Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Touring Limousine Coachwork by Hooper, 1947
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith•
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Chassis No.: WVA38
Engine No.: W123A
Body No.: 9281
US$47,040 USD | Sold
- One of the 1947 'Show the Flag' Tour cars
- Ex-Sam Scher and D. Cameron Peck
- 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Touring Limousine
- Coachwork by Hooper
- Engine no. W123A
- Body no. 9281
- 4,257cc F-head Inline Six-cylinder Engine
- Single Dual-choke Stromberg Carburetor
- 135 bhp
- 4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension with Coil Springs, Live Rear Axle with Semi-elliptic Springs, Driver-controlled Dampers
4-wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
- Prominently featured in period as one of the 'Show the Flag' Tour cars
- Documented by the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club Foundation
- Ex-Sam Scher, D. Cameron Peck
- In the current ownership since 1969 Previewing in Bedford Hills, New York by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH
The Silver Wraith was the first model offered by Rolls Royce Ltd. after World War II, with production running from 1946 to 1958 at the company's former Merlin engine factory in Crewe. It was also the last Rolls-Royce model that would be delivered in "chassis only" for completion by independent body fabricators. The Silver Wraith thus marked the end of the coach-built Rolls Royce era.
In the company's own words, the Silver Wraith was "considered by many to be the most technologically advanced Rolls Royce model in history...an exceptionally graceful and elegant automobile." The Silver Wraith chassis was manufactured in lettered series, "A" through "H" being short-chassis (200 inches on a 127-inch wheelbase) in the late 1940s and "A" through "H" in long-chassis (206 inches on a 133-inch wheelbase) in the 1950s. The shorter version was most suited to close-coupled, or sporting models, open or closed, with the longer chassis better accommodated formal sedans and limousines.
Silver Wraiths were built on an improved and strengthened ladder frame, considerably more rigid than its predecessors, and based on that of the pre-war Wraith. The independent front suspension was coil-sprung and the live rear axle was located by semi-elliptic springs.
The engine was also based on the pre-war Wraith, utilizing a cylinder head with overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves. The initial capacity was 4,257 cc and produced 135 horsepower. A dry clutch and a four-speed manual gearbox with column shift sent power to the driving wheels. For the first time, the drum brakes were vacuum-and servo-assisted.
Silver Wraiths, as with pre-war models, were delivered as rolling chassis, to be completed by one of a range of select custom coachbuilders to a customer's specification. Not many of those remained after the war, as Rolls-Royce and Bentley were laying plans to standardize their body designs. Still, these independent coachbuilders, whether domestic, Continental, or even American, offered a wide range of bespoke body styles, finishes, and accessories from which a client could choose.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
A well-known Silver Wraith in Rolls-Royce circles, WVA38 is fortunate for not just being meticulously documented but also a vehicle that figures prominently in Rolls-Royce's post-WWII history. Coming out of the ravages of the Second World War, it was clear that Rolls needed to reestablish itself as the luxury automaker for the new, post-WWII society. With the United States emerging strongly from WWII and prosperity booming, Rolls re-entered into the U.S. market with a marketing blitz headlined by a tour featuring their most exemplary new models.
The 'Show the Flag' Tour, as it was known was about showing the flag from coast to coast with seven machines—four Rolls and three Bentleys—starting in New York and traveling around the United States calling at every major city in the Northeast, Midwest, West Coast, and Southeast.
WVA38 occupied a prominent place in the tour as the elegant touring limousine entry from Hooper featuring the new Razor Edge 'Teviot I' design. According to copies of factory records, the car was originally destined for the Paris Auto Salon, but it was later decided to be destined for greater things. In articles from the October 17, 1947 issue of
Autocar
and the October 15, 1947 issue of The Motor, WVA38 is prominently at the front of the lineup of the seven motorcars and as a stand alone at the top of the page of the articles in both magazines.
Originally finished in light metallic blue over black and carrying, as aforementioned, a 'Teviot I' Hooper body, style 8098, body number 9281 (the second machine to be so outfitted). Arriving to New York aboard the RMS
Mauretania
on October 20, 1947 and was displayed at the Waldorf-Astoria for several months before heading around the country. After the Rolls successfully completed its national tour, Inskip records detail that car was purchased by serial Rolls enthusiast Mary T. Horn of 1158 5th Avenue in New York on June 22, 1948. She traded another Silver Wraith, WYA20, for her 'new' car. Mrs. Horn would for a year or so before trading it to Mezey Motors for a new Lincoln. The importance of WVA38 was clearly evident, even then, as it would then begin a tour through the garages some of the most legendary car collectors of the early post-WWII era. Dr.
Sam Scher acquired the car next before selling it on to fellow collector D. Cameron Peck on June 15, 1951. Remaining in Peck's Evanston, Illinois collection for about a year, it would head north to Wisconsin-based enthusiasts Jak and Lillian Fults. The Fults would keep the car for until 1957, when they traded in to J.S. Inskip for a used Silver Dawn. Back on the East Coast, the car entered the West Midwood, Brooklyn garage of Ms. Kate T. Paley on April 2, 1958. Passing through one or two owners from there, but likely staying in Long Island, WVA38 was acquired by the current owner from Mr. Melvin Blum of Carle Place, New York on October 23, 1969 for the princely sum of $100.
The ensuing over half a century with the current owner is carefully recorded with original copies of everything from the original Bill of Sale on which the car was purchased (neatly stapled to accompanying tax and registration records) to service records and regular correspondence with part suppliers on both sides of the Atlantic in the form of letters, telexes, telegrams, and—more recently—emails. The several inches thick stack of receipts is a trip through the evolution of the motoring hobby as much as it is the record of this car's maintenance and service. The subject of an extensive restoration from 2001 to 2005, the car has been minimally used in the last several years.
Documented by the previously mentioned massive file of records, copies of original Rolls-Royce build records, and various copies of Rolls-Royce Owners Club publications, WVA38 is offered for sale now for the first time since the humans walking on the moon was considered 'recent news'. This special Rolls will surely offer the new owner the perfect vehicle from which to fly his or her own flag.
Стоимость
172 755 AED
