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1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roi-des-Belges Tourer

  • Chassis Number: 970
  • Engine Number: 60970
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges 'The Silver Fairy' in the style of its original Barker body. It rests on a rare 134.5-inch 'short wheelbase' and is powered by its numbers-matching 7.4-liter engine with a factory-fitted four-speed overdrive transmission.

This Silver Ghost received it's The Silver Fairy' nickname from original owner John Henry Thomas who took delivery on August 4th, 1909. The car was re-bodied for Mr. Thomas in 1911 and remained in his ownership until 1924, when, after over 300,000 miles, it was traded on a new Silver Ghost. In November 1958, the Rolls-Royce was acquired by Joe Loecy of Cleveland, Ohio, and imported several months later from Major C.G. Cardew, a garage operator in Harrogate. While in his care, a duplicate of the original Barker Roi des Belges body was created. The Silver Ghost remained in the Loecy family for over four decades. It was awarded 1st in Class at the 2002 Rolls-Royce Owners' Club National Meet, before joining a private collection of Silver Ghosts in 2004. The new owners tasked Steve Littin, now of Vintage & Auto Rebuilds in Chardon, Ohio, to perform a total mechanical and cosmetic freshening, including refinishing the car in its cream paintwork with grey coachlines, a charcoal grey leather interior, and extensive use of polished wood trim, with a black canvas top and correct polished nickel brightwork.

Period features include Lucas gas lamps with cut glass lenses, a 'Cobra' horn, a running board-mounted toolbox, Warland Dual Rim wood-spoke wheels on 895x135 beaded edge tires, and rush mats. It has its correct oil pressure gauge, a 'Double Elliott' speedometer and trip odometer, and a distinctive steering wheel with the proper timing and idle adjustment controls.

This Rolls-Royce was judged Best in Class at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In the current owner's care, the car has been shown selectively, earning a Best in Show at the 2019 Cars on Kiawah in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Under previous ownership, this car received an electric starter and a 12-volt electrical system. The air pressure-type fuel delivery system installed by the factory in 1911 remains in place today.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023
Frederick Henry Royce was the son of a flour miller. He apprenticed with the Great Northern Railroad and designed his first car in 1904. It was an improvement of his two-cylinder Decauville. Charles Stewart Rolls was the third son of Lord Llangttock and a successful businessman, selling horses and carriages to the well to do. Rolls requested a meeting after hearing of Royce's new machine and a partnership ensued, giving Rolls the exclusive right to sell Royce's cars.

A product of that partnership, after a few less than successful attempts is the famous Silver Ghost. Rolls Royce Company committed itself to making a single 40/50 hp model. The firm provided only the chassis, with the customers ordering the bodies from a variety of coachbuilders. The 40/50 hp received a massive new crankshaft that made its six-cylinder engine smoother than any other in this period. Because of the exploits of a well-promoted Rolls-Royce tourer, all 6,173 40/50s came to be known as 'Silver Ghosts.' Later trials, races and hill climbs bolstered the model's reputation as 'The Best Car in the World.'

The 40/50 soon became the favored car of princes and potentates. Even Lenin owned one, although the British royal family bought only Daimlers.

This car, chassis number 60970, was originally sold to John Henry Thomas, a London photographer. It was the first example to carry Roi des Belges bodywork, a body style originally designed for the King of Belgium. In 1919, the car's second body, a Torpedo by Barkers, was exchanged for a Safari body used for the car's adventures in India where it remained until 1946. It was then shipped to England and arrived stateside by noted collector Joe Loeey in 1959, where it was paired with a new Roi des Belges body, in 1961. This is the only surviving short wheelbase sports chassis Silver Ghost in existence.

2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $850,000-USD $1,150,000 
Sale Price :
USD $885,000

2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,250,000 
Lot was not sold

1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

(Data based on Model Year 1909 sales)
1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges in the style of Barker
Chassis#: 1175
Sold for USD$698,500
  2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges 'The Silver Fairy' in the style of Barker
Chassis#: 970
Sold for USD$885,000
  2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  
1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges in the style of Barker
Chassis#: 1203
Sold for USD$1,325,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : The Guyton Collection
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  
1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges
Chassis#: 1203
Sold for USD$825,000
  2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Sold for USD$1,485,000
  2007 Gooding & Company
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  
1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost ‘Roi-de-Belges' Tourer
Chassis#: 1203
Sold for USD$627,217
  2003 Bonhams - Important Collectors' Motor Cars
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost image  

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts That Failed To Sell At Auction

1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1909 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50HP SILVER GHOST OPEN DRIVE LANDAULETTE11202021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction $1,300,000$1,500,000
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges The Silver Fairy in the style of Barker9702018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island $1,000,000$1,250,000

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1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

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Other Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost model years

1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Vehicle Profiles

1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost vehicle information
Roi-des-Belges Tourer
Coachwork: Barker
Chassis #: 1175
Engine #: 1175
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost vehicle information
Open Drive Landaulette
Coachwork: Barker
Chassis #: 1120
Engine #: 1120
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost vehicle information
Roi-des-Belges Tourer
Chassis #: 970
Engine #: 60970
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost vehicle information
Roi-des-Belges Tourer
Coachwork: Barker
1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost vehicle information
Roi-des-Belges Tourer
Coachwork: Barker
Chassis #: 1203
Engine #: 1203