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1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Navigation
This is one of the last of the left-hand-drive Silver Ghosts that were built at the Rolls-Royce Springfield factory before the introduction of the New Phantom. By 1926, some Silver Ghosts cost an astonishing $16,000. They were offered in a range of standard designs, including the Pall Mall Tourer, the Oxford seven-passenger tourer, the Mayfair town car and this Piccadilly roadster by Brewster. The Piccadilly was more sporty than most Rolls-Royce motor cars of the late 1920s, and was often ordered by fashionable playboys of the era. Around 80 Piccadilly roadsters were built on Silver Ghost chassis between 1919 and 1926. This is the second body built on this chassis in period. Its original coachwork was a much more sedate four-passenger Tillbury style, built for its original owner (hotelier William J. Upson) in Bethel, Maine. The car has been with its current owner for over 30 years and has just been restored.
This Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost received its Picadilly Roadster replacement body much later in life. It was among the last Silver Ghost examples completed at Springfield, Ma., and left the factory wearing Willoughby's Tillbury Sedan coachwork. The Silver Ghost was delivered on August 13, 1926, to William J. Upson of Bethel, Maine.
Around a decade later, following Mr. Upson's death, the Rolls-Royce was acquired by a Connecticut resident who removed the rear half of its Tillbury body and converted it to a pickup-type configuration. During the winter of 1957, the Rolls was discovered by Fred Kelly, and at the time, it still had its pickup-type conversion. A short time later, Mr. Kelly sold the car to Paul Rizzo, who removed the old body and replaced it with a Packard Roadster body.
By 1969, the car was in the care of Denver, Colorado-based collector Arthur Rippey and his Veteran Car Museum. It is believed that Robert Kelce of Englewood, Colorado, purchased it in 1971 and sold it in 1986 to Norm Buckhart of Sonoma, California, who kept it for the next thirty years. During this time, the numbers-matching engine was rebuilt.
In 2009, a multi-year, concours-grade restoration commenced with the work assigned to Fred Buess. The work included the creation of a replica Piccadilly body handmade by Doug Chalmers and Bill Gathings using period-correct methods. A Gearvendors overdrive module was installed during this time, along with a set of new lightweight forged pistons.
After the restoration was completed in early 2016, the car was shown at that year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024
Around a decade later, following Mr. Upson's death, the Rolls-Royce was acquired by a Connecticut resident who removed the rear half of its Tillbury body and converted it to a pickup-type configuration. During the winter of 1957, the Rolls was discovered by Fred Kelly, and at the time, it still had its pickup-type conversion. A short time later, Mr. Kelly sold the car to Paul Rizzo, who removed the old body and replaced it with a Packard Roadster body.
By 1969, the car was in the care of Denver, Colorado-based collector Arthur Rippey and his Veteran Car Museum. It is believed that Robert Kelce of Englewood, Colorado, purchased it in 1971 and sold it in 1986 to Norm Buckhart of Sonoma, California, who kept it for the next thirty years. During this time, the numbers-matching engine was rebuilt.
In 2009, a multi-year, concours-grade restoration commenced with the work assigned to Fred Buess. The work included the creation of a replica Piccadilly body handmade by Doug Chalmers and Bill Gathings using period-correct methods. A Gearvendors overdrive module was installed during this time, along with a set of new lightweight forged pistons.
After the restoration was completed in early 2016, the car was shown at that year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024
2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $175,000-USD $250,000
Sale Price :
USD $308,000
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
(Data based on Model Year 1926 sales)
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster in the style of Merrimac Chassis#: S272PL Sold for USD$308,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Playboy Roadster by Brewster Chassis#: S208ML Sold for USD$335,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster Chassis#: S178ML Sold for USD$1,325,000 2022 Bonhams : The Quail Auction | |
1926 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50HP SILVER GHOST BOAT TAIL ROADSTER Chassis#: S377RL Sold for USD$95,200 2021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer by Merrimac Chassis#: S366RL Sold for USD$196,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tilbury Sedan Chassis#: S 256 PL Sold for USD$68,320 2018 Bonhams : Collectors Motorcars and Automobilia Auction | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tilbury Sedan by Willoughby Chassis#: S360RL Sold for USD$131,600 2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1926 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50HP SILVER GHOST PICK-UP Chassis#: S248PK Sold for USD$159,500 2017 Bonhams : The Bothwell Collection | |
1926 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST PICCADILLY ROADSTER Sold for USD$357,500 2015 Bonhams Amelia Island Auction | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Playboy Roadster Chassis#: S400RK Sold for USD$264,000 2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Sold for USD$213,266 2013 Coys Auction - A236 True Greats | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost Playboy Convertible Coupe by Brewster Chassis#: S400RK Sold for USD$313,500 2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Playboy Deluxe Roadster Chassis#: S208ML Sold for USD$495,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer by Merrimac Chassis#: S226PL Sold for USD$319,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp Silver Ghost Boat-Tail Speedster Chassis#: S337RL Sold for USD$320,216 2010 RM Auctions - Sporting Classics of Monaco | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Chassis#: S255PL Sold for USD$319,000 2008 Gooding & Company | ![]() ![]() |
1926 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost Tilbury Sedan Chassis#: S360RL Sold for USD$160,000 2007 Bonhams - Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia featuring The Frank Cooke Collection Part II | |
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh style Torpedo Tourer Chassis#: S178ML Sold for USD$161,000 2006 Bonhams - The Frank Cooke Collection |
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts That Failed To Sell At Auction
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster | S335RL | 2022 Bonhams : The Audrain Concours Auction | |||
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Playboy Roadster | S306PL | 2018 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $340,000 | $400,000 | |
1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster | S295PL | 2016 Bonhams : The December Sale | $250,000 | $280,000 | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster by Rolls-Royce Custom Coach Work | S295PL | 2016 RM Sotheby's : London Sale | $280,000 | $320,000 | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall | S236PL | 2015 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | $300,000 | $375,000 | |
1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster | S335RL | 2014 Rick Cole Auctions : Monterey | $395,000 | $425,000 | |
1928 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster | S335RL | 2014 Gooding & Company The Scottsdale Auction | $400,000 | $500,000 | |
1926 Rolls-Royce 45/50hp Silver Ghost Playboy Roadster | S400RK | 2012 Bonhams Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia | $120,000 | $150,000 |
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1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster in the style of Merrimac Chassis#:S272PL Sold for $308,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() ![]() |
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1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
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