It is not so much the case today, but it has been said in the past that “Things change slowly in the South.” It is also known that a number of Rolls-Royce owners, who bought their cars new in the period, would, on occasion keep them for decades. That appears to be the case here, and the owner is likely to be the gentleman standing in the doorway of the Balter Building, located at 404 Saint Charles Ave. in New Orleans, LA.

This Rolls, photographed late in 1949, appears to be a 1925 to ’29 “Phantom I,” a new model that replaced the earlier “Silver Ghost” that was in production between 1906 to ’26. This particular automobile is equipped with l.h.d. and probably was assembled at the automakers Springfield, MA, factory, which was in operation between 1921 to ’31. This exceptional example appears to be wearing its original close-coupled town sedan coachwork with the front fenders modernized by adding skirts.

Learn more about the Springfield-built Rolls-Royce and view a one owner (77-years) “Phantom I” at the Springfield Museums. The photograph is courtesy of the Louisiana Digital Library.