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The Silver Ghost is considered by many automobile
aficionados as the holy grail of motor cars. The
early 1900’s was to the automobile industry what the
1990’s was to dot.com companies. The number of new
automobile manufacturers that were incorporated
during the early 1900’s was as stunning as the
number that filed for bankruptcy. In 1904,
Rolls-Royce was a new entrant to the automobile
industry.
An upstart, Rolls-Royce produced the Silver Ghost as
a combination race car/endurance car. The company’s
reputation was quickly established after winning
many significant speed and endurance competitions.
Between the years 1906-1919, Rolls-Royce attempted
to import chassis to America. The time consumed in
shipment together with the time required to fit a
chassis with a coach resulted in the company
establishing an American subsidiary in 1920. Located
in Springfield, MA with 49 British expatriate
journeymen, the company commenced producing Silver
Ghosts to the exact specifications of the British
manufactured chassis.
After the production of only 25 chassis, it was
determined that future Springfield chassis should be
made with American as opposed to British components.
Rolls-Royce did not manufacture coaches. However,
Packard, Cadillac and Pierce-Arrow marketed their
cars with bodies such that a customer could purchase
a motorcar off the showroom floor. To even the
competition, Rolls-Royce acquired Brewster a New
York coach builder and commenced offering their
customers the option of a standard coach or
retaining the services of a third party coach
builder.
Under pressure from competitors the Springfield
factory in 1924 switched their production from
right-hand drive to left hand drive automobiles.
Only 600 left-hand drive Ghosts were produced. In
1926 Rolls-Royce introduced the Phantom I and by
1931 the economic effects of the Great Depression
caused Rolls-Royce to shutter the Springfield
facility.
1703 Silver Ghosts were made in Springfield. The
price of a Silver Ghost chassis fitted with a
Pall-Mall Coach was $12,930.
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