserved
* Tasteful and elegant colors and materials
* Adaptable Cabriolet de Ville coachwork


THE ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM I

Rolls-Royce honorably (if not completely) retired the renowned 40/50hp Silver Ghost with the 1925 introduction of the New Phantom, known today as the Phantom I. The New Phantom name was a marketing strategy since there was no Phantom before the New Phantom, making Phantom I a more appropriate designation.

The Phantom I continued the chassis of its 40/50hp Silver Ghost predecessor employing a semi-elliptical leaf spring front axle and a cantilever-style leaf spring rear axle. Brakes were the same, four-wheel mechanical drums with servo assistance. The chassis was offered in two wheelbase lengths, 143 ½ inches and 150 ½ inches, essentially the same as the Silver Ghost.

The driveline was based on the same pattern as the Silver Ghost, a 4-speed sliding gear gearbox mounted separately from the engine and driving the rear axle through a torque tube enclosed driveshaft.

The six-cylinder engine, however, was newly designed with 4 ¼ inch bore and a new, longer, 5 ½ inch stroke with 7,668cc displacement. Rather than side valves and a pair of cylinder heads, the Phantom had pushrod operated overhead valves in a one-piece cylinder head. Rolls-Royce mechanical integrity and operating silence were effected with a seven main bearing crankshaft. Dual distributor/magneto ignition aided reliability and effortless performance. Rated at 40/50 RAC horsepower, the Phantom I engine is reputed by some sources to produce an actual 108 brake horsepower.

Offered by Rolls-Royce as a complete rolling chassis with coachwork to buyers' personal specifications and coachbuilders of choice designs ranged from owner/driver saloons and open cars to formal limousines and cabriolets de Ville.

The Phantom I engine proved to be more potent than the dated Silver Ghost chassis could comfortably handle and Rolls-Royce updated it in 1929 with the Phantom II's more modern chassis and suspension. Only 2,212 Phantom I's were built, making it one of the more rare of Rolls-Royce's major models.


THE CAR OFFERED

The 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I offered here is a rare, preserved and beautifully restored example with its original engine, chassis and Cabriolet de Ville coachwork by Barker. With its order placed on February the 16th 1927, and the instruction book sent to Barker on May the 26 1927. Factory records indicate that curiously this Derby built Rolls-Royce was delivered new to a W.G. Holloway who resided at 610 Park Avenue in New York City. By 1958 the Rolls-Royce had made its way north, likely on the then newly constructed I-84, and found its way up to Montreal. At this time owned by a certain J.H. Gest of which there is a fabulous photo of the car at a 1959 RROC meet.

By 1980 it was owned by Ronald B. Pickering of Montreal, at which time it was then offered for sale at $55,000, a large sum at the time. Seemingly off the back of this transaction the Phantom I would find itself with William A. Anderson of Incline Village, Nevada in 1985, and onto Harrah's there after.

Built on the long wheelbase 150 ½ inch chassis, it is righthand drive and finished in blue with black fenders and beautifully varnished wood window frames. The interior is brown leather and the folding top in beige cloth. It rides on 21" body color wire wheels with Dunlop 7.00-21 tires. Lucas headlights and dip beam light are complemented by cowl lights. A top-hinged windshield is balanced by a rollup division window. There are floor vents under the cowl behind the dual sidemount spares. It has received a quality restoration with very good paint, bright chrome trim and highly varnished and intriguingly figured interior wood trim. The upholstery is essentially unblemished and nearly like new. Gauges are sharp, clear and crisp. The chassis and engine compartment show some age and use but were done to consistently high standards including spring gaiters to protect their function and lubrication.

This is a high-quality older restoration of a formal but dual-purpose body on the low production Phantom I. Documented by the Rolls-Royce Owners Club and conscientiously preserved in the National Automobile Museum collection, it is a fine example of one of Rolls-Royce's finest models ready after recommissioning to take an honored place on RROC tours, shows and events.