1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

This 1950 Rolls-Royce two-passenger Silver Wraith with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner is a unique creation. As with the art of coachbuilding, the design and specifications were often left up to the individual purchasing this vehicle. Park Ward, Mulliner, Hopper, J. Young, and Freestone were notable coachbuilders tasked with creating bodies for these late 1940s and early 1950s Rolls-Royce's.

The Silver Wraith was introduced following World War II and retained many of the designs of the post-war era. The sweeping fenders and separately-mounted Lucas headlights were indicative of the pre-WWII manufacturing.

Under the elegant bodies was a new chassis design, though it borrowed inspiration from the earlier Rolls-Royces. The front suspension was comprised of coil springs and semi-elliptics could be found in the rear. Disc wheels and white wall tires replaced the old wire-wheel design. Under the hood was a 260 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that produced around 130 horsepower. A four-speed manual gearbox was mated to the engine and mounted either on the column or to the floor.

This Silver Wraith shown is a one-of-a-kind creation and has recently undergone a five-thousand hour restoration that took three years to complete. Upon completion, it was brought to the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded a Best in Class.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007