As with the cars built at Derby, the majority of the American Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts produced in Springfield, Massachusetts, carried closed coachwork that was heavy and formal, albeit beautifully constructed and finely detailed. Sporting open bodies for the Silver Ghost were rare indeed, but they did exist, most prominently the Pall Mall tourer coachwork provided by Massachusetts bodymaker Merrimac under the Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work label.

One of 179 Pall Mall tourers produced on the Springfield Silver Ghost chassis, this example, 404MF, is one of the few to remain with its original, numbers-matching chassis and engine, and has a wonderful known history, with only seven owners since new. It was originally delivered on Christmas Eve of 1924 to Edward M. Winslow of Lynn, Massachusetts, descendant and namesake of a Mayflower passenger, whose palatial home on Lynn Shore Drive still stands.

After remaining in the Winslow family until 1956, the car was sold to George M. Anderson of Swampscott, Massachusetts, then passed in 1962 to the famous Elliott Museum at Stuart, Florida. Following six years of exhibition in the museum, the Rolls was purchased by noted collector S. Prestley Blake of Somers, Connecticut. Co-founder of Friendly’s Ice Cream, Mr. Blake is a legendary figure in the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, who has owned and enjoyed almost all of the company’s models over six decades of enthusiastic collecting. This was reportedly one of his favorite automobiles, and participated in many RROC events and rallies during 30 years in his good hands.

In 1998 the car passed to Frank Brooks of Jupiter, Florida, then in 2011 to well-known marque specialist, Jon Abrahamson, from whom it was purchased by the present owners. It sports superb blue paintwork accented by a black interior and tan top, the latter finishes applied by Mr. Abrahamson’s Enfield Auto Restoration, and the consignor notes that it is a superb driving example, fitted with overdrive that makes it ideal for long-distance touring in Silver Ghost Association, RROC, and RREC events.

Relatively few Pall Mall tourers survive on the Springfield Silver Ghost chassis, and fewer still have been so lovingly and carefully maintained by only a handful of owners, retaining their original components. This is one of those cars, and it would be a superb addition to any Full Classic Rolls-Royce stable.