A rare Silver Ghost Auction is being held by Brooklands Historics.
The car was unrivalled for its quality and became known as the Best Car in the World.
This car with matching numbers is completely authentic Silver Ghost’s are rarely offered for sale. It is expected to command offers in the region of £450,000 to £550,000 at auction on September 1st. Arguably the most famous luxury car in history, and still the most desirable pre-war veteran amongst collectors. The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost was designed to showcase the highest level of engineering skill alongside an unrivalled passion for quality, and became known as the ‘Best car in the world’.
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Awarded the title by Autocar magazine in 1907 – following its launch to great acclaim at Olympia in 1906 – the 40/50hp gained the ‘Silver Ghost’ moniker from members of the press in recognition of its serene presence, with auctioneer Historics at Brooklands bringing an example with such spirit to its autumn sale.
Chassis 1557 was built in 1911, the same year a Silver Ghost completed an entire run from London to Edinburgh and back in top gear, and with a fuel consumption of 24 mpg, highlighting Rolls-Royce’ renowned marriage of power and legendary reliability.
The car was delivered on April fools day 1st in 1911 to Sir Adolph Tuck of London, whose father founded the company Raphael Tuck & Sons, selling prints and postcards during the ‘postcard boom’ of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Originally fitted with a Landaulette body in order to be chauffeur driven, the motor car was latterly re-bodied as a period two-seat tourer by Rippon Brothers Ltd., who are widely considered the oldest coach building company in the world, having built a coach for the Earl of Rutland in 1555, and a ‘chariot throne’ for Queen Elizabeth I in 1584.
Producing bespoke bodies for numerous Rolls-Royce models right up until 1959, Rippon Brothers Ltd. won the coveted ‘Coachmakers Cup’ at the London Motor Show on a number of occasions, including eight successive titles in the 1930s, demonstrating their shared belief of the Rolls-Royce ideals.
Chassis 1557 boasts an equally impressive award winning history, and in 1977 attended the Queen’s Jubilee parade through Windsor Castle to the Silver Ring at Ascot Race Course.
More recently a complete nut and bolt restoration was commissioned in 2001, with the painstaking 12-month process resulting in a finish of the highest possible standard. Subsequent Concours prizes at annual Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club rallies attest to its quality.
Complete with Acetylene head and side lamps, Boa Constrictor horn and a complete original tool kit under the passenger side running board, #1557 is coach-painted in dark blue, with red coachlines matching that of the opulent red leather interior.
Commenting on the consignment, Historics’ Auction Director Edward Bridger-Stille enthused: “With nine sales now under our belts and nearly 1000 cars put forward, this is one of the finest examples we’ve had the pleasure of bringing to auction. The opportunity to acquire a Silver Ghost – particularly one as beautiful as this – is extremely rare, and I anticipate that this significant, museum quality example, should generate interest from all corners of the world.”
Brooklands will open for viewing of the car on Friday 31st August from 10am – 8pm, with offers welcome.
Visit the Historics Website Here
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