☰
conceptcarz.com
✕

1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Introduced in 1907, when horses were still the preferred mode of travel and automobiles were loud, smelly and unreliable, Henry Royce and C.S. Johnson of Rolls-Royce, Ltd. unveiled a one-of-a-kind, whisper-quiet 40-50hp legend, the 'Silver Ghost.'

Up to 1906, the most powerful engine Rolls-Royce had ever produced was a 30hp, six-cylinder giant - woefully underpowered considering its seating capacity; there was room to ferry the entire family to the countryside for a Sunday picnic. The company's arsenal of models was powered by two, three, four and six cylinders, and even an abortive V-8 was attempted before Managing Director Claude Johnson's decision to concentrate on the range-topping 40/50 H.P. With a body balanced high over a silky-smooth, transverse leaf spring and a drive-train powered by a huge but silent seven-liter (7248cc), side valve, six-cylinder inline-block, the Silver Ghost broke several world endurance and mileage records. One example was driven on a 15,000-miles test which included driving between London and Glasgow 27 times.

The 40/50 H.P. first appeared at the 1906 Motor Show and became known as the 'Silver Ghost' the following year, when chassis number 60551 was exhibited wearing silver-painted tourer coachwork by Barker. Production would continue through 1926 when it was succeeded by the new Phantom. During its long production lifespan, a total of 7,874 examples were constructed, including 1,701 from the American Springfield factory.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost used a 135.5-inch wheelbase from 1906 through 1913. A 143.5-inch platform was used from 1913 through 1923, and a 144- and 150.5-inch wheelbase were used from 1923 forward. The straight-6 engine displaced 7,036cc from 1906 through 1910 when it was enlarged to 7,428cc. A three-speed manual transmission was used from 1909 through 1913 and a four-speed unit from 1913 forward.

The side-valve, six-cylinder engine had cylinders cast in two units of three-cylinder each. The seven-bearing crankshaft used full pressure lubrication, and the diameter of the center main bearing was larger than the other bearings to reduce vibration. Each cylinder used two spark plugs, and in 1921, customers were given a choice of coil or magneto ignition. Engine output was initially 48 horsepower at 1,250 RPM and later increased to 80 horsepower at 2,250 RPM.

Acetylene or oil lighting was used through the early years, joined in 1914 by optional electrical lighting which became standardized in 1919, the same year electric starting was added.

Early Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost models had rear wheel brakes operated by a hand lever, with a pedal-operated transmission braking action on the propeller shaft. In 1913, the footbrake system moved to drums on the rear axle, and in 1923, four-wheel servo-assisted brakes became optional equipment.

Balloon Car by Wilkinson
Chassis number: 1513
Engine number: 1513

The Honorable Charles Stewart Rolls had come from a family of wealth. His family had made a fortune in real estate development and land holdings, and they held tens of thousands of residential units and were very prosperous.

C.S.Rolls had earned a degree in mechanism and applied science at Cambridge. His company, C.S. Rolls & Company, distributed several cars made in France. He used his contacts, visibility, and entrepreneurial talents gained from his family, in his endeavors.

He met Frederick Henry Royce and soon became the exclusive marketing agent for Royce's cars bearing the Rolls-Royce nameplate. The cars were well built, easy to sell, durable, well appointed, and highly sought after. With little challenges left in his life, C.S. Rolls eventually turned to flying and would become a famed aeronaut.

His flying exploits began in a balloon fueled by coal gas. Together with his friend John Moore-Brabazon, they purchased the first balloon built by the Short brothers and would make over 130 balloon ascents.

In the early days of ballooning, the course and destination were very unpredictable. When the flyers would make their descent, aeronauts would bundle up their balloon, its rigging and the basket (also known as the 'car'). They would then commission a local farmer, if one could be found, to haul the balloon and its related materials to the railway station. C.S Rolls soon bypassed this routine by outfitting a Silver Ghost chassis with a special two-seat body that had a platform in the rear where the balloon-car could be placed. The rigging and related materials could then be loaded into the basket, and the transportation problem was solved.

C.S. Rolls had commissioned H.J. Mulliner to create the body for the original Rolls Balloon car. It was equipped with many special features including Rudge Whitworth wire wheels and metal front wings and patent leather at the rear. The car had inlet-over-exhaust cylinder heads and a longer stroke resulting in an increase in horsepower to around 70.

The original car was destroyed many years ago, but this example, along with one other, still remain; it is a 1910 Rolls duplicate with chassis number 1513 and coachwork by Wilkinson. This replica was built under the guidance of Millard Newman and is one of two recreations made. One car went to the Harrah collection and the other to Newman.

This was the Newman-owned car. It was later purchased by S. Prestley Blake, and in 1991 it was purchased by Richard Solove.

Chassis 1513 is fitted with Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels and a very raked split windscreen. A dickey seat can be installed in the rear platform where C.S. Rolls would have mounted his balloon. The car is painted in red with black accents, chassis and fenders. This car wears an older restoration that shows well in modern times.

There are fender-mounted bulb horns, a 'Double Elliott' speedometer/odometer, and lots of brass work and fixtures.

In 2007, it was brought to the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California, where it was estimated to sell for $900,000 - $1,100,000 and offered without reserve. Bidding soon surpassed those estimates with the final bid settling at $1,430,000, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Open Drive Landaulet by Mulliner
Chassis number: 1300

This Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Open Drive Landaulet was originally fitted with a Cabriolet body by A. Mulliner on June 18, 1910. It was refitted with original H.J. Mulliner coachwork in the early 1950s. Finished in a lovely deep red with black trim, the car's lines are enhanced by its elaborate brightwork and gleaming German silver. The car features an exposed seat for the driver and footman, and a folding rear roof section to allow the car's owners to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Lighting equipment includes Lucas 'King of the Road' headlamps, elaborate kerosene cowl lamps, kerosene coach lamps and a single rear tail lamp. The radiator cap is an original, period RAC member's badge (#DG279). Twin tool boxes are mounted on the running boards. The interior is finished in oxblood leather, with embroidered trim, and has a pair of remarkable folding seats in ebony lacquer and matching red leather. Crystal flower vases, an original electric Klaxon, a 60 mph Smith's speedometer and a wonderful overhead luggage rack complete the ensemble.

Double Pullman Limousine
Chassis number: 1392
Engine number: 1392

This magnificent and incredibly tall 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine remains in its original condition, and has been nicknamed the 'Mary Rose.' The name was taken from a short story by Peter Pan's creator, J.M. Barrie, a supernatural tale of the strange disappearance of a little girl on a tiny Hebridean island, who reappears to her parents unaged and unchanged many years later.

This Silver Ghost was ordered by Douglas Fletcher, Esq., of Avoch, Scotland, and coached by S & A Fuller Coachworks of Bath, England. It is believed to be the first Silver Ghost fitted with electric lights. Upon Fletcher's demise in 1929, the car was sequestered on the Black Isle of Scotland and remained undisturbed for 25 years.

The car was found in the mid-fifties locked up in a dark building. Other than a patch of paint faded by a stream of light from the small window, the Ghost returned to the outside world unaltered by its long incarceration. It was eventually purchased from the Fletcher estate and superbly preserved with its original interior, which it retains to this day. Numerous collectors have enjoyed Rolls-Royce #1392, and each has taken particular care to preserve its originality, with minimal refinishing. In 2010, this Ghost was awarded the Lucius Beebe Award at Pebble Beach Concours - an award named for a 'bon vivant' who traveled by private Pullman car in grand style similar to this example. This automobile has taken part in numerous rallies, and one cannot help but reflect on how, despite many changes in its surroundings, the Silver Ghost endures - largely unchanged.

Since then, only sympathetic maintenance has been done to maintain the car's originality. The paintwork shows the true art of the coach painter; the painter's original brush strokes are still visible.

Landaulette by Brainsby-Woollard
Chassis number: 1204

Mr. Andrew T. Reid, Esq. of Auchterarder, Scotland took deliver of this Silver Ghost, chassis number 1204, in January of 1910. Mr. Reid was born in 1863 and would acquire many vehicles for his collection over his lifetime. After his passing in 1941, they were sold at auction.

During World War II, the car was stored at Auchterarder House and was sold by Andrew Reid's brother, along with two other Rolls-Royces that were in storage, shortly after the war. In the late 1950s, the car was in the care of the Neal brothers, well known Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost restorers.

The car currently wears a landaulette body that was built by Brainsby. The body is believed to have original clothed a 1908 Minerva owned by a judge. In the 1920s, the Minerva was rebodied, so the Brainsby body was removed. The body would remain in storage until it was purchased by Mr. Grist in 1958 from an individual in Plymouth for just £15. The body was then purchased by John Birchell, who it is believed sold it to the Neal brothers, who in turn married the body with chassis 1204. The original body supplied to the car remains a mystery, though there is some indications that it may have worn landaulette coachwork from new.

Thomas Brainsby & Sons was founded in 1905 in Peterborough. They built bodies for such cars as Crossley, Fiat, Hotchkiss and occasionally even Rolls-Royce. The company faded away in the 1920s, around the time that Brainsby-Woolard arose, a supplier of coachbuilt bodies which were contracted out to such houses as Lancefield or John Charles. Brainsby-Woolard would cease operation in 1936.

Around 1964, Mr. George Hardwick of West Ewell, London purchased 1204, and kept it for over two decades, during which time he participated with the car in the 1977 Royal Jubilee. The current owner acquired the car in 1988. Since then, it has been driven rather sparingly and received cosmetic and mechanical work over the years, only as needed. The car is finished in maroon, with an unidentified coat of arms on the door, which has been on the body since at least the late 1950s when it was acquired by Mr. Grist. The front seats are upholstered in black leather, and the passenger seats are worsted wool with tapestry window pulls. Various period features included extensive brass trim and lamps, which included opera lamps, as well as a talk tube, allowing passengers to communicate from the rear with the chauffeur in front.

In 2010, this Silver Ghost was offered for sale at RM Auctions 'Automobiles of Amelia Island' sale in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell for $500,000-$700,000. As bidding came to a close, the car has been sold for the sum of $539,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Tourer by Holbrook

This Silver Ghost is one of the last short chassis cars produced and features the larger 7,428cc engine that was introduced in 1909. This rare combination produces a car with an excellent power-to-weight ratio and a light driving experience unmatched by later Rolls-Royce motor cars. Fitted with the current touring coachwork by Holmes of Derby in 1913, it has a well-documented history from new. It was laid up between 1923 and 1945, when it was purchased by the British motoring journalist John Bolster, who kept the car until his death in 1990. It was then acquired by Bill Lake, who also kept it for the rest of his life. Featured in the popular TV series Downton Abbey, it is used regularly; it made a recent tour of California.

Balloon Car by Wilkinson
Chassis number: 1513
Engine number: 1513

This Rolls-Royce was fitted with Landaulette coachwork by Barker and sold to Mrs. William (Lucile) Carter who was a Titanic disaster survivor in 1912. By 1969 the car was found in the middle of a field in Pennsylvania by Rolls-Royce connoisseur Millard Newman. Around 1970 Newman supervised the construction of two extremely accurate Balloon Car replicas and one is this example.

The car is powered by a 7428 cc six-cylinder engine developing 50 horsepower.

It ended up in a collection in Denmark until purchased by the current owner in 2015. It has been toured extensively. The car is named 'Lucie' in honor of her first owner.

Roi-des-Belges by Wilkinson
Chassis number: 1341

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was a legendary motor car designed by Sir Henry Royce. It would become widely known as the 'Best Car in the World.'

It is powered by a 48 bhp, 7,248 cc side-valve six-cylinder engine, whose cylinders were cast in pairs. It featured a three-speed manual transmission, front semi-elliptical spring suspension, a rear three-quarter elliptical leaf-spring suspension, a foot actuated transmission mounted service brake and hand operated two-wheel drum brakes. These features work together to provide a powerful and comfortable ride.

The most desirable of the Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghosts are the early 'parallel bonnet' models. These cars were produced between the start of production in 1907 and 1915. They are named for the distinctive

front end. These cars are unparalleled in their opulence, elegance and Swiss watch-like craftsmanship.

Double Pullman Limousine
Chassis number: 1392
Engine number: 1392

This 1910 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Pullman Limousine is equipped with a 7,428cc inline L-head 6-cylinder engine with a single Updraft carburetor and delivering 50 horsepower at 1,500 RPM. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The coachwork is by S & A Fuller Coachworks of Bath, England who crafted wooden window casements and curved corner windows. The width of the rear comparment extends past the doors and concludes in the tulip-shaped rear line.

This Rolls-Royce was ordered new by Mr. J. Douglas Fletcher, Esq., of Avoch, Scotland, and the chassis was dispatched to the coachbuilder on October 19, 1910. The order sheet specified brass fittings throughout and is believed to be the first SIlver Ghost to be fitted with electric lights. Additional specific requested concerned the tire selection, steering rake, spring rate, and gear ratios.

When Mr. Fletcher passed away in 1929, the car was sequestered in a darkened building on the Black Isle of Scotland. It remained undisturbed in storage for 25 years before being purchased from the Fletcher estate, preserved just as it had been stored, including its original interior, which it retains to this day.

The car has been cared for by numerous US- and UK-based collectors, preserving its originality and character. The interior contains a rare quad-faced Elliott instrument array, which is complemented by a double-faced Elliott in the rear compartment, making 1392 among the first cars to include rear instrumentation. There is a speaking tube, original seat cloth and cushions, headliner, carpets, and privacy shades. Above the retractable window panes, subtle air ventilation controls remain in place.

The current owner acquired this Rolls-Royce in 2006. The car wears its original color combination of black with claret-maroon. More recently, the car was brought back to concours standards while giving utmost care to the conservation of its materials and finishes.

This car has earned class awards at Amelia Island and at the Pebble Beach Concours, where it received the Lucius Beebe Award, which is given to the Rolls-Royce 'most in the Lucius Beebe tradition.'

by Dan Vaughan

Roi-des-Belges
Chassis number: 1300

It was actually the twelfth 40/50 chassis that initiated the name Silver Ghost. Sporting a touring body by Barker, Chassis No. 60551 wore aluminum paint and silver-plated lamps and fittings and a plate affixed to its dashboard bearing the now-famous name. Rolls-Royce used it as a demonstrator to both successfully promote the reliability and mechanical competence of its latest product.

This Silver Ghost was requisitioned for the War Effort and rebodied with a limousine body which remained until 2020. It was replaced with a Roi des Belges body which refers to 'the elegant and spacious open tonneau body style with comfortable, baroque-style buttoned seats as originally commissioned by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902 and called the 'Roi des Belges Tonneau de Grande Luxe.'

In 1906 a new model, the 40/50 horsepower, was developed with a longer chassis and a six-cylinder engine. The popularity of the new Rolls-Royce grew quickly as it developed a reputation for smoothness, silence, flexibility and, above all, reliability. In 1907 a writer from the 'Autocar' described riding in the Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp as '....the feeling of being wafted through the countryside.' Engineers at Rolls-Royce coined the word 'waftability' to encapsulate that sensation. Today it is a word that cannot be found in any direction but it is a key design and engineering criterion.

The twelfth 40/50 produced had all its fittings silver-plated and the coachwork painted in aluminum paint. This car became known as the Silver Ghost and is probably the most famous car in the world. The name was later adopted for all the 40/50 hp car and had an immediate international impact, enhanced by the coachbuilders of the day, who could produce bodies of breathtaking beauty. The Silver Ghost was, quite simply, in a class of its own.

The motor car's versatility is legendary. It overwhelmingly won every reliability trial and distance record, dominated the great Alpine Trial of 1913 and won the Spanish Grand Prix of that year.

In May 1907, Claude Johnson drove the car to Scotland and back. This run was a precursor to the Scottish Reliability Trial for which the motor car was later awarded a gold model by the RAC.

The original idea was to drive 10,000 miles without stopping the engine, but the Silver Ghost proved so reliable that the target was raised to 15,000 miles. Despite a stall at 629 miles, when rough roads shook the petrol switch to the off position, the Silver Ghost ran faultlessly for 40 days and nights.

A further challenge was designed by Napier for Rolls-Royce to compete against them in a run from London to Edinburgh followed by high-speed runs at Brooklands. But the challenge was to complete the distance without changing gear, as opposed to how far you could travel. The car, driven by Ernest Hives, averaged 24.3 mpg between London and Edinburgh and attained a speed of 78.2 mph at Brooklands.

As an armored car in the First World War The Silver Ghost delivered exemplary service to the extent that Colonel T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) is quoted as saying, 'A Rolls in the desert is above rubies'.

In more elegant guise the Silver Ghost was the choice of the rich and famous across the globe. Kings, queens, maharajas, tsars and emperors owned them. The demand for the Silver Ghost was so high that manufacture was started in the United States in 1921 and continued in production with worldwide success until 1925.

by Rolls-Rocye Motor Cars Limited

by Rolls-Royce

The Rolls-Royce vehicles have always been the pinnacle of design, technology, and ambiance. The loudest noise that could be heard by occupants of their vehicles was said to be the clock. In 1904 engineer Frederick Henry Royce joined with the entrepreneur and businessman, the Honorable Charles Stewart Rolls. This union became known as the Rolls-Royce Company.

The Silver Ghost became available in 1906 and brought with it quality and technology to a level that had never been seen before on a motor vehicle. Most engines of the time had long and flexible crankshafts that were prone to vibration and noise. The Rolls-Royce engines had large bearings and pressurized oiling systems, secured by seven main bearings. This was then enclosed in a strong aluminum alloy crankcase eliminating much noise and creating a pleasurable driving experience for the occupants of the vehicle. The crankshaft had an accuracy of .00025 on its bearing surface. They were hand polished to remove any surface cracks left by the grinder. Instead of using noisy chains to drive the ignition, Royce used gears. Phosphor bronze and nickel steel were used in the construction of the timing gears which were then ground and polished by hand. The engine was further shortened by casting in triplets. Cooling problems and leaks were eliminated by the removable cylinder blocks and fixed heads. A Royce designed twin jet carburetor gave the engine all the breathing it required.

The Rolls Royce vehicles could accelerate from zero to top speed without shifting. Shifting during the early 1900's was a chore, with the lower gears never being smooth. It was not until top gear was achieved that the automobiles would operate properly. The Rolls-Royce Ghosts would accelerate as though they were being pulled. This feature, coupled with the vehicle's silent operation amplified the vehicle's prestige and was the ultimate driving experience of its day.

When first introduced, the Ghosts were given a four-speed gearbox with a direct drive third and an overdrive fourth. As time passed, the overdrive was dropped. The chassis was mostly conventional. Royce had fine-tuned the chassis to standards much higher than most marque's of the day. The body was held in place by a live rear axle carried in three-quarter elliptical springs. In the front, there was a solid axle supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs. Braking was by a foot pedal connected to a transmission brake. A hand brake operated twin rear drums.

Where Royce excelled in engineering, Rolls excelled in promoting and marketing. In 1906 a Ghost was entered in the Tourist Trophy Race, one of the most prestigious races of the time. The Ghost emerged victorious - well, much more than that. It had beaten the next nearest competitor by 27 minutes. Next, Rolls and Royce entered a Ghost in a 15,000-mile reliability run in 1907 which it did without incident. Upon its return to the Rolls-Royce shop, it took a small amount of money, about two-pounds or roughly ten-dollars by today's exchange rates, to restore the vehicle back to new condition.

The Silver Ghosts were entered in the Austrian Alpine Trials where the hoods were sealed shut to prevent any maintenance. The Silver Ghosts again dominated the competition and traversed the Alpine passes which were impassable for many motor cars.

This marketing worked and soon the Rolls-Royce vehicles became legendary and renowned for their durability, reliability, and style. To improve upon the prestige even further, Rolls supplied the Silver Ghosts to British royalty, a move that made sure the vehicles were seen in the right places by the right people.

The first Rolls-Royce distributor in the United States was Walter Martin of New York City, who was also a Cadillac distributor. As Cadillac continued to improve the ambiance of their vehicles, Martin naturally gave them more attention as the logistics of company location was in their favor. Rolls-Royce, on the other hand, was an ocean apart.

Over the early years of Rolls-Royce production, Brewster would become more effective in bringing Rolls-Royce chassis to America than Martin. Brewster imported several dozen chassis to supply its coachwork clients.

In 1913, the business manager for Rolls-Royce, Claude Johnson, formed a factory depot in New York and rented space from Brewster. Baker's US agent, Robert W. Schuette was appointed as Rolls-Royce distributor. At the time, Schuette also represented Fleetwood, Holbrook, Brewster, and Quinby. Around 100 Rolls-Royce's were imported over the next two years by Schuette, with around half of them bodied by Brewster.

As the First World War began to escalate, the production of Rolls-Royce automobiles slowed considerably. The factory's attention was turned to cars for military clients. Engines were produced for aircraft. By 1916, there were no more new Rolls-Royces available. Schuette and Brewster were still able to satisfy US demand for Rolls-Royce's by buying up existing chassis, renovating, and then fitting them with new coachwork.

by Dan Vaughan