1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Springfield Ascot Tourer

S346KProadUnited States

Engine: 7.7L engine (cylinder configuration not specified)
Colour: Oxford Blue over cognac leather with matching blue fabric roof

A Springfield-built Rolls-Royce Phantom I fitted with one of only five early 'hidden-hinge' Ascot Tourer bodies, delivered new on 12 April 1929 to a New York investment banker. The car passed through a small number of carefully documented custodians, spending more than five decades with prominent California Rolls-Royce collector Fred Buess Sr., during which time it retained its numbers-matching 7.7-litre engine and original coachwork. Following its release from that collection in 2011, it received a focused cosmetic refurbishment and is presented in Oxford Blue over Cognac leather.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$246,400
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1929-04-12 → 1931Factory delivery
T.F. Scholl
full documentation
Investment banker based in New York City; took original delivery of the car. Died approximately two years after purchase.
1931 → 1935Inheritance
J.E. Connelly Jr.
partial documentation
Son-in-law of the original owner; kept the car at his Long Island residence until late in the year.
1935 →Acquisition unknown
Young Naval Officer from Long Island
partial documentation
Drove the car cross-country to San Diego before being deployed to the Pacific during wartime.
→ 1950Acquisition unknown
Cecil Pentney
partial documentation
Member of the Horseless Carriage Club; housed the car among his vehicles prior to selling it to a close associate.
1950 → 2011Private sale
Fred Buess Sr.
full documentation
Founder of the Horseless Carriage Club and prominent Rolls-Royce collector based in Sunland, California; acquired the car for $1,000 and kept it for over five decades, maintaining it mechanically while preserving its structural and mechanical originality.
2011 →Acquisition unknown
Terence E. Adderley
partial documentation
Described as a distinguished and carefully assembled collection; during this ownership the car received a focused cosmetic restoration including repainting and re-trimming in Oxford Blue and Cognac leather.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2011
Bodywork
Targeted cosmetic refurbishment carried out after the car left the Buess collection; resulted in the current Oxford Blue exterior finish, pleated Cognac leather interior, and matching fabric hood.
Described as a focused programme of cosmetic improvement rather than a full mechanical restoration.
—
Service
Regular mechanical upkeep carried out across the car's extended tenure with Fred Buess Sr., preserving the car's original mechanical and structural integrity.
Ongoing over a period exceeding 55 years.

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