Only 125 Rolls-Royce Phantom II chassis were produced with left-hand drive, numbered as the AJS and AMS series. Chassis number 234AJS, offered here, was one of only three of these cars bodied by Brewster as Newmarket convertible sedans, a style more often seen on the Phantom I, and is one of two of these delineated as “Special” models, indicating it had deviations from the stock design. In this case, such touches included the brightwork, finished in polished brass.

The car was delivered new in Hershey’s backyard, to Vance McCormick of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A former mayor of Harrisburg, Mr. McCormick later became a trusted, close advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, serving as chair of the American delegation at the Treaty of Versailles and as Wilson’s 1916 campaign manager. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick would be regularly seen in the car in the streets of Harrisburg, including when they were chauffeured to church on Sundays; their chauffeur would polish the car outside the church during the service.

Following Mr. McCormick’s ownership, the car passed through two owners in New York and by 1955 was in the ownership of Dr. D.S. Gardner of Scranton, Pennsylvania, then reappeared in 1979 when advertised again in the Empire State. In 1983 the Phantom II was purchased by Lloyd F. Taylor of Colorado, then in 1985 was acquired by Karl Blade of Oklahoma. Here at Hershey in 1987, it was admired by Jim Adams of Harrisburg, who, smitten by the car and its local history, began negotiations that led to his purchase in 1991.

The current owner, who had grown up near Harrisburg and as a member of the Vances’ church often saw the car, polished brass and all, on its Sunday drives, was thrilled to buy the Phantom II of his memories in 1997, and has joyfully maintained and savored driving it ever since. Retaining, of course, its original engine and coachwork, it is believed to have had only cosmetic restoration, and the owner believes that its 35,000 miles at the time of cataloguing are actual—a claim substantiated by its solid condition. The car has been well-looked-after mechanically by the owner, with the help of specialist friends in the Rolls-Royce world, and is described as running and driving very well, having been enjoyed for regional events and local parades. It is sure to be a treasured possession for its next caretaker, in Harrisburg or elsewhere.