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Rolls-Royce during the early 20ies had started motor car production at a factory in the United States of America. From that branch in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA this Rolls-Royce Phantom I was delivered in 1933 to a destination in the state of New York. It became common practice over the years to separate between Phantom I made in England and those from production in the USA by using the designation Rolls-Royce ‘Springfield’ Phantom I for the latter. "St. Martin" was name chosen for a coachwork-design that was offered by Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork. The Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork organization however did not arrange for more than a minuscule number of bodies to be finished at the Waltham Avenue Works, Springfield, of Rolls-Royce of America. The majority of bodies were ordered to be built to a design as per RRCCW’s specifications by extern coachbuilders. Preferred among those was Brewster, New York, which cannot surprise because Rolls-Royce had acquired that coachbuilder. |
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This Rolls-Royce Phantom I’s Body-Number “B7252” by the letter ‚B’ gives off this car as having been bodied by Brewster. It is worth a note that as per literature there had been the choice to opt either for a chassis with 143½ in. wheelbase or 144¾ in. or for one with 146½ in. wheelbase. As regards technical layout the ‘Springfield’ Phantom I basically was identical to the Rolls-Royce Phantom I as built by the English manufacturer from Derby. However there existed significant alterations, to mention are left-hand drive or a 6-Volt electrical system (12 Volt on cars from the United Kingdom). The considerable number of different components and/or variations would fill a catalogue.
This Rolls-Royce Phantom I „St. Martin“ Town Car by Brewster, sold in 1933, is the third from last of series-production at the Springfield plant. Several experts state Rolls-Royce of America had been an economical disaster – indeed the financial situation did not permit to invest in re-tooling etc. for production of the new Phantom II there – a model that had been launched in England in 1928.
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