Chassis 106FW

Rolls-Royce maintained an American factory in Springfield, Massachusetts from 1919 to 1931, where the Silver Ghost remained in production until 1926. In order to compete with other prestige manufacturers, Rolls-Royce set up a range of bodies to be sold under the name “Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork.” Many of these were built by Brewster, but some were commissioned by Merrimack, Willoughby, Holbrook, and Biddle & Smart. They all carried the names of British landmarks—Croydon and Henley convertibles, St. Stephen and St. Alban town cars, and the Piccadilly roadster, to name but a few.

On November 25th, 1920, the wonderful Silver Ghost presented here, chassis 106FW, was delivered to the Springfield, Massachusetts plant and subsequently received by its’ first America owner, M. M. Cunniff, a prominent New York resident. At the time, it was fitted with a seven-passenger body built by Brooks-Ostruk and equipped with the unfaltering new Ward-Leonard transmission which would become a feature common to later Silver Ghosts. By 1927, the car had been sold to a Mr. Samuel Hodgson of New Hampshire and it was re-fitted with the body that is on it now by Rolls-Royce Custom Coachworks. Shortly after, it was passed along to Connecticut resident, Mr. Ernst Kearns and then owned through the war years by Mr. Charles S. Hoyt of Dover, Massachusetts. In 1956 Mr. Hoyt decided to sell the car and advertised the car for sale in "The Flying Lady" issue 56-1 for $4,500.00. In a later issue, Hoyt decided to lower his price to $4450.00 and finally sold it to Mr. M.K. Harmon who would go on to own the car up until the present era.

In the 1950s the car was subject to an award-winning ground-up restoration that has remained on it for over sixty years. This included new gray paint, upholstery, and top as well as re-nickeled brightwork, re-plated original hardware, and newly finished black walnut interior woodwork. The engine was removed and completely rebuilt including new pistons, rings, bearings, valves, valve-guides, gaskets and every other mechanical component. The magneto was also rebuilt at this time; the radiator was removed and boiled out, the engine block enameled, and a vacuum tank added to fuel system. The chassis was completely rewired, steering reconditioned and aligned, and the rear end completely rebuilt. The restoration was done so well that, even after sitting for fifty plus years in Mr. Harmon’s ownership, rarely ever being started or used, the engine recently turned over and started after only a minor mechanical service.

With a tune-up and the addition of a new fuel tank and fuel lines, the automobile runs superbly and still retains its old world charm. Included in the file is a selection of documentation highlighting the car’s ownership history as well as some rich period photography, showing the car during various points of its life and even a photo of it hidden away from the elements in a barn.

In the context of its day, a Silver Ghost was a truly awe-inspiring sight. Today, it remains the most influential automobile from the earliest days of motoring. At a time when many had not seen – let alone owned – an automobile. This is a truly rare opportunity to acquire a highly original example of one of these majestic creations.