1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Newmarket and The Keystone Star

If you had to dream of your perfect example of a pristine 1929 Rolls-Royce, this car is what your mind’s eye would create. From the sumptuous hide interior, walnut steering wheel and Art Nouveau dials, to the immaculate styling, perfect coachwork lines and gleaming square grill; all finished off by the proud, resplendent “Spirit of Ecstasy”. This car is a vision and she is a vision with the cachet associated with stardust.

For although the Phantom comes from a different world and a different age; one of gentility and refinement; as soon as you realise that this stunning vehicle was originally owned by none other than John Francis Dillon, the legendary silent movie star and director of the Keystone silent movie era, visions of the “bust-ups” between gangsters and cops spring just as easily to mind.

 
John Dillon was a contemporary of Charlie Chaplin, staring alongside him in a number of movies; however, the star of our forecourt, is his beautiful Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Newmarket, with Chassis S339LR, which was delivered to Dillon’s Beverly Hills mansion on Canon Drive, via agents W.C. Darling, on Boxing Day 1929.
This beautiful Rolls-Royce was fitted with Brewster & Company’s ‘Newmarket’ coachwork, which was one of the more expensive bodies available at the time, costing an astonishing $18,800. Unlike the British-built Phantoms, the American vehicles could be ordered with ‘factory specified’ bodywork or specially modified coachwork from Brewers. Rolls-Royce of America distinguish their specialist coachwork by naming each design style after a British town. Therefore it is a note of added prestige that  this is a Phantom Newmarket.

When compared to its predecessor, the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the Phantom was a significant upgrade, particularly as Henry Royce’s new design incorporated a number of modern features such as overhead valve-gear for its six-cylinder 7668 engine.
This exceptionally handsome 1929 convertible Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Newmarket is on display in our Rolls-Royce London Showroom, located in Berkeley Square.
Not only is she a wonderful, historic vehicle; with the provenance to match, this is an investment Rolls-Royce of note. For more information, or to view the extensive accompanying history file for this Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Newmarket, contact our H.R. Owen Rolls-Royce specialist sales team.