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1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer

  • Coachwork by Barker
  • Chassis Number: 1717
  • Engine Number: 1717
The Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP was introduced at the Olympia Motor Show in 1906 and remained in production through 1926 with 6,173 examples built in total. More commonly known as the Silver Ghost, they firmly established the company's reputation as 'The Best Car in the World.'

This particular example initially wore coachwork by Barker as a formal, open-front, seven-passenger limousine. It was shown on the works' show stand at the Olympia Motor Show in 1911 and its first known owner was J.R. Wadsworth of New York. The next owner was actress Billie Burke who acquired it in the mid-1910s. By 1973, it was purchased by aviation engineer and mechanical enthusiast Ed Swearingen of San Antonio, Texas. By this time, the coachwork was beyond repair, so he had a body built in the style of Barker-bodied Tourer, chassis number 1298.

Mr. Swearingen treated 1717 to a restoration, incorporating high-compression pistons and a tall rear-end ratio to enable higher speeds.

In 1987, this Rolls-Royce was awarded Most Silent Silver Ghost at the RROC National Meet. That same year, the Silver Ghost was acquired by the former chairman of the Silver Ghost Association and Pebble Beach judge, Roger Morrison. It later became part of the Nic Moller's collection in New York, who refinished the Ghost in dark green with a polished bonnet and firewall.

The current owner acquired the car in 2015, who immediately sent it to Silver Ghost restorer Steve Littin, founder of Vintage & Auto Rebuilds in Chardon, Ohio, for extensive restorative work. The body was removed from the chassis, the suspension was thoroughly serviced, the gearbox was rebuilt, and a new clutch and water pump were fitted. The car was changed to its present color combination and a new top mechanism was crafted and installed. The car has been driven only a few hundred miles since the work was completed.

The engine is a 7,428cc inline L-head six-cylinder unit with a single Updraft carburetor and delivering 50 horsepower at 1,500 RPM. It is backed by a three-speed manual gearbox and stopping power is by rear-wheel mechanical drum brakes. In the front is a beam-axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs, while the rear employs a live-axle with three-quarter elliptical leaf springs.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021

2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,500,000 
Lot was not sold

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost

(Data based on Model Year 1911 sales)
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Drophead Coupe by Barker
Chassis#: 1713
Sold for USD$385,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey
 
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine
Chassis#: 1850E
Sold for USD$940,000
  2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roadster
Chassis#: 1592
Sold for USD$1,017,500
  2013 RM Auctions - Monterey
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges Tourer
Chassis#: 1677
Sold for USD$869,264
  2012 Aalholm Automobile Collection
 
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Seven-Passenger Roi des Belges
Chassis#: 1574
Sold for USD$836,000
  2012 RM - Milhous Collection, Fla
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulette
Chassis#: 1797
Sold for USD$506,000
  2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi-des-Belge Tourer
Chassis#: 1574
Sold for USD$682,000
  2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost ROI_DES_BELGES
Sold for USD$522,500
  2008 Worldwide Auctions - The Auburn Auction 2008
 
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost
Sold for USD$990,000
  2007 Gooding & Company
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Roi Des Belges
Chassis#: 1574
Sold for USD$797,500
  2007 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost
Sold for USD$858,000
  2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost image  
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Landaulette
Sold for USD$401,500
  2003 Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Hall
 

Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghosts That Failed To Sell At Auction

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1911 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50 HP SILVER GHOST TOURER16062023 Gooding & Company : London Auction $500,000$700,000
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer17172021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction $1,000,000$1,500,000
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Tulip-Backed semi open drive Pullman Limousine15432020 Bonhams : The Golden Age of Motoring Sale (1886 1939) $1,000,000$1,300,000
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer by Lawton15442016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island$2,100,000$2,500,000$3,500,000
1911 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50 ROI-DES-BELGES 2015 Bonhams : The Frederiksen Auction $3,500,000$5,000,000

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1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost

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