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Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost 1925

General description : - Chassis # S100LK

- Engine # 23003
- The Last Right-Hand Drive, 4-Speed Gearbox Car Manufactured In Springfield, MA
- Featuring A Thoroughly Detailed History Dating Back To New
- Offered In Outstanding Mechanical Condition And Ready To Be Enjoyed
- Includes Original Owner's Manual, Original Keys, Weather Gear, And Available Service and History Files

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost series of cars first came to market in 1906, originally called the “40.50 h.p.”. The cars were first produced in Manchester before moving to Derby in 1908 and to Springfield, MA, from 1921 to 1926. They were originally powered by a 7,036cc straight-six engine before a more powerful 7,428cc unit was introduced in 1910. The chassis were fitted with various different styles of bodies by coachwork companies, with the same chassis being used as the base for Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars during World War I. Only 7,874 Silver Ghosts were made from 1906 to 1926.

This particular example, Chassis # S100LK, is the last right-hand drive, 4-speed gearbox car manufactured in Springfield, MA, and began life with a Town Car body. It was purchased as such on April 14, 1925, by a W.H. Porter of New York City. He owned the car in its original configuration until 1934, when he gave it back to Rolls-Royce and had them swap the Town Car body for a Piccadilly Roadster body (#M588) from Chassis # S164JH that was owned by a Walter Reade of Deal, NJ. The body was also altered to resemble a Playboy, lowering the car and the now one-piece windshield, adding valances over the rear springs, and changing the wheels to 20-inch ones.

The now Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster was sold in 1935 to a New York advertiser named John MacKenty, who spent his spare time on Ashakomaksett Farm at Martha’s Vineyard. The car spent the duration of WW2 there and was entirely painted gray to avoid it being spotted by patrolling U-boats. Mr. MacKenty bought the car with around 40,000 miles on it and reportedly drove it less than that during his ownership.

In 1957, it made its way to a Ken Sowles of Falmouth, ME, as confirmed by the included Schoellkopf Card. Sowles was a close friend of Prince Phillip, who often asked him for horse and carriage advice and invited him to the Windsor Horse Show. In service records dating back to 1987, Mr. Sowles frequently had the car serviced at The Vintage Garage in North Brookfield, MA. In February of 1987, the leather upholstery on the doors was replaced with new leather. The engine and brakes received their first recorded rebuild that same month, with a total bill of just under $9,000. The exhaust, carburetor, and voltage regulator received the same treatment the following month, this time totaling over $3,000. New pistons were installed in May of 1995, and the blocks were bored +.040 in August of that same year.

After 37 years of ownership, the car was sold to its fourth owner in 1996, who continued maintaining the car and toured England, Scotland, Canada, and the Western/Southern US with it over the span of 17 years. He meticulously kept track of all repairs and maintenance performed on the car, also at The Vintage Garage, dating back to 1996 when he purchased the car. In November of that year, it went in for an oil change, radiator cap, wheel rebuild, and new leaf springs. It then returned in December to have the wheel snap rings, nuts, and valve stem caps were nickel plated.

In May of 1997, the battery cables were redone along with new spark plugs, ignition points, and box fuses. In July, the speedometer was repaired. In August of 1998, the “Spirit of Ecstasy” was stripped, detailed, polished, and buffed. In September, Frank Cooke, Inc. in North Brookfield, MA, took over for a non-fluid oil and transmission oil change. It returned to The Vintage Garage in November for an extensive service that included an extra oiler tube, a number of bearings, gaskets, and screws, a generator repair, as well as plating of curtain rods and light conduits. In June of that same year, it received a new wind wing panel, brake light, left door striker, and a lot more plating on its worn parts.

May of 2000 saw the Rolls receive a new fuel line with a new coil, fan belt, and repaired clock following in September. In December, the differential was cleaned, a new gear set was installed, the rear axle was refurbished, the rear brake linings were redone, and the rear and front shocks followed suit.

Fast forward to 2010, and the straight-six engine under the hood received a full rebuild, from top to bottom, totaling in at just under $4,800 and giving this British beast a new lease on life.

The fourth owner continued driving the car until 2019, when he sold it to the owner from which we procured it. In mid to late 2020, the radiator was balanced and readjusted at American Honeycomb Radiator in Bowdoin, ME. The most recent service record on file dates to November of 2021, when the connecting rod and piston assembly was refurbished.

As it sits, this gorgeous British roadster is an extremely well-sorted example with plenty of interesting historical details to boot. Its itinerary of meets and tours attended throughout the world since 1996 serves to show how appreciated a classic Rolls-Royce like this is at any Concours-style event. It is by no means a garage queen and is more than happy having its wheels turning down long stretches of blacktop.

Upon purchase, the new owner will receive the original owner’s manual and pouch, original keys, the vast amounts of service records on file, and several pieces of correspondence between the previous owners of this car.

Please visit http://www.LBILimited.com for many more photos and details. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @LBILimited. Ride along on our classic car adventures by subscribing to LBI Limited on YouTube. #claimyourclassic™

Document description :


1925 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in Philadelphia by Adolfo Massari for $315000.

 

Car Facts

Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : 40/50 Silver Ghost Engine size : 6.8 Model Year : 1925 Sub type : Convertible Color : Red Color type : Nonmetallic Condition : 5 Location : Philadelphia, PA Vehicle Registration : Normal

315000 $

Seller Information

LBI Limited
Adolfo Massari
United States
2154591606
Pennsylvania
Luxury Brokers International Philadelphia
Contact Seller

ClassicDigest Market Radar on Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost

$ £ €

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About Rolls-Royce
Well, ladies and gentlemen, today we're diving into the illustrious history of a brand that has always embodied the very essence of British luxury and craftsmanship - Rolls-Royce.

Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when two visionaries, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, decided to join forces. In 1904, the very first Rolls-Royce was born, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp. It was a modest start for a company that would go on to redefine automotive excellence.

But it wasn't until 1907 that Rolls-Royce truly made its mark with the introduction of the Silver Ghost. It was hailed as the "Best Car in the World" and set the gold standard for luxury motoring. With its whisper-quiet engine and exquisite craftsmanship, it was a statement of opulence and refinement.

The 1920s brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom I, an icon of its time. It was the first Rolls-Royce to feature a 6-cylinder engine and set the stage for the legendary Phantom line. This was the era when the Maharajas of India commissioned custom-bodied Rolls-Royces that were nothing short of automotive palaces.

Fast forward to the post-war years, and we have the Silver Cloud, a symbol of post-war British optimism. The Silver Cloud was elegance personified, with its flowing lines and handcrafted interiors. It was the choice of royalty, celebrities, and captains of industry.

But if we're talking about the epitome of Rolls-Royce luxury, it's the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which graced us with its presence from 1968 to 1991. This was a car that made the statement that "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." Customization was the name of the game, and the Phantom VI was a canvas for the world's wealthiest to express their unique tastes.

Now, it's impossible to discuss Rolls-Royce without mentioning the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Produced from 1971 to 1995, it was a convertible and coupe version of the Silver Shadow. The Corniche was the quintessential grand tourer, a car for those who wished to traverse continents in absolute luxury.

But, alas, even the mightiest must face their decline, and Rolls-Royce was no exception. The company went through financial turmoil in the 1970s and 80s, leading to the takeover by Vickers plc. Then came the controversial BMW and Volkswagen ownership period, which divided enthusiasts.

Rolls-Royce regained its footing under BMW ownership, and the new millennium brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, a return to the company's roots of uncompromising luxury. The Phantom VII was a testament to British engineering and craftsmanship.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to today. Rolls-Royce continues to produce some of the most opulent, bespoke vehicles on the planet, a symbol of British imperiousness that has not waned with time. The spirit of Sir Henry Royce and Charles Rolls lives on in every car that bears the Spirit of Ecstasy, a testament to the enduring legacy of British automotive excellence.
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