Few of the bodies fitted to the “Springfield” Rolls-Royce Phantom I were more attractive than the Ascot Tourer, a handsome five-passenger open model with refined styling, including artfully flowing fenders, a nearly horizontal concave polished beltline, and a raked one-piece windshield. Reportedly only the first five Ascot bodies were fitted with hidden door hinges, and examination of the records in Rolls-Royce in America indicates most were used as “demonstrators,” test-driven by prospective customers at Rolls-Royce dealers. This is indicative of the draw that Rolls-Royce management felt they had in the new Ascot.

The exciting Springfield-built Phantom I “hidden-hinge, Derby top” Ascot Tourer, S346KP, is offered from the esteemed and finely curated collection of Terence E. Adderley. Accompanying documentation from The Rolls-Royce Foundation notes that S36KP was delivered new to the investment banker T.F. Scholl of New York City on 12 April 1929. Following his death just two years later, the car passed to his son-in-law, J.E. Connelly, Jr. who kept it at his house on Long Island until late 1935. The Ascot Tourer’s third owner is reported to have been a young Naval Officer from Long Island who drove it all the way to San Diego, California immediately prior to his wartime deployment in the Pacific Theater.

S346KP next resided within the stable of Horseless Carriage Club member Cecil Pentney, though by 1950 it had been procured for $1,000 by his close friend, club founder, and noted Rolls-Royce collector Fred Buess, Sr. of Sunland, California. Throughout over 55 years in Buess’ possession, this exceptional Phantom I remained particularly mechanically and structurally original, though benefitting from regular mechanical maintenance during his lengthy custodianship.

After its release from Buess’ legendary collection of Rolls-Royce examples in 2011, S346KP was treated to a much-needed, and particularly focused, regimen of cosmetic improvement. Now presented in Oxford Blue over pleated Cognac leather upholstery surmounted by a matching Oxford Blue fabric top, S346KP likely exudes the same dignified air of refinement which it did travelling down Manhattan’s Wall Street in 1929 with its original owner. With known history since new and retaining its numbers-matching 7.7-liter engine, Ascot Tourer coachwork, and chassis, S346KP is an irrefutable prize to be cherished, enjoyed, and exhibited by its next—and very fortunate—owner.