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The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has arguably the reputation as the "Best car in the world". A phrase coined not by Rolls-Royce, but by the prestigious publication Autocar in 1907.
History
Originally named the 40/50 h.p. the chassis was produced at the Manchester factory and chassis no 60551 went on to become the most famous car ever.
In 1906 Rolls-Royce produced four chassis to be shown at the Olympia car show, after a great deal of public interest the managing director Mr Claude Johnson (often described as the hyphen in Rolls-Royce) ordered the car painted silver, with silver plated fittings. A plaque with the words "Silver Ghost" adorned the bulkhead. An open top body by coachbuilder Barker was fitted, and the car readied for the Scottish reliability trials 1907.
The aim was to raise public awareness of the new company and to show the reliability and quietness of their new car. This was a risky idea, cars of this time were notoriously unreliable and roads of the day could be horrendous. Nevertheless the car set off on trials and with press aboard broke record upon record. Even after 7,000 miles the cost to service the car was negligible.
The reputation of Rolls-Royce was set, and the 40/50 very successful. After the introduction of the Phantom 1 in 1925 older 40/50 models were called Silver Ghosts to avoid confusion, but there was only one car given the name "Silver Ghost" - 60551, registered AX-201. The name referred to the car's ghost-like quietness. For many years after RR continued with the paranomal theme of naming cars. In all 8416 Silver Ghosts were produced from 1907 to 1926, many of them still running to this day. AX201, the most priceless of all, was sold in 1908 to a private customer and recovered by the company in 1948. Since then it has been used as a publicity car and travelled worldwide.
During the First World War, the 40/50 hp chassis was used as the basis for the Rolls-Royce Armoured Car.
Summary
In 1984 The car was photographed in great detail whilst in storage in Luton by precision model makers Franklin Mint. This went on to become one of their best selling products and many a home has a model, photo, painting, ashtray or toy somewhere. In 1989 the car was restored by SC Gordon Coachbulders Luton, and P&A Wood, London UK. And the Ghosts remain one of the most evocative symbols of their time.
External links
- http://rroc.org.au/library/ax201_1990.html
- http://www.rrab.com/models.htm#top
"Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost"