1911 Rolls Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roadster in the style of H J Mulliner

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roadster in the style of H.J. Mulliner
Sold for $1,017,500 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2013
Chassis no. 1592
Engine no. 91
48 bhp, 7,248 cc side valve six-cylinder engine cast in pairs, three-speed manual gearbox, front semi-elliptic leaf-spring suspension, rear three-quarter elliptic leaf-spring suspension, and foot-actuated transmission-mounted service brake with hand-operated two wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 143.5 in.

•Stunningly restored in 2002 by a noted expert
•Multiple award winner, including RROC Best of Show
•An evocative, fascinating "parallel bonnet" Silver Ghost


Created in 1906, the Silver Ghost was, at the time, the most advanced automobile money could buy. At a time when cars were either powerful or refined, agile or sturdy, fast or comfortable, the Silver Ghost was all of that and more.

Credit for the inherent capability of the chassis must go largely to the engine and its exceptional flexibility and refinement. Other six-cylinder designs suffered from long and flexible crankshafts that induced vibration and created harsh noises. Royce's new engine featured much larger bearings and the pressurized oiling system they needed, which was secured by seven main bearings contained within a strong and rigid crankcase.

Rolls-Royce's advanced foundry capabilities allowed for removable cylinder blocks with fixed heads, which eliminated leaks and cooling problems, while casting in triplets helped shorten and lighten the engine. Twin ignition, via magneto and distributor-and-coil, helped ensure both reliability and thorough combustion. Superior breathing resulted from carefully designed manifolds and a new twin jet carburetor developed by Royce. Combined with low compression, just 3.4:1, the Ghost engine developed prodigious torque while turning at just 1,250 rpm.

In an engineering sense, the Silver Ghost was a mechanical masterpiece, with its aluminum alloy crankcase and a timing drive and ignition driven by gears, not chains. The timing gears were made of phosphor bronze and nickel steel, which were ground and polished by hand. The crankshaft was ground to an accuracy of .00025 on its bearing surfaces and then hand-polished to remove any minute scratches left by the grinder. The result was an automobile that ran in complete silence without a puff of smoke—a feat that was unmatched at the time.

The hallmark of a fine car was its top gear capabilities, partly because the drivers of the day were unaccustomed to shifting, but also because running in top gear only gave a smooth ride, particularly when the owners were generally the rear passengers. And it was such top gear flexibility that earned the Ghost its admirable reputation. Capable of acceleration from a standing start to top speed without shifting, it did so silently, giving the operator the impression of being pulled along by an unseen hand. While other cars were faster or more powerful, none could match the serene and somewhat surreal experience of "ghosting" along a quiet road.

As good as Royce's cars were, they might have disappeared in the jaws of history had it not been for brilliant marketing and promotion. It was Charles S. Rolls who understood the importance of marketing, and he began to immediately earn accolades for the marque.

The Tourist Trophy Race was one of the most prestigious events of the era, and it was won by Rolls and Royce in commanding fashion in 1906, when the pair beat their nearest competition by 27 minutes. This was followed by the famous 15,000-mile reliability run of 1907, where the original Silver Ghost finished the event and required a mere £2 to restore it to as-new specification (or about $10 at 1907 exchange rates). There was also the grueling Austrian Alpine Trials, where the Silver Ghosts dominated their competition and plowed over Alpine passes often thought impassable by motor car. Of course, the hoods for all competitors were sealed shut for this competition, to prevent any in-race maintenance.

Another important facet of marketing, then as now, is product placement, and Rolls understood the importance of ensuring that Rolls-Royce motor cars were seen in all the right places. He did this in part by supplying Silver Ghosts to British royalty—a marketing coup that raised the profile of the marque among the privileged, influential, and the wealthy.

While the influences of the horse-drawn carriage were still visible in the styling of formal coachwork of the early teens, a sportier style more unique to the motor car was evolving. Touring cars, roadsters, and cabriolets suited the new automobile and gave it a very modern panache.


Robert Myrick Photography