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After World War II, Rolls-Royce resumed automobile production with a new model, thee Silver Wraith. This Silver Wraith example was first shown at the 1948 Earl's Court Motor Show without coachwork, after which it was reportedly loaned to an important client of Rolls-Royce, who mounted a rather 'interesting' Sedanca de Ville body on it in time for the Geneva Motor Show in 1949. Joseph Poberejsky, a Parisian stylist, had created the coachwork and it did not receive many favorable reviews. The official press catalogue for the show actually described it as 'Criminal or Pioneer: The ugly Rolls-Royce sedanca of Poberejsky of which it is said it could be a pioneer.' Rolls-Royce management ensured the atrocity would appear only once, and in short order had taken back the chassis, converted it to left-hand drive as LWAB63, and sold it to Mrs. L. Benitez Rexach, who was living in Maisons-Lafitte near Paris.
The French coachbuilder Franay was commissioned to build a two-door, four-seat convertible, which was delivered June 20, 1950. The coachwork featured compound-curved fenders, full rear 'spats', and a long flowing beltline. Parisian dealer Franco-Brittanic Automobiles exhibited it at both the Concours d'Elegance Automobile d'Enghien and the Concours d'Elegance de l'Auto in Paris in 1950.
Mrs. Rexach took delivery of the car on a temporary French registration, valid for only six months. The car did not get fully registered for another 13 years, until July 3rd of 1963.
Seven years after her passing, in 1975, the car was exported to the Dominican Republic, where the Rexachs had a family home, and there it remained until 1998.
Richard Gorman acquired the car on behalf of J. Frank and Milli Ricciardelli, and began a restoration effort. At the time, the car had roughly 17,000 kilometers on its odometer. It was finished in its originals shade of Blue-Grey and trimmed in Champagne Connolly hide. Because of the original show history without coachwork, the chassis and engine carry more polishing and brightwork than is normally found on production cars.
It made its restoration debut at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, winning a class away. It returned to Pebble in 2004, earning a Best in Class. Further awards included Best in Class and Best Post-war Restoration at the Unique and Special Ones event in Florence, Italy, in 2010, and Best in Class at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, in both 2004 and 2015.
This car is currently in the care of its third caretakers.
The French coachbuilder Franay was commissioned to build a two-door, four-seat convertible, which was delivered June 20, 1950. The coachwork featured compound-curved fenders, full rear 'spats', and a long flowing beltline. Parisian dealer Franco-Brittanic Automobiles exhibited it at both the Concours d'Elegance Automobile d'Enghien and the Concours d'Elegance de l'Auto in Paris in 1950.
Mrs. Rexach took delivery of the car on a temporary French registration, valid for only six months. The car did not get fully registered for another 13 years, until July 3rd of 1963.
Seven years after her passing, in 1975, the car was exported to the Dominican Republic, where the Rexachs had a family home, and there it remained until 1998.
Richard Gorman acquired the car on behalf of J. Frank and Milli Ricciardelli, and began a restoration effort. At the time, the car had roughly 17,000 kilometers on its odometer. It was finished in its originals shade of Blue-Grey and trimmed in Champagne Connolly hide. Because of the original show history without coachwork, the chassis and engine carry more polishing and brightwork than is normally found on production cars.
It made its restoration debut at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, winning a class away. It returned to Pebble in 2004, earning a Best in Class. Further awards included Best in Class and Best Post-war Restoration at the Unique and Special Ones event in Florence, Italy, in 2010, and Best in Class at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, in both 2004 and 2015.
This car is currently in the care of its third caretakers.
2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $500,000
Sale Price :
USD $473,000
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
(Data based on Model Year 1948 sales)
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith 'Woody' Chassis#: WCB 56 Sold for USD$77,137 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sold for USD$79,200 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith 4 Door Sedan Chassis#: WCB54 Sold for USD$24,645 2019 McCormick's - # 67 | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Cabriolet by Franay Chassis#: LWAB63 Sold for USD$473,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: WZB28 Sold for USD$137,500 2015 RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: WZB28 Sold for USD$110,000 2014 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Estate Chassis#: WAB64 Sold for USD$13,287 2011 H & H - Pavilion Gardens | |
1948 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH THREE-POSITION DROPHEAD Sold for USD$95,000 2007 Worldwide Auctions - Houston Classic 2007 | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Limousine Chassis#: WZB43 Sold for USD$19,800 2004 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville Chassis#: WCB10 Sold for USD$44,000 2004 The Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction |
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraiths That Failed To Sell At Auction
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Limousine Touring par Hooper | WCB3 | 2023 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic | $40,000 | $60,000 | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Drophead Coupé | WFC4 | 2022 Bonhams : The Audrain Concours Auction | $220,000 | $260,000 | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith | WVA57 | 2022 Mecum : Monterey | $25,000 | ||
1948 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH DROPHEAD COUPÉ | 2020 Bonhams : Quail Motorcar Auction | $280,000 | $340,000 | ||
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Limousine | WZB43 | 2017 Mecum : Monterey | $70,000 | ||
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith | 2017 Mecum : Kissimmee | $6,000 | |||
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Shooting Brake | WCB56 | 2011 Bonhams Beaulieu Autojumble, Collectors' Motor Cars | $35,000 | $40,000 | |
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Shooting Brake | WCB56 | 2011 Bonhams Les Grandes Marques à Monaco | $80,000 | $100,000 |
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1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
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