Massachusetts man earns special honor from Rolls-Royce after driving 1928 Phantom for nearly 8 decades
This might be the oldest car with only one owner The post Massachusetts man earns special honor from Rolls-Royce after driving 1928 Phantom for nearly 8 decades appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom I classic car stayed in the hands of one man for nearly eight decades, making it one of the longest-kept vehicles of its kind.
In 1928, Allen Swift of Springfield, Massachusetts, was given the car as a graduation present.
He went on to cover more than 170,000 miles in the Phantom I, carrying out careful maintenance and restoration work over the years.
His commitment eventually brought recognition from Rolls-Royce and secured the car’s place in history.
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Record Rolls-Royce ownership
Swift kept his 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I for 77 years, a record in the company’s history.
Unlike most classic cars that end up in storage, his remained in regular use, often on local roads in Springfield.
Rolls-Royce later confirmed that no other owner had held onto a single car from the brand for so long.
The Phantom I also marked a distinctive moment in production.
Springfield was one of the few locations outside Britain where Rolls-Royce cars were built.
Swift’s vehicle became one of the rare survivors of that period, representing both American assembly and the company’s established reputation for durability.
In 1994, Swift received the Spirit of Ecstasy award from Rolls-Royce.
The presentation was a formal acknowledgment that his long-term ownership was unique even by the company’s own standards.
Spirit of Ecstasy and museum life
After Swift’s death in 2005, the Phantom I was donated to the Springfield Museums.
It remains on public display, offering visitors a chance to see the car that set a record for ownership.
The vehicle is still in working condition, preserved in the same spirit that kept it on the road for decades.
The Spirit of Ecstasy award placed Swift’s Phantom I into a rare category within automotive history.
For museum visitors and car historians, it provides direct evidence of how consistent maintenance can keep a classic car alive far beyond the norm.
The museum’s collection now carries both the story of the owner and the legacy of the vehicle itself.
The 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I that Allen Swift drove as a young man continues to be regarded as an extraordinary example of long-term car ownership.
It remains tied to the durability of Rolls-Royce engineering, the endurance of one classic car, and the record of a man who never let it leave his care.The post Massachusetts man earns special honor from Rolls-Royce after driving 1928 Phantom for nearly 8 decades appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
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