1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Cabriolet

This car (chassis number WZB36) was displayed at the New York Auto Show in 1949. The Silver Wraith was the first postwar Rolls-Royce model, and it was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959. This was the last Rolls-Royce model to receive a wide variety of bespoke coachwork, designed and made by a rapidly declining number of specialist coachbuilders. One of only two Rolls-Royce Silver Wraiths built by J.S. Inskip, this car was delivered in January of 1951. Inskip was the New York distributor for Rolls-Royce. Most of the Rolls-Royces Inskip imported at that time had British or French coachwork, but Inskip did build a handful of Inskip-badged bodies on Phantom III and Silver Wraith chassis.

This car, chassis number WZB36, was the second and last Inskip drophead coupe completed, and the final Rolls-Royce produced with an American custom body. The final two Rolls-Royces produced with American custom coachwork were a pair of drophead coupes, built by former Brewster craftsmen for importer J.S. Inskip of New York. They were constructed on two early Silver Wraith chassis and given sumptuous baroque curves, inspired by the French designs of Saoutchik and Figoni. Other features included the sweeping fenders decorated with chromed brass, and a distinctively sporting 'dip' in the beltline.

The original build plans for this car indicate that it was intended to be built by as a James Young saloon, but this order was cancelled and the car instead sent to the United States. It was finally sold by Inskip to its original owner, Lawrence S. Donaldson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 29 January 1951. The car was maintained at the family's historic mansion at 1712 Mount Curve Avenue.

The cars next caretaker was Andrew Darling, who purchased the Silver Wraith from Mr. Donaldson in August of 1957. It remained with him for nearly four decades, before being sold at the famous auction of his collection by Sotheby's in 1996.

A short time later, it was acquired by its current owner, who maintained it for several more years in its original condition, before treating it to a restoration. It was refinished in dark sapphire blue, with a red leather interior and blue cloth top. Currently, the odometer shows 24,910 miles on its original engine.