Chassis No. S184PM
Engine No. 21846
Steering Box No. A8252

The Riviera Town Car is widely regarded as one of the most striking Rolls-Royce Town Cars ever designed, with its bold yet elegant proportions and distinctive features. Its long bonnet, flush fold-flat windscreen, and rear-axle-mounted Brougham cabin combine to create a striking profile, further enhanced by Brewster's use of "shovel" front fenders and razor-edge rear fenders.

Chassis number S184PM, originally built with Tilbury coachwork, was given a new lease of life by Brewster & Co. in 1933 when it was re-bodied with the Riviera Town Car coachwork. Given the robust nature of the Springfield-built Rolls-Royce chassis, it is not uncommon to find an example that had worn two or even three different bodies in the course of the previous century. This early model, with its low radiator and high bumper mounts, kept these features when the new coachwork was installed. Brewster's production of just ten Riviera bodies for the Phantom I makes this an exceptional sight, with only a few of these magnificent cars remaining today.

Rather uncommon for a Springfield Rolls-Royce, in 1935, the car found a new home with Mrs. George Blumenthal when it was shipped across the Atlantic to Paris, where it gained an air of French elegance. The Riviera was personalized with Marchal headlamps and custom coach lamps bearing her initials, adding a unique and personal touch to its already impressive profile. The Riviera made a lasting impression in both Paris and the Blumenthal estate in Grasse, near Cannes.

After World War II, the car embarked on a new journey, returning to the United States, where it was later owned by noted automotive author Ralph Stein. The car was immortalized in a 1957 painting by artist Leslie Saalburg and featured in a 1954 Esquire magazine spread. In 1960, a young Tom Batchelor was so captivated by the Riviera that he vowed to one day own it, a dream he fulfilled in 1969. The car was later featured in Ralph Stein's 1973 book, The World of the Automobile.

By the 1970s, the car had passed to Dr. Don Vesley, a Tampa, Florida collector, and remained part of his collection for over 30 years. When rediscovered, the car retained its original Marchal headlamps, engraved coach lamps, and a personal dash plaque as a reminder of its time in France. The car was sympathetically restored, refinished in taupe and black, and given mechanical attention, preserving its originality while ensuring roadworthiness.

After a restoration that included a mechanical inspection by a marque specialist, the Riviera made a standout appearance at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it won The J.B. and Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car award. It then became part of The Academy of Art University Collection in 2011. Today, this 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I “Riviera” Brewster Town Car remains a stunning piece of Pre-War coach building and offers its next owner the chance to enjoy and preserve a car that has been a source of world-wide admiration for decades.