As the story goes, in 1928, Allen Swift from West Hartford, Connecticut, was gifted a brand new 1928 Rolls Royce Picadilly P1 Roadster as a gift from his father for continuing the family’s business. Over 60 years and tens of thousands of miles later, we were given the task of restoring it.
Upon our opening in 1978, the term “automotive restoration”, was still relatively foreign, and very niche. Our company tapped into this sector of the industry incredibly early on. So by 1988, when Allen’s Rolls needed restoration, not only were we Connecticut based, but we already established 10 years of restoration experience. His pride and joy would soon enjoy a complete body off restoration, as well as engine rebuild in collaboration with one of the greatest Rolls Royce experts of that time, Frank Cooke.
Over the course of M. Allen Swift’s lifetime, he made a great impression on the local AACA meets and car scene. Allen was notorious for being spotted in his Rolls in rain, fog, and sometimes snow. Over the years of his 77 year ownership, Mr. Swift accumulated over 170,000 documented miles. When we completed the restoration of Mr. Swift’s car, he was already at the age of 88. Asking whether he would like us to deliver the car for him, or have him transport the car, he had clarified that neither of which would work, as he intended on driving his freshly restored Rolls immediately. Sure as it would be, Mr. Swift hopped in his Rolls as if it were new once again, and immediately got on the highway and headed home.
Mr. Swift is known for owning a Rolls Royce longer than anyone else in the world- Rolls Royce presented him with a Spirit of Ecstasy award in 1994 for his length of ownership. Reportedly, it still presents incredibly well, and runs like a top. The Rolls Royce was donated to the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, along with $1 million dollars to care for and preserve the vehicle. You can still see Allen’s car there today, in their transportation gallery.
Pictured above are some of the reassembly aspects we documented such as placing the body back on the frame, and laying down the pinstriping, extenuating the gold leaf stripes, which Allen had Rolls Royce put on originally, as homage to his family’s business. What a wonderful opportunity this was; it is always rewarding restoring a vehicle so highly cherished by the owner, with so much story.