1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Designed as an 'owner-driven' vehicle, the Wraith was an attractive alternative to the company's larger, 12-cylinder Phantom III. Its engine had half as many cylinders and its wheelbase was six inches shorter, yet it successfully combined elegance with practicality, and was both stylish and functional.

The name 'Wraith' means 'ghost' or spirit' in old Scottish, and it continued the company's nomenclature of using words related to 'silent,' such as the preceding 'Silver Ghost' and 'Phantom.' A Rolls-Royce client had named their 40/50 h.p. (Silver Ghost) 'The Wraith,' and the company adopted it for their use when they introduced the new model in 1938. Rolls-Royce would use the 'Wraith' name on several occasions, including the Silver Wraith (1946 to 1958), Silver Wraith II (1965 to 1980), and the full-size ultra-luxury Wraith introduced in 2013.

In keeping with tradition, Rolls-Royce produced the coachwork and relied on independent coachbuilders for the bespoke bodywork. Production was short-lived due to the onset of World War II, with the original Wraith production ending in 1939 with 491 examples built.

Mechanical Specification
Dimensions
The Rolls-Royce Wraith rested on a 136-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of approximately 203 inches, with a width of 74 inches.

Chassis
Rather than using traditional riveted construction, the Wraith was built on a separate chassis with cruciform bracing and welded construction. The drum brakes were assisted by a mechanical servo driven by the engine patented by Hispano-Suiza and built by Rolls-Royce under license. The suspension was independent at the front with coil springs, while the rear relied on semi-elliptical leaf springs. The front hydraulic dampers had their damping rate controlled by a governor, varying with the speed of the car.

Engine
The inline six-cylinder, overhead valve, 4257cc engine was based on the 25/30 but fitted with a cross-flow cylinder head. The cylinder head had been first seen on the 4¼-Litre Bentley, which placed the inlet and exhaust ports on opposite sides. The engine was mated to a four-speed gearbox which had synchromesh on second, third and fourth speeds.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2011