1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster
- Engine
- 7.4L L-head inline-six, 40/50 hp, three-speed manual
- Colour
- Reuter Red
Springfield-built Silver Ghost chassis S295PL is a rare example of the American Rolls-Royce fitted with lightweight sporting coachwork — specifically the Piccadilly Roadster body by Merrimac, installed in 1932 by a Los Angeles dealer. Originally bodied as a Brewster Stratford Convertible Coupé, the chassis passed through notable Hollywood ownership including director Joseph von Sternberg and screenwriter Oliver H.P. Garrett, before entering the collection of prominent Springfield Rolls-Royce specialist Robert Atwell, who donated it to the San Antonio Museum of Transportation in 1979. Restored by Reuter Coach Works in New York, it retains that firm's distinctive red finish.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate £280,000 – £320,000
- → 1929-05-05Factory deliveryUnrecorded first owner, likely via West Coast US dealershipnone documentation
Delivered with original Brewster Stratford Convertible Coupe bodywork; identity not preserved in records, probable West Coast delivery.
- 1929-05-05 →Acquisition unknownJoseph von Sternbergpartial documentation
Hollywood director and producer, celebrated for his role in launching Marlene Dietrich's international career; car later returned to the Los Angeles dealer.
- 1932 →Private saleOliver H.P. Garrettpartial documentation
Prominent Hollywood screenwriter; took delivery at his Paramount Pictures business address.
- → 1979Private saleRobert Atwellpartial documentation
Leading Springfield Rolls-Royce collector from Kerrville, focused on rare coachwork variants; had the car restored by Reuter Coach Works in New York, including the distinctive red finish.
- 1979 → 1994InheritanceSan Antonio Museum of Transportationpartial documentation
Atwell donated the car to this institution, where it remained on public display for approximately fifteen years.
- 1994 →Acquisition unknownPennsylvania enthusiastpartial documentation
Identity not specified; acquired after the car left museum display.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownLos Angeles Rolls-Royce dealerpartial documentation
Dealer removed the original coachwork and fitted the current Piccadilly Roadster body in 1932 before reselling.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBenjamin H. Dugginpartial documentation
Based in Conroe, Texas; sold the car along with another Springfield Rolls-Royce to Robert Atwell in the late 1960s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownAndré Plaschfull documentation
Belgian collector based in Brussels; commissioned extensive mechanical work by Wildae Restorations of Braunton, with documented expenditure approaching £100,000.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Drove the car from Belgium to London under its own power after acquiring it from Plasch.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1932BodyworkLos Angeles Rolls-Royce dealer
Original Brewster Stratford Convertible Coupé body was removed and replaced with a Piccadilly Roadster body, carried out by a Los Angeles Rolls-Royce dealer.
- —RestorationReuter Coach Works
Full restoration undertaken by Reuter Coach Works, including application of the firm's characteristic red paintwork, which remains on the car today.
Carried out during Robert Atwell's ownership, prior to his 1979 donation to the San Antonio Museum of Transportation; Reuter Coach Works was regarded as the premier American restoration shop of that era.
- —MechanicalWildae Restorations
Extensive mechanical improvement and upgrade work carried out to a high standard, with documented expenditure of nearly £100,000.
Commissioned by Belgian owner André Plasch; workshop based in Braunton; receipts on file with the car.
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