1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-to-Edinburgh Light Tourer

Rolls-Royce introduced the 40/50 HP model, later called the Silver Ghost, in 1907. In 1911 one of its rivals, Napier, challenged Rolls-Royce to an endurance trial driving from London to Edinburgh, a distance of over 800 miles, on largely unpaved roads. A Silver Ghost Holmes Tourer won the contest, establishing the model's reputation as the 'Best Car in the World.' Rolls-Royce subsequently introduced its sporty London to Edinburgh chassis with underslung, semi-elliptical rear springs allowing the body to rest much lower. Lightweight coachwork was usually specified for these chassis. This particular Silver Ghost (chassis 2015), the twenty-second built to this specification, was first delivered to the Marquis de Linares in Paris. It was later sold to a Spanish owner and its original body was lost. Today the car has been fully restored in its original style.

Rolls-Royce introduced the 40/50 HP model, later called the Silver Ghost, in 1907. In 1911, one of its main rivals, Napier, challenged Rolls-Royce to an endurance trial driving from London to Edinburgh, a distance of over 800 miles on largely unpaved roads. A Silver Ghost Holmes Tourer won the contest, establishing the model's reputation as 'the best car in the world.' To capitalize on the resulting publicity, Rolls-Royce introduced the Edinburgh chassis. This would have numerous improvements making a fine car even better. It had an underslung, semi-elliptical rear springs allowing its body to rest much lower. Lightweight coachwork was usually specified for these sporty London to Edinburgh chassis.

This example is chassis number 2015, the 22nd car built to London-to-Edinburgh specifications. It was fitted with a Holmes tourer body and delivered to the Marquis de Linares in Paris, France. The car would then change hands and was owned by The Conde del Real of Madrid. It would remain in Spain for 90 years. The original body has been lost.

The car was repatriated to the United Kingdom in 2007 and would undergo a full restoration returning it to its original specifications and style.