1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith was introduced in late 1946 and was the company's first post-war model. It received a chassis similar to that of the Silver Dawn and Bentley MKVI, though its wheelbase was seven inches longer, measuring 10 feet 7 inches. The Wraith was intended for traditional coachbuilt bodies rather than the MkVI's 'standard steel' bodywork. At the heart of the Silver Wraith was an 'F-head' engine with the same bore and stroke dimensions as the pre-war overhead-valve Wraith engine, but with larger valves, chromium-plated cylinder bores, and spacious water jacketing around the valve seats. Additional improvements included a centralized chassis lubrication system, a new synchromesh gearbox, a new independent front suspension, and a more rigid chassis frame. The four-speed manual gearbox was later supplemented by a General Motors Hydramatic automatic option from 1952.

The engine initially had a displacement size of 4,257, later increasing from 1951 to 4,566cc and in 1955, after the introduction of the Silver Cloud, grew to 4,887cc for the remaining Silver Wraiths. 1958 was the final year of production for the Silver Wraith, with 1,883 examples built including 639 long-wheelbase versions which used a 133-inch wheelbase platform.

Among the coachbuilders to cloth the Silver Wraith were H.J. Mulliner, James Young, Park ward, and Hooper.

by Dan Vaughan

Saloon by Hooper
Chassis number: 7356

The Silver Wraith received modifications to its F-head, six-cylinder engine. The bore was enlarged bringing the displacement size to 4887cc and horsepower to 178. They had a four-speed automatic gearbox, hydraulic front brakes, and hydro-mechanical rear brakes. The coachwork for the Silver Wraith was provided by Hooper, Mulliner, and Park Ward. The bodies were made of steel and rested on a steel frame. Some of the custom bodies were given aluminum body paneling.

This automobile is a H.J. Mulliner Style #7356 Touring Limo and was originally purchased by Mrs. Grace Vreeland Brown of San Marino, CA. The current owner is the second owner. The car had an 18-month restoration, completed in 2003.

DropHead Coupe

An astonishingly well preserved example finished in Shell Grey lacquer as first supplied and re-trimmed in Stone Connolly hides in 1984, this most impressive convertible, constructed on the long wheelbase formal limousine chassis, has traveled a total of 22,639 miles since delivery to its first owner for his wife, the famed silent screen actress Norma Talmadge. It was fitted to her order with air conditioning, power operated top, electric window lifts and a unique detachable second windscreen for the rear seat passengers, all of which remains with the car along with its original books, tools, copy of the factory history and a scrapbook showing photos of the car when new. As a late specimen, it was supplied with the same high-performance powerplant as the legendary S-1 continentals of the era. This example is one of four built.

Saloon by Park Ward & Co.
Chassis number: FLW64

From 1947 through 1959, Rolls-Royce produced just 639 long wheelbase Silver Wraiths. Those were made by four different coach makers: H.J. Mulliner, Hooper, James Young and Park Ward. The fewest number of cars were bodied by Park Ward.

This example has only 68,000 actual miles. The car was originally owned by Swedish Royalty and was then sold to a New York furrier. The current owner acquired it from the furrier in 1981 and is the third owner from new. The current owner had it painted, re-upholstered and the woodwork restored.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Limousine by Mulliner

This Rolls-Royce was commissioned and built to special order with many interesting and unusual features for Greek shipping magnante Stavros Niarchos and first delivered July 10, 1957. It was next acquired by movie star Yul Brynner on September 9, 1959.

The car is powered by a water-cooled 4.8-liter 6-cylinder engine producing an estimated 135 horsepower and capable of 80 miles per hour.

Touring Limousine by Mulliner
Chassis number: LFLW95
Engine number: L94F

This 1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Limousine was ordered new by one J.D. Nelson, Esquire of Cincinnati, Ohio, and delivered to the port on September 9, 1954, for transport to New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Among the list of optional equipment bestowed upon this vehicle included 'complete air conditioning' and power windows. It was finished in Shell Grey over Black Pearl with Grey leather up front and Grey broadcloth in the rear.

During the 1980s or 1990s, it was given a restoration during which the Black Pearl lower portion of the car was repainted Dove Grey. In January of 2009, it was acquired by its current caretaker. Since that time, it has been off the road and on static display.

by Dan Vaughan

The Silver Wraith, launched in 1947, was an evolution of the pre-war Wraith and was offered in the traditional chassis form ready for the fitting of Bespoke coachwork. The 4,257cc overhead-inlet, side-exhaust engine developed before the war was used, as well as a modified coil and wishbone independent front suspension. Hydraulic brakes were used for the first time on a Rolls-Royce with hydraulic brakes.

The Silver Wraith was constantly refined during its production. The engine was replaced with the 'big bore' 4,566cc in 1951 and automatic transmission was offered as an option in 1952.

Once again the press raved about the car. 'All the world knows that Rolls-Royce carry on an unremitting search for engineering perfection in everything they undertake. The qualities which made their aircraft engines famous, and their cars the finest procurable, are the result of hard work scientifically conducted, and of a painstaking attention to detail from the large to the most minute. And now a new range of cars is about to appear it is believed that the new cars are the best that Rolls-Royce have ever built.'

The Silver Wraith was described like this: 'In common with all Rolls-Royce cars, the Silver Wraith has an indefinable something about it, a delicacy of behaviour, which escapes definition in written words. it is a car for the connoisseur in cars'.

by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

by Rolls-Royce

At a time when most of England was suffering post-war and didn't have much use for a luxury motorcar, Rolls Royce decided to no longer produce cars in strictly separate series. Instead, they would create as many parts of the engine, chassis, and gearbox that would be identical for the different makes, and therefore easily interchangeable. The British economy had suffered due to raw materials shortages, prohibitive purchase tax, and petrol rationing. The Silver Wraith was the embodiment of the new company philosophy of a reliable car with components that could be easily maintained.

Considered by many to be the most technologically advanced Rolls Royce model in history, the Silver Wraith was an exceptionally graceful and elegant automobile. Introduced in 1946 the Silver Wraith was produced at the Crewe factory. The first post-war Rolls-Royce model, the Silver Wraith rode on a 127-inch wheelbase that was based heavily on the pre-war Wraith with coil-sprung independent front suspension and semi-elliptic rear with a live axle. Also based on the Wraith, the engine featured a cylinder head with overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves and an initial capacity of 4,257 cc and 135 horsepower.

The capacity was increased to 4566 cc in 1951, and to 4887 in 1954 on the long-wheelbase models. The Wraith's braking system was a hybrid hydro-mechanical system with hydraulic front brakes and mechanical rears that utilized the mechanical servo from the pre-war cars, which was patented by Hispano-Suiza and built by Rolls Royce under license. For the first time on a Rolls Royce hydraulic brakes were used.

In 1951 Rolls Royce announced the long, 133-inch wheelbase chassis. A total of 639 of these units were produced until 1969. The final short-wheelbase models were made in 1953. At first, only a four-speed manual gearbox was available but in 1952 a General Motors automatic option was added to the list of offerings.

The Silver Wraith was the final Rolls-Royce model that would be delivered in 'chassis only' form with the intent to be bodied by independent coachbuilders. The number of specialist coachbuilders was quickly declining over the years. Many of the Silver Wraith bodies selected used 'formal limousine designs'. The Bentley Mark Vi was offered for customers that wanted to purchase their car with a standard body already fitted. The Silver Wraith differed from the Mark VI in the fact that it wasn't a complete car, merely a rolling chassis. The Silver Wraith outlived the Mark VI and continued to survive until 1959 by undergoing modernizations like automatic gearbox and power-assisted steering. The Silver Wraith would be the final Rolls Royce that showed a vast variety of coachwork styles.

The Rolls Royce Silver Wraith has filled many official capacities over the years including the Royal Dutch State Limousine in 1958, the Royal Danish Ceremonial Car 'Store Krone' also in 1958, the Irish Presidential State Car from 1947 until now. Other official uses include the Ceremonial State Car for the Brazilian President in 1952. The

The Silver Wraith had numerous movie cameos over the years including 1968 'The Love Bug', 1975 'The Return of the Pink Panther', 1989 'Batman', 1992 'Batman Returns' and even the recent 2012 film 'The S

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Silver_Wraith

http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/wraith/

by Jessican Donaldson