1923 ROLLS ROYCE

The Rolls-Royce "Silver Ghost" ws produced in Derby, England, from 1906 to 1925. It was also produced in Springfield, massachusetts, for American customers from 1919 into the 1930's. The engine, finished with jeweler's precision, was incredibly quiet and smooth. Like all Rolls-Royce cars until 1950, only the chassis was factory made, the body being produced by whatever coachmaker the customer specified. The 1923 Rolls-Royce Pall Mall Phaeton displayed here illustrates an American custom-made body. The customer ordering this body style desired an ope car with sporting lines, accommodations for five persons, generous leg room in both driving and passenger sections, and a phaeton top which was quality tailored and unlined to afford a neat and compact appearance.

Around 1910, the directors of Rolls-Royce were dismayed to learn of owners who were fitting a variety of strange mascots to the radiators of their motor cars. Rolls-Royce determined that a mascot, if fitted at all, should complement the graceful lines of the car. Charles Sykes, a famous sculptor of the day, was given a ride in a Rolls-Royce and was so inspired that he designed a graceful figure he thought would be worth of the beautiful car. Sykes presented his creation to the Rolls-Royce directors and they highly approved, naming it the "Spirit of Ecstasy". This beautiful figure was used on all Silver Ghosts and some early Phantom I models. In 1920, the Spirit of Ecstasy won a first prize gold medal in a world competition for the best motor car mascot.