Lot details Registration No: 254 ELR Chassis No: BLW19 Mot Expiry: Nov 2005
This 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith has four-door limousine bodywork, which was hand-built by the craftsmen at Royal coachbuilders Hooper. One of the most attractive bodied Silver Wraiths, this is one of only thirteen with right-hand drive built to this design, six being left-hand drive examples. Chassis BLW 19 with body design number 8330 was originally supplied to Willis, Faber & Dumas, the London publishers, the entrants being the fourth owners who tell us that the car went to Newcastle to appear on location in the classic Michael Caine gangster movie `Get Carter'.
Finished in cream over black with burgundy leather in the front compartment and beige leather to the rear compartment, 254 ELR has been a part of the vendors' own collection for the last nine years. When purchased, though a good tidy car with MOT, it was nonetheless subjected to a total restoration over a twelve month period costing £50,000. Subsequently, further cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment has taken place during the eight years of ownership, the total cost of the car and work amounting to around £80,000.
The running gear was overhauled by well known Rolls-Royce specialists Hillier & Hill who also completely rewired the electrics. The bodywork was stripped to the bare aluminium and fully rebuilt with rear wings and spats renewed to original pattern, front wings remade and doors re-skinned, before being repainted and re-trimmed. All the brightwork was re-chromed and a stainless steel exhaust fitted.
The current condition is said by the owners to be excellent throughout with chassis, bodywork, paintwork and interior reportedly good, and 4566cc six-cylinder engine and four-speed manual gearbox also claimed to be in good order. Although not maybe quite good enough to win a National RREC concours, it is claimed to be an exceptionally good motor car with practically all its original tools in a draw below the dash and all the correct larger tools, such as jack, starting handle and wheel spanner, stowed in the boot.
The last major expenditure of approximately £9000 was expended on an engine rebuild by specialists Hillier & Hill, who, at the same time, took the opportunity to fit a thermostatically-controlled additional electric water pump to avoid overheating or vaporisation even during the hottest weather. Since this engine work, the car has covered less than 2000 miles.
The 84,877 miles displayed on the odometer when entered for the sale is believed by the vendors to be the genuine total mileage from new for this fine motor car which has been freshly MOT tested, whilst the current tax disc will be valid until next July.
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