1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

Sold for $140,000 at 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach.
Carrosserie Franay of Paris bodied eight of the 1,883 Silver Wraiths built. This particular Franay-bodied example was ordered by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis 'For use in France.' Upon completion, the car had a left-hand-drive configuration, a speedometer reading in kilometers, and was delivered to the Le Meurice hotel in Paris. It made its way to the United States during the 1970s and later received a multi-year restoration that was completed in 2003. The car's black exterior was complemented by a deep red tone used on the rear doors and quarter panels.

This Sedanca de Ville has a stowable canopy over the chauffeur's compartment, cutaway rear wheel spats, and center-hinged doors. There is a chauffeur's partition divider, and dual writing tables and occasional seats in the rear compartment. Tan leather upholstery is used throughout the interior, along with ornate woodwork on the door panels and dashboard. The 4,257cc F-head inline six-cylinder engine breathes through a single Stromberg carburetor and produces an estimated 126 bhp at 4,500 RPM. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel servo-assisted drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022