PROVENANCE
John T. “Hugh” Caperton, Louisville, Kentucky (acquired new July 3, 1926, from the Cincinnati Branch of Rolls-Royce of America)
E.E. Glatt, Chicago, Illinois (acquired from the above, October 29, 1928)
J.L. Loper, Ocean City, New Jersey (acquired October 1951)
John M. Seabrook, Bridgeton, New Jersey (acquired from the above, June 1952)
Charles Mehlhinch, New Jersey (acquired from the above, February 1953)
Charles W. Buck, Cleveland, Ohio (acquired from the above, 1964)
Charles LeMaitre, Hardwick, Massachusetts (acquired from the above’s estate, 1977)
Charles Howard, Gloucestershire, England
Franklin Hamilton, Reno, Nevada (purchased at auction, circa 1997)
Current Owner (acquired from the above’s estate, October 2008)

LITERATURE
Anthony Bird and Ian Hallows, The Rolls-Royce Motor Car, chassis no. listed
Arthur W. Soutter, The American Rolls-Royce, chassis no. listed

THIS CAR
A factory notebook page reproduced in Arthur Soutter’s The American Rolls-Royce indicates this Silver Ghost was part of a group of left-hand-drive 40/50 hp chassis built at the Springfield, Massachusetts, Rolls-Royce factory between March and June of 1926. Once completed, this new Rolls-Royce was fitted with a handsome four- to five-seat Pall Mall Tourer body by Merrimac. John Webb de Campi, author of Rolls-Royce in America, notes that this series of 40/50 hp Silver Ghosts featured left-hand steering, dual ignition, and a centrally placed gearchange, all of which were introduced the year before to better suit American drivers.

Several enthusiastic owners have enjoyed S236PL through the years, and it is thoroughly documented by the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club and the Rolls-Royce Foundation. The ownership history of this outstanding Silver Ghost begins with John T. “Hugh” Caperton of Louisville, Kentucky, who purchased it via the Cincinnati, Ohio, branch of Rolls-Royce of America. In more recent years, the Silver Ghost was held in the collections of Charles Buck in Ohio, Charles LeMaitre in Massachusetts, and Charles Howard in the UK. It was then purchased by Frank Hamilton of Nevada, who after he acquired it in the late 1990s had Ken Nemanic of San Francisco replace both the interior and top. On Mr. Hamilton’s passing, the car was acquired by the consignor. A few years ago, a modern Gear Vendors overdrive unit was installed in place of the front portion of the car’s torque tube, allowing relaxed travel at highway speeds.

Presented in its original color scheme of Brewster Green with a brown leather interior and black folding top, this fine Silver Ghost features gaiter-covered springs, double-bar bumpers, a trunk with fitted luggage and extra taillamp, a working clock, and a winter-front radiator shutter that works in conjunction with the starting carburetor. This extremely well-built automobile is accompanied at sale by a copy of the left-hand-drive owner’s manual and Silver Ghost Association roadside repair manual, the original front torque tube, factory tool set, jack, wheel wrench, and keys for the locks.

The discriminating individual seeking a finely maintained Springfield Silver Ghost could do no better than this beautiful example.