Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

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1924 Rolls Royce Springfield Silver Pall Mall Tourer	1924 Rolls Royce Springfield Silver Pall Mall Tourer 1924 Rolls Royce Springfield Silver Pall Mall Tourer Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida This car was built in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1924. The body was built by Rolls-Royce Custom Coachworks in the "Pall Mall Tourer" style. The car was restored in 1970 just prior to its successful completion of the 1973 Alpine Rally in Austria. by Douglas
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Lawton Tourer	1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Lawton Tourer 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Lawton Tourer Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Blackhawk Auto Museum in Danville, California. by Douglas
1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Landaulette by Brainsby	1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Landaulette by Brainsby 539,000.00 USD 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Landaulette by Brainsby RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island Collector Car Auction Amelia Island, Florida March 13, 2010 AUCTION RESULTS: Lot 194 - Sold at a price of $539,000 7,248 cc side valve six-cylinder engine cast in pairs, three-speed manual gearbox, front semi-elliptic leaf spring and rear three-quarter elliptic leaf spring, rear-wheel drum brakes. In 1904, an inspired partnership between an adventurer and an engineer gave birth to the most enduring automotive legacy: the Rolls-Royce. Just two years later, they created what many agree was the most influential automobile in the early decades of motoring: the legendary Silver Ghost. In the context of its day, a Silver Ghost was an awe inspiring sight. At a time when many had not seen – let alone owned – an automobile, here was a truly majestic creation. Most automobiles on the road then were light one- and two-cylinder machines whose wooden chassis, wagon wheels and tiller steering clearly attested to their roots as horseless carriages. Frederick Henry Royce was an incomparable engineer; the Silver Ghost offered the power and refinement of a six from the very beginning. More than that, its abundant torque and virtually silent operation astounded anyone fortunate enough to drive one. This was the first true luxury automobile, capable of carrying the most elegant bespoke coachwork and able to accelerate almost from rest in top gear. If the performance of the Silver Ghost was startling, it was the legendary quality of the Rolls-Royce that made its owners happy – and kept them coming back. Royce was a man who referred to the assembly of his cars as a careful sewing together of precision parts; it was a radical concept at a time when other cars' construction had more in common with the blacksmith's methods. The Silver Ghost presented here, chassis no. 1204, was delivered in January 1910 to Mr. Andrew T. Reid, Esq. of Auchterarder, Scotland. Research indicates Mr. Reid to have been the son of Sir Hugh Reid, who was the Chairman of the North British Locomotive Co., Ltd. The younger Reid was the Managing Director and, like his father, also greatly interested in artwork. Born in 1863, he had a sizable collection of his own, some of which was later sold at auction following his passing in 1941. Correspondence between the vendor and Andrew Reid's nephew indicates his will decreed that all of his possessions be sold after his passing. In fact, this car, chassis 1204, was stored at Auchterarder House during World War II and was sold by Andrew Reid's brother, along with two other Rolls-Royces that were in storage, shortly after the war. In the late 1950s, the car was acquired by the Neal brothers, well known Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost restorers. Correspondence between the present owner and Mr. M.R. Grist provides additional insight into the car's coachwork and how it found its way to the Neal brothers. The lovely landaulette body was built by Brainsby, purportedly for a 1908 Minerva owned by a judge. It was removed in the 1920s as the Minerva was rebodied. Thereafter, the body remained in storage until it was purchased by Mr. Grist in 1958 from an individual in Plymouth for just £15. The body was collected on a trailer supplied by Cecil Bendall, as evidenced by a black and white photograph obtained by the vendor. Mr. Bendall of course was an important car collector in his own right and founding member of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain. The body was then purchased by John Birchell, who it is believed sold it to the Neal brothers, who in turn married the body with chassis 1204. So, although the Brainsby coachwork is of the period and contemporary to chassis 1204, it is not known which coachbuilder originally supplied the body on this Silver Ghost. Nevertheless, an inventory and valuation of Andrew Reid's property in 1912 includes, among many other items, a "Rolls-Royce Landaulette," which supports the theory that chassis 1204 was sold new with landaulette coachwork. It should be noted that Thomas Brainsby & Sons was founded in 1905 in Peterborough, building bodies for such cars as Crossley, Fiat, Hotchkiss and occasionally even Rolls-Royce. The company seems to have faded away in the 1920s, around the time that Brainsby-Woolard arose, a supplier of coachbuilt bodies which were contracted out to such houses as Lancefield or John Charles. According to British coachwork expert Nick Walker, "it seems likely that the firm was a partnership between the original Brainsby and a salesman by the name of Charles Harry Woolard." This company ceased operation in 1936. The age of the body on 1204 and plate on the door sill both indicate the coachwork on this car to have been done by Thomas Brainsby & Sons. Mr. George Hardwick of West Ewell, London purchased 1204 in about 1964 and kept it for over two decades, during which time he participated with the car in the 1977 Royal Jubilee. A copy of a period photograph shows him in this parade, driving past H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. The present owner acquired the car in 1988 and has maintained it in his collection of veteran cars ever since. It has been driven rather sparingly and received cosmetic and mechanical work over the years, only as needed. It is finished in maroon with an intriguing, unidentified coat of arms on the doors, which has been on the body since at least the late 1950s when it was acquired by Mr. Grist. The front seats are upholstered in black leather, and the passenger seats are worsted wool with tapestry window pulls. Various period features included extensive brass trim and lamps, which included opera lamps, as well as a talk tube, allowing passengers to communicate from the rear with the chauffeur in front. It is reported to run and drive well and is well suited for participation in any Silver Ghost tour. Even today, a Silver Ghost is remarkably refined, outperforming cars a dozen or more years newer. The steering is refreshingly light and responsive, and the action of the clutch and transmission is that of a much newer car. It is difficult to imagine a more usable and comfortable steed for brass era tours – and certainly none with the elegance and style of the incomparable Silver Ghost. Moreover, as a very early 1909/1910 Silver Ghost, this car benefits from exceptional rarity. The current USA Rolls-Royce Owners Registry only lists five pre-1911 cars that are known to exist. As the U.S. accounts for a significant portion of early Rolls-Royce ownership, the offering of this Silver Ghost is an opportunity not to be missed by Rolls-Royce enthusiasts and serious collectors. by Douglas
1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost	1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida Chassis Number: 1EB Coachwork: Mann Egerton & Co., Ltd The early history of this Silver Ghost is not known but it was found in the 1950s in a derelict state. The present owners purchased the car in 2003 and had it shipped to Littins Vintage & Auto Restorations where it underwent a three-year total rebuild. Following restoration, this early Rolls-Royce has done 9,000 miles on three major tours, the last being the 2009 Wholly Ghost Tour of South Africa covering the 3,000 miles and running flawlessly. by Douglas
1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Tourer	1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Tourer 368,500.00 USD 1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Tourer RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island Collector Car Auction Amelia Island, Florida March 13, 2009 AUCTION RESULTS: Lot 118 - Sold at a price of $368,500 40/50 hp, 7,428 cc L-head six-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, solid front axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, live rear axle with cantilever leaf spring platform suspension, two-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 143" Frederick Henry Royce was an engineer trained in the British electric power industry. He began tinkering with motor cars in 1902 and soon decided he could build a better car himself. By April 1, 1904, he had a running twin-cylinder car on the road and began production on a modest scale. Charles Stewart Rolls, 14 years his junior, was born to Lord and Lady Llangattock and was educated at Cambridge University. He became fond of bicycle racing and took to motor racing in 1899 with a de Dion-Bouton tricycle. In 1902, with his father's backing, he began importing French cars to London and selling them. In the course of his business, he tested a Royce car; his friend Henry Edmunds, a pioneer motorist and founder of the Royal Automobile Club, arranged for him to meet Henry Royce over lunch in May 1904. The two men hit it off very well, and Rolls took on the selling of Royce's entire output. The first Rolls-Royce car was shown at the Paris Salon in December 1904, and by 1905, both three- and four-cylinder cars were in production. In 1906, Rolls canceled all his other franchise arrangements and devoted himself entirely to the sales of Rolls-Royce cars. It was at this time that the two men's businesses were merged as Rolls-Royce, Ltd. Henry Royce was embarking on largely uncharted territory when he set out to design a six-cylinder engine in 1906. In Britain, only Napier espoused the concept, and the vitality of longer crankshafts was of concern. Royce went back to basics and placed two sets of three cylinders on a common crankcase, set back-to-back such that the third and fourth pistons rose and fell together. Pressure lubrication was a forward-looking feature. Production began in 1907, the most famous of the genre being a silver Barker-bodied tourer built for Managing Director Claude Johnson. Christened "Silver Ghost," its name was later appropriated for the entire 19-year model run of what was officially called the 40/50, from its horsepower rating. The Autocar opined on its ghost-like behavior: "At whatever speed the car is being driven on its direct third there is no engine as far as sensation goes, nor are one's auditory nerves troubled…by a fuller sound than emanates from an eight-day clock." Johnson's Silver Ghost took part in the 2000-mile Scottish Reliability Trial, winning a gold medal. He then subjected it to a further extended test, covering 15,000 miles in repeated London-Glasgow journeys, after which it was disassembled and examined for wear. All parts were found to be within tolerances, exceptional for that stage in the development of the motor car. The car still exists, now restored, and it is estimated it has covered nearly 600,000 miles. The lengendary London-Edinburgh model resulted from a 1911 challenge by archrival Napier. Napier's distributor Selwyn Francis Edge entered a 65-hp car in an RAC-observed run from London to Edinburgh, driven entirely in high gear. Rising to the challenge, Rolls-Royce responded with a nearly standard Silver Ghost chassis clad in attractive, lightweight tourer bodywork. Higher compression and a larger carburetor were the only mechanical modifications. The Rolls easily outshone the Napier on fuel consumption, and in a timed run at the Brooklands track, it bested its rival, 78.26 to 76.42 miles per hour, driven by Ernest Hives, who later would become the Rolls-Royce chief engineer. The same chassis, with a single-seat body and high ratio axle, was clocked at 101.8 mph in the flying mile at Brooklands the following year. The fame of its achievements and the aesthetics of the close-coupled tourer body resulted in production of a small number of similar models in ensuing years. Not surprisingly, the London-Edinburgh style has become a favorite with collectors. In 1911, the press began referring to Rolls-Royce as the "Best Car in the World," but it was several years before the company adopted the slogan in advertising. The Silver Ghost remained in production through 1925, with electric lights and self-starter made standard in 1919 and four-wheel brakes late in 1923. Progress at other prestige makes like Hispano-Suiza, however, resulted in the Ghost becoming an anachronism, so when a revised overhead-valve model was introduced in May 1925, it was given a new name: New Phantom. Chassis 23ED was ordered by the British Admiralty on February 21, 1915 and delivered on April 28. Silver Ghosts were frequently used by His Majesty's forces during World War I as staff cars, supply vehicles and, when appropriately clad, as armored cars – and consequently few retain their original coachwork today. 23ED was eventually shipped to the United States and was discovered by Joe Loecy, a prominent Ohio collector and Rolls-Royce enthusiast in the 1970s. It has remained in the same family ever since. A restoration was planned over the years, and appropriate replacements for missing parts were found or fabricated. The London-Edinburgh tourer body was supplied by British coachbuilders Crailville, Ltd. of Southall, Middlesex and shipped to America for installation. Founded in June 1975 as Crailville Motors, Crailville, Ltd. specializes in construction of correct period bodies for classic cars and the design and fabrication of modern custom coachwork for contemporary automobiles. Complete restorations of cars are also undertaken. The first of very few restorers accepted into the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Crailville, Ltd. has produced bodies and restorations that have won awards from Rolls-Royce clubs, as well as both the Louis Vuitton and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The full restoration of 23ED began in earnest three years ago. The car was subjected to a complete mechanical rebuild, including engine, transmission, axles and chassis. A new stainless steel exhaust system has been fitted, as well as an electronic overdrive for effortless touring. Many components from the original chassis and driveline were lost or used for other projects over the years, but correct replacements, even if by number not originally delivered with the car, were located, numbered and dated correctly for the car, restored and installed. The end result is that the finished product is as close to the appearance of the original as possible – with flawless detailing and stunning beauty. The body, in the close-coupled London-Edinburgh style, has the delightful flying wings of its famous progenitor. It is finished in archetypal silver, nicely contrasted with the leather interior. A handsome canvas top is fitted for motoring on inclement days. Appropriate accessories include an Elliott speedometer, mirrors and electric side- and headlamps. Everything is exquisitely detailed, and the car is road-tested and ready to show or tour. Fresh from a top to bottom rebuild, it is a virtually new Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh tourer. by Douglas
1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost.	1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost. 1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost. Merrimac Piccadilly Roadster Coachwork. This is one of the last Rolls Royces built in Springfield. Part of the John Rich Collection. Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida by Douglas
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost	1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida by Douglas
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer	1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in Rochester, Michigan, August 7, 2005. by Douglas
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Barker Touring	1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Barker Touring 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Barker Touring Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Location: The Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in Rochester, Michigan, August 7, 2005. by Douglas
1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roadster	1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roadster 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roadster Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida This Rolls-Royce was ordered by a brewery owner in Liverpool and features coachwork by the Plaxton Company in Scarborough. The purchaser was a large man and hence the oversized passenger side of the seat. He was also an avid cigar smoker and had a solid silver ash tray installed. The second owner bought the car in 1934 with 75,000 miles on it. He only put 5,000 miles on the automobile and sold it in 1965. Additional notes say the car was not driven from 1949 through 1965. It changed hands a couple more times before the current owners purchased the car and, within months, bravely drove it on their first Wholly Ghost Tour in North Carolina. by Douglas

• List All the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Cars

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

Henry Royce was embarking on largely uncharted territory when he set out to design a six-cylinder engine in 1906. In Britain, only Napier espoused the concept, and the vitality of longer crankshafts was of concern. Royce went back to basics and placed two sets of three cylinders on a common crankcase, set back-to-back such that the third and fourth pistons rose and fell together. Pressure lubrication was a forward-looking feature. Production began in 1907, the most famous of the genre being a silver Barker-bodied tourer built for Managing Director Claude Johnson. Christened "Silver Ghost," its name was later appropriated for the entire 19-year model run of what was officially called the 40/50, from its horsepower rating. The Autocar opined on its ghost-like behavior: "At whatever speed the car is being driven on its direct third there is no engine as far as sensation goes, nor are one's auditory nerves troubled…by a fuller sound than emanates from an eight-day clock."

Johnson's Silver Ghost took part in the 2000-mile Scottish Reliability Trial, winning a gold medal. He then subjected it to a further extended test, covering 15,000 miles in repeated London-Glasgow journeys, after which it was disassembled and examined for wear. All parts were found to be within tolerances, exceptional for that stage in the development of the motor car. The car still exists, now restored, and it is estimated it has covered nearly 600,000 miles.

The lengendary London-Edinburgh model resulted from a 1911 challenge by archrival Napier. Napier's distributor Selwyn Francis Edge entered a 65-hp car in an RAC-observed run from London to Edinburgh, driven entirely in high gear. Rising to the challenge, Rolls-Royce responded with a nearly standard Silver Ghost chassis clad in attractive, lightweight tourer bodywork. Higher compression and a larger carburetor were the only mechanical modifications.

The Rolls easily outshone the Napier on fuel consumption, and in a timed run at the Brooklands track, it bested its rival, 78.26 to 76.42 miles per hour, driven by Ernest Hives, who later would become the Rolls-Royce chief engineer. The same chassis, with a single-seat body and high ratio axle, was clocked at 101.8 mph in the flying mile at Brooklands the following year. The fame of its achievements and the aesthetics of the close-coupled tourer body resulted in production of a small number of similar models in ensuing years. Not surprisingly, the London-Edinburgh style has become a favorite with collectors. In 1911, the press began referring to Rolls-Royce as the "Best Car in the World," but it was several years before the company adopted the slogan in advertising.

One of the most severe tests for motor cars before World War I was the Austrian Alpine Trials. The extremely steep grades on the mountain passes were guaranteed to take their toll on both the cars and their drivers. In the 1912 Trials, a Silver Ghost failed the demand of an incline and only when the passengers had left the car and helped by pushing it, did the car get underway again. Rolls-Royce was shocked and immediately set out to identify the reasons for the car's failue, since Silver Ghosts had been tested on equally steep inclines in Scotland. Rolls-Royce had not taken into account the lower atmospheric density of the high Alps. The solution to the challenges was known as the "Continental" model, which had a taller radiator for better cooling, a larger carburetor and the addition of a lower ratio forth gear for better hill climbing. On the return to the Austrian Alpine Trials in 1913, Rolls dominated the rally with a top speed of 80 miles per hour.

By 1923, an increase in engine displacement from 7 to 7.5 liters, dual magneto and coil ignition, larger rear drum brakes, four-speed transmission and a sturdier frame were incorporated to handel the heavier coachwork of the period.

The Silver Ghost remained in production through 1925, with electric lights and self-starter made standard in 1919 and four-wheel brakes late in 1923. Progress at other prestige makes like Hispano-Suiza, however, resulted in the Ghost becoming an anachronism, so when a revised overhead-valve model was introduced in May 1925, it was given a new name: New Phantom.

In 1920, Rolls-Royce, Ltd. opend a manufacturing plant in Springfield, Massachusetts and founded Rolls-Royce of America, Inc. The growing market in the US for Rolls-Royce automobiles and the heavy US import duty on foreign-made vehicles justified this new venture. The first chassis were completed in 1921 and each had custom coachwork from one of several independent coachbuilders located in the US. One of these was the Merrimac Body Company in Merrimac, Massachusetts whose was marketed as the "Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work". 1703 Silver Ghosts were made at Springfield between 1921 and 1926 when production ceased.

Years of Production: 1906 to 1926

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