Lot details Registration No: NK 5757 Chassis No: 54 HG Mot Expiry: May 2007
The model upon which Rolls-Royce's reputation as makers of 'The Best Car in the World' was founded, the 40/50hp debuted at the November 1906 London Motor Show. A somewhat conventional yet beautifully executed design, the newcomer was based around a massive ladder-frame chassis equipped with all-round leaf-sprung suspension, powerful rear wheel brakes and spiral-bevel final drive. Displacing 7036cc (7428cc from 1910), its superlatively smooth six-cylinder engine featured a seven-bearing crankshaft, full pressure lubrication and twelve sparkplugs (fed via a dual magneto / coil ignition system). Allied to four-speed manual transmission (though, a three-speed gearbox was utilised from 1909 to 1913), the sidevalve unit proved both wonderfully torquey and eerily quiet. With a shrewd eye for publicity, Managing Director Claude Johnson had the company demonstrator 'AX 201' (the first 40/50hp to be known as a Silver Ghost on account of its striking livery and silver-plated fittings) take part in both the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial and a RAC scrutinised 15,000 mile endurance run immediately afterwards. Made to journey between London and Glasgow no less than twenty-seven times as part of the latter ordeal, a thorough post-event examination revealed that the car had suffered no appreciable wear to its engine, gearbox, rear axle or brakes. Indeed, the only parts that factory mechanics felt compelled to change were: a steering rod tie pin, steering lever ball tip, magneto driving joint, fan belt, petrol strainer and two front wheel pivot pins. Though, as the RAC report on the World Record breaking run stated: "Had the car been in the hands of a private owner no replacements would have been considered necessary". Possessing a legendary eye for detail, Henry Royce continued to develop the 40/50hp throughout its eighteen-year production life. Thus, late Silver Ghosts boasted considerably more horsepower (up from 48bhp @ 1,250rpm to 80bhp @ 2,250rpm) and higher top speeds (some lightweight bodied cars were timed at over 80mph) than their earlier brethren. Optional from late 1923 onwards, servo-assisted four-wheel drum brakes became standard the following year.
Finished in burgundy over black with beige leather upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "usable / good" (four-speed manual gearbox), "good" (electrical equipment, wheels / tyres) or "very good" (interior trim, chassis, bodywork, paintwork) condition. Though judged "usable as is", its engine could apparently "use some TLC" (blowing exhaust, lazy magneto etc). Invoiced new to coachbuilder Barker & Co Ltd of 66-68 South Audley St, London W1 on February 1st 1923 for the princely sum of £1,850 (less 15% discount), chassis number '54 HG' began life as a Landaulette. Originally resident in Hertfordshire (or so its 'NK' number plate would imply), the long wheelbase car is known to have travelled as far afield as America. The subject of an older restoration, it sports four-door Open Tourer coachwork by I. Wilkinson & Son Ltd of Derby, fork-mounted headlamps and a single spare wheel. Benefiting from the adoption of front wheel brakes, chassis number '54 HG' pleasingly retains its factory-fitted powerplant. An elegant and imposing motorcar in the best Rolls-Royce traditions, this handsome Silver Ghost is offered for sale with both MOT certificate and historic class (free) road tax valid until May 2007.
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