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RARE HTF VINTAGE
ROLLS ROYCE OF AMERICA
PHANTOM CHASSIS TAG
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
BRASS
UNCLEANED
KEY FOB
This is a great old hard to find item for you Rolls Royce collection. It’s in great shape with nice aged patina. Probably around 100 years old.
This is a vintage brass (magnet does not stick) key fob issued by Rolls-Royce of America, Inc., featuring a specific chassis number (210RM).
Details:
Item: Round brass factory-issued key tag or fob
Inscription: Reads "Rolls-Royce of America Inc., Chassis No. 210RM"
Era: Appears to date from the vintage manufacturing period of Rolls-Royce's American operations (circa the 1920s)
Value/Rarity: Such factory-issued original chassis tags are considered extremely rare collector's items among vintage automotive enthusiasts.
Chassis 210RM belongs to a highly significant chapter in automotive history: the era of Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. During the 1920s, Rolls-Royce took the unique step of operating a manufacturing plant in Springfield, Massachusetts to build left-hand-drive motorcars specifically for the North American market.
The specific history and technical context behind this chassis number include:
Decoding the Chassis Number: 210RM
Rolls-Royce utilized a strict alphanumeric coding system for identifying their builds. For the American-built Springfield cars, the letters within the suffix tell the story:
The "RM" Suffix: The two-letter series indicator specifies the exact production block. The "RM" series belongs to the legendary Rolls-Royce Phantom I (initially introduced as the "New Phantom" to succeed the Silver Ghost).
The "S" Prefix: On the factory key tag, you can see a stamped "S" directly beneath the chassis number box. The "S" was standard factory nomenclature designating the car was manufactured at the Springfield, Massachusetts plant.
The Number 210: This indicates it was the 10th chassis built within that particular "RM" production run (Springfield series typically progressed using only the even digits, i.e., 202, 204, 206, 208, 210).
Production and Timeline
Year of Manufacture: Based on Springfield production logs, the RM series of Phantom I chassis was built and delivered around 1927–1928.
The Engine: As an American Phantom I, it left the factory equipped with a massive 7.7-liter (7,668 cc) overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine featuring an aluminum crankcase.
Coachwork Customization
When chassis 210RM rolled out of the Springfield plant, it was a "rolling chassis"—just the engine, drivetrain, and structural frame. At this time, wealthy American clients would select custom coachbuilders to construct bespoke bodywork.
Given it is an American Springfield Phantom I, the body was almost certainly crafted by Brewster & Co. (which Rolls-Royce of America bought in 1926 to act as their primary coachbuilder), or other prominent American houses of the era like Merrimac or Willoughby. Common body styles for the RM block included elegant open tourers like the "Pall Mall" phaeton or formal town cars.
Does the car still exist?
In the vintage car community, it is relatively common for the original brass factory key fobs to get separated from the cars over the decades. Because specific historical build sheets—which log the original buyer, delivery date, engine number, and coachwork style—are kept securely in club archives, the definitive status of the car can be looked up.
If you want to track down if the vehicle survived, you can get details on how to request the original build sheets from the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club (RROC) or the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club (RREC).
This product is a rare vintage Rolls-Royce of America chassis tag brass key fob in a gold color. It is a highly sought-after collectible item for automotive enthusiasts and fans of Rolls-Royce vehicles. The key fob is made of brass material, adding a touch of luxury and quality to its design. Perfect for adding a unique and nostalgic touch to your keychain or collection, this vintage Rolls-Royce key fob is a must-have for any classic car enthusiast.
