Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost 1911
General description :
1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost open drive Limousine by Grosvenor.
Chassis number: 1524
Registration number: BF 8376
Just arrived with us & being serviced after a comprehansive rebuild & brand new interior trim. Chassis 1524 has had its mechanics thoroughly & fully restored with many thousands of hours having been put into it. The car was found in a dilapidated state in Australia & has had a painstaking reconstruction of the Grosvenor coachwork completed using contemporary pictures of the car when it was 2 years old.
The exterior of the car is a very very dark aubergine/black "Dutch Pink" configuration. It appears black in some lights, whilst in others the two tone vertical stripes are clearly visible. All decorative woodwork is finished & replaced as required to brand new condition.
The front of the car is trimmed in Aubergine leather matching the coachwork. To the rear is purple bedford cord with custom made Brocade window pulls & door accents to complete the ensemble. A superb cocktail cabinet with a fold out occasional table is mounted to the bulkhead. A period Brass footwarmer is stored under the cabinet. The roof of the car is trimmed in West of England cloth with a sunburst motif theme in radiating lines from a cental oval. Purple wilton carpets are fitted front & rear & also cover the footwrmer.
RollsRoyce Silver Ghost number 1524 has an extraordinary history: Ordered by Mr A B Wardman of Harrogate in England during August 1910, the purchase order specified “a 1911 Type”. Mr Wardman did not proceed with his order and received a credit for his deposit of £75, and the timing evidently coincided with plans by Rolls-Royce Director Claude Johnson to introduce the marque to Royalty (British Royalty having favoured Daimler motor cars thereto). 1524 was among three or four chassis specially bodied by Hoopers and sent to the Coronation Durbar of His Majesty King a George V in Delhi, India, on 12th December 1912. It appears that the cars were used to convey Royalty during 1911 and 1912. Early in 1912 the cars were returned to England and offered for sale at the factory. 1524 was offered with a factory record stating that it was sold “as is, second-hand, ex'RoyaIty, with Hooper limousine "like the the Kings”.
The car was purchased by Mr Charles Angas of Collingrove at Angaston in the Barossa Valley of South Australia. Mr Angas used 1524 in London from his Belgrave Square residence at which time a Grosvenor body was fitted before shipping it to Australia in 1913 to join his stable of earlier Rolls-Royces. In Adelaide, the car was used between the Barossa Valley and the Angus family residence in Brougham Place, North Adelaide. As was his, and many other early motor car owners, habit, Charles Angas named his cars, christening 1524 “The Dreamer”, other family cars having held the name “Silver Dawn”. The usual Rolls-Royce Spirit of ecstasy mascot, by 1911 available from the factory, was replaced in this case by a fine bronze bust of a girl, which was recovered from the Angus family during restoration so that it could be reinstated on the car that it originally adorned.
In June 1923, the car was returned to the factory for a major overhaul. After four months 1524 was brought back to Australia having had a variety of factory upgrades and maintenance to the running chassis and ancillaries. Interestingly an experimental factory fitted external crank damper may still be found to the front of the engine.
By 1981, the car was back on the road and was the joint overall winner of the Rolls- Royce Concours at that year’s Federal Rally held in Shepparton, Victoria.Further mechanical work followed including detail engineering work exceeding some 5000 hours by Mr Dennis Cathcart of EDEC Industries in Sydney which greatly enhanced the operation and authenticity of this important Royal car.Under the ownership of Mr Malcolm Johns, 1524 has been returned as close as possible to its original specification with meticulous attention having been applied to the mechanics & ancillary units of the chassis so that it is now is superlative order.Rolls-Royce attempted for many years to persuade the British Royal family to order Rolls-Royce motor cars. This vehicle is certainly one of the very first to have been used in Royal capacity and with its important Angus family history is unique in this respect.
The car has no self starter as indeed it did not when new. Starting from the handle is easily achieved after priming the fuel sysem & giving a couple of preliminary turns on the starting handle. A modern starter could be fitted should the new owner so desire. The engine runs very quietly & unusually is fitted with an experimental external crank damper; the first such time I have seen one.
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in Essex by Prestige House for Not priced.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : 40/50 Silver Ghost Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1911 Sub type : Sedan Location : Essex Vehicle Registration : Undefined
Not priced
Seller Information
Vintage & Prestige
Prestige House
+44(0)1375 379719, +44(0)7967 260673
Prestige House
+44(0)1375 379719, +44(0)7967 260673
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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.