The legacy of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Rolls-Royce kicked off their Inside Rolls-Royce exhibition in London but let’s take a look at the most iconic Rolls in their line-up. By Jerrica Leong

Unless you are heading to London you will be missing out on the Inside Rolls Royce exhibition like most of us. But this Content Producer was lucky, during my visit to Munich I happened upon the exhibition. For a price of course, not free like Inside Rolls-Royce exhibition.

While the world’s eyes are turned toward London for the exhibition, which is starting today, CAR decided that this is the perfect time to turn those missing out toward the pass by looking at one of the models that served the company well.

(image source: galleryhip.com)

When it comes to Rolls-Royce models of the 1900s, the first that comes to mind is the Silver Ghost series. But did you know that the Silver Ghost was actually the name of a specific car rather than the whole range of them? The entire series had been known as 40/50hp series but it was the press and public that attached the name Silver Ghost to this series.

The Silver Ghost was the luxury car of choice for a good 15 years. Even as the Silver Ghost entered the Roaring Twenties it was the choice for most of the really wealthy. Emphasis on “really wealthy”. The series served both side of the Atlantic so well that it established an enviable reputation for quality build, reliability and comfortable ride.

Rolls-Royce also had the record to prove to the world of their reliable reputation. In 1907, they entered the original Silver Ghost, an aluminium painted 40/50 with silver-plated fittings and open-top body into the Scottish reliability trials. The car set record after endurance record on the gruelling 24,000km test over British roads. How many cars can do that in 1907? Not many.

(image source: otoaddict.com)

Believe it or not, the 7428cc Straight Six can manage a top speed of 137kph. This is a car created before the Roaring Twenties and managing that speed? Impressive is the word don’t you agree? 

It was in 1925 that the company finally gave in to the public and renamed the series Silver Ghost. The design set the iconic look for Rolls-Royce that dated gracefully through the years. The Silver Ghost had stood out from the rest in the era of unreliability.

The Silver Ghost is one of Rolls-Royce’s most successful cars. A total of 7874 Silver Ghosts were sold in that era, and the model set a benchmark for the rest of the luxury cars to chase.

- Source: Astro Publication