Participating for the first time at Blenheim Palace, The JBS Collection received the Chairman’s Award for an American-made 1923 Springfield Silver Ghost Pall Mall
The JBS Collection—in its first-ever trip to the Salon Privé Concours at Blenheim Palace, Aug. 28-31 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England—received the 2024 Chairman’s Award for its rare, American-made 1923 Springfield Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall.
Presented by Aviva, the 2024 Salon Privé Concours at Blenheim Palace featured 13 distinct car classes, including Pre-War Open, Post-War Open, Post-War Closed British, and Sports Racer. Ferrari Classiche, Legendary Liveries, and Inspiring Greatness – 120 Years of Rolls-Royce were some of the additional categories presented. A 1957 Ferrari 335 S by Scaglietti was awarded Best of Show at Blenheim Palace, home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace offered an inspiring backdrop for an automotive event the caliber of Salon Privé—the only UK Concours overseen by the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG), which represents the gold standard for the competitive judging of classic cars. A group of roughly 30 ICJAG judges—led by Chairman Nigel Matthews—inspected 75 curated automobiles over the course of the event.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost line was originally manufactured in Manchester, England, with production moving to Derby in 1908. In 1921, the first American-made Silver Ghost rolled off the line at the company’s expansion plant in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Springfield plant, the only place outside of England where Rolls-Royce vehicles have ever been built, manufactured nearly 3,000 vehicles before ceasing production in 1931.
“Every one of our automobiles is special, and important to me, and in my mind they are all crown jewels of The JBS Collection,” said Jack Boyd Smith Jr., owner of The JBS Collection. “That said, the 1923 Springfield Silver Ghost has certainly been one of the most satisfying projects we’ve worked on. This vehicle is one of a small number of similar Rolls-Royce models manufactured in the United States. With the help of our partners at LaVine Restorations, Inc., we restored this Springfield back to its original specifications for the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours, and—ever since then—this automobile has been turning heads and winning awards. The Salon Privé Concours at Blenheim Palace is one of the greatest automotive events in the UK, and to come here for our first time—with an American-made Rolls-Royce—and receive the Chairman’s Award is both an honor and a huge thrill. We’re proud and thankful, and we’re looking forward to the next chance we get to present our Silver Ghost.”
The JBS Collection’s 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall is one of only two in the world with Pall Mall coachwork featuring both the dual-cowl and dual-windshield options. Chassis No. 77JH, the Silver Ghost was restored for Smith Jr. by LaVine Restorations, Inc., of Nappanee, Indiana, in preparation for the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California.
At Pebble Beach the automotive paragon was honored with the Ansel Adams Award for the Most Desirable Touring Car in its Era. The Silver Ghost also emerged from a loaded showfield at Pebble Beach with a Second in Class Award (Class H: Rolls-Royce Prewar).
In March of 2024, the Silver Ghost received coveted Best-in-Class honors (Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Class) at The Amelia Concours d’Elegance. At May’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este—in Cernobbio, Italy—the Silver Ghost was one of only 51 vehicles, out of 520 submitted, to be selected by the event committee for presentation.
“Over the years we’ve been to many shows, and we’ve won quite a few awards—but this achievement at Blenheim Palace is particularly fulfilling,” said Smith Jr. “This was one of the most intensely judged events we have ever been a part of. The competition was substantial. Showing automobiles is more stressful and exhausting than it may seem, and when I found out we’d been honored with the Chairman’s Award I felt this huge sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. The spectacle of this event will always loom large for me, as well. I’d been told of the audience excitement that builds and carries into the final day at Blenheim Palace, but to experience it firsthand—and to then be awarded in our first trip—was absolutely memorable beyond words.”