Antique autos circle the downtown square

[August 29, 2011]  When owners of antique vehicles get together, it isn't just a visual opportunity, it's a club of people with stories to tell and histories to share. One hundred and thirty-seven antique and classic automobiles circled the downtown square Sunday afternoon, hosted by the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club.

When Bill Boyer, of Lincoln, received the best in show for his 1929 Phantom I Rolls-Royce at the Railsplitter Antique Car Club cruise-in on Sunday, during the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, it was no surprise that someone would say, "Oh, that car has a story."

When Boyer purchased the vehicle 10 years ago, it needed a lot of mechanical restoration. He worked on it now and then until two years ago, when he finally finished the job. It was taken on the road last spring and has only 150 miles on the refurbished engine.

"They were built to last," Boyer said, "probably overbuilt. They have more screws and connections than any car you've ever seen. But the parts are over 80 years old, and they still can suffer from metal fatigue."

The Rolls-Royce Phantom I was built for about 10 years in the United States. The factory in Springfield, Mass., began building them in 1920, but by 1930-31 it had become too expensive to make them here because of the Depression. They were built in England until the model was discontinued. In the old days limousines were Phantom I's.

Rolls-Royce has an owners' club, and every Rolls ever made is documented. Boyer has photocopies from the previous owners of his Phantom I, so he can trace its history back to the assembly line.

"I was shocked when I heard I had won the award," Boyer said, "because you restore them to see them put back together and to have them around. You don't think about winning anything. But it is a nice old car."

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Online:

Railsplitter Antique Auto Club:
http://railsplitterantiqueautoclub.webs.com/

[By MARLA BLAIR]