A Rolls-Royce with many different lives

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PreWarCar of the Week

This week’s PreWarCar of the Week is a very impressive looking 1921 Rolls-Royce. A 40/50hp Silver Ghost 'London-to-Edinburgh' Tourer.

The chassis (no. 48CE) of this Silver Ghost was built at Rolls-Royce's Factory in Derby. On the 23rd of March 1921, the rolling chassis left the UK aboard the SS Carmania to the company's United States subsidiary, Rolls-Royce of America Inc. “Files compiled by Rolls-Royce's US importer, J S Inskip, indicate that it was intended for sale to J W Hubbard of Pittsburgh, Pa. The card is marked 'cancellation'. Eventually, the Rolls-Royce was completed with Town Coupé coachwork by Locke and delivered to Mrs W K Vanderbilt of Fifth Avenue, New York City on the 2nd of August 1921,” as explained by Bonhams.

Later the car was owned by Vincent Ogle a farmer from Illinois. He had taken off the original body and had turned the Silver Ghost into a pickup truck which he used on his farm… In 1957 he sold the pickup to William D (Bill) Small from St Louis where it, unfortunately, sat for many years in storage. Eventually, Bill decided to have a new Shooting Brake body made for the Rolls-Royce using white oak. But when he died the body rebuild stopped and after almost 40 years of ownership the car was sold.

The new owner had the car dispatched to the UK for a total restoration by specialist, Jonathan Harley. And a new 'London-to-Edinburgh' open touring body was supplied by Alpine Eagle Ltd. The car changed hands once more before it returned to the UK. Where new shock absorbers, a new crown wheel and a taller windscreen where fitted. The current owner purchased the car in 2016. The maintenance works carried out in included a replacement cylinder block and an engine rebuild. He has used the services and workshop of the National Motor Museum, whose work also included driver tuition for the owner's chauffeur.

XH 48 definitely has had many different lives...

On the 3rd of December 2018, this wonderful 1921 Rolls-Royce with a fascinating history will be auctioned in the Bonhams London Olympia Sale. Lot number 138 is estimated between £ 300,000 - 400,000.

Click here to see all other lots will be auctioned in the London Olympia Sale.

Photographs courtesy Bonhams.

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