On December 28, 1923, Woodrow Wilson’s 67th birthday, the former President found an extraordinary present outside his house on S Street: a brand new Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Touring Car. The car was a gift from four of Wilson’s closest Princeton friends: Cleveland Dodge, Bernard Baruch, Jesse Jones and Tom Jones. Tucked away in a private collection for the past 35 years, this legendary automobile now returns to Washington as the centerpiece of WILSON 150, a celebration commemorating the 150th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson’s birth. Organized by the Woodrow Wilson House, the only presidential museum in Washington and a National Trust Historic Site, WILSON 150 presents a series of programs from June 3 through December 28, 2006.

The order for a new Rolls Royce Silver Ghost was placed on September 10, 1923. The car had special coachwork: an “Oxford” six passenger summer touring body with narrow orange trim on black paint (representing the Princeton colors) and a winter limousine body based on the Pierce-Arrow body of Wilson’s former car. Modifications were made to the latter to better accommodate Wilson, including a higher-than-usual top and wider rear doors. The touring body was produced at Rolls Royce’s Waltham Avenue Coachworks in Springfield, Massachusetts. The six cylinder car held 25 gallons of gas, could get six miles per gallon and cost $12,782.75.

After Wilson’s death in 1924, the car stayed with Mrs. Wilson for another eight years. She eventually sold the car through the local Packard company and it went through several owners (including two Princeton students) before it came to its current owner, Mr. Ted Leonard of Rhode Island, in mid-1970.

Several modifications were made to the car after Mrs. Wilson sold it: the high windshield was cut down, the divided front seats were moved to the rear, a Packard top was installed, the steering column was lowered, and, for a brief time, the touring body was switched to a different Silver Ghost’s body. Mr. Leonard partially restored the Rolls-Royce to its former condition, namely placing the touring body back onto the original chassis and refurbishing the engine.

While in Washington, the car is displayed at the Woodrow Wilson House in the Embassy Row garage where it originally resided. It will remain on view until 9 pm every evening through 2008.



PRESS INFORMATION For more information, please contact Sara Durr at 202/966.3679 or sdurr@woodrowwilsonhouse.org.

A detail of the orange WW on Wilson’s Rolls.

“Spirit of Ecstasy” Photo copyright Todd Smith.

The Rolls parked in front of Wilson’s S Street home. Photo copyright Todd Smith.

Please credit any Rolls Royce photos used to: Todd Smith Photos: Courtesy of The Woodrow Wilson House, a National Trust Historic Site, Washington DC.

ABOUT THE WOODROW WILSON HOUSE MUSEUM

The only presidential museum in Washington, DC and the last home of the 28th President of the United States, Wilson House holds an extensive collection of more than 8,000 objects from Wilson’s two terms as president, as well as his earlier years as an educator and President of Princeton University.

Woodrow Wilson House, located off Embassy Row at 2340 S Street, NW in the Kalorama neighborhood, is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm and is conveniently located near the Dupont Circle north Red Line Metro, with limited on-street parking. Admission is free for Wilson House and National Trust for Historic Preservation members. All visitors enjoy Guided tours with admission. For more information, please visit www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org or call (202) 387-4062.