Originally supplied to Maharajah Sir Manmathanath Roy Choudhary of Santosh

1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Touring Phaeton

Coachwork by Steuart & Co. of Calcutta

7,428cc L-head inline six-cylinder engine
Single Rolls-Royce Carburetor
80bhp at 2,250rpm
4-speed manual transmission
Live front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and live rear axle with platform cantilever rear suspension
Rear-wheel mechanical drum brakes

*Rare original Indian Delivered Silver Ghost
*Notable former collection ownership
*Eligible for Rolls-Royce and other club tours
*Offered with factory records

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The legend of the origin of the Silver Ghost is well recorded in the description for the very early 1909 example in this auction. After the First World War, production resumed at Crewe with cars built for civilians rather than the war effort. As the world emerged from hostilities, a new era of automobile use dawned with a much broader contingent of owners who drove their cars, rather than being chauffeured. This shift was a sea change and might have affected a company such as Rolls-Royce more if it had not been for the sheer quality of the Silver Ghost running gear which remained in service through to 1926.
The Rolls-Royce was a favorite of the rulers of India from the earliest days of the Silver Ghost production. It is said that the first to have been smitten by their quality was the Maharajah of Gwailor, who in 1908 took delivery of one of the first examples built. His commissioned specific formal coachwork became known as 'The Pearl of the East'.
By the time that 47 AG was delivered, Rolls could count agencies in Calcutta, Delhi, and Bombay reflecting the demand that they were supplying. This example had been commissioned through the former by its agent G. Mein Austin, of Calcutta in April 1921. Increasingly impatient with the delivery times of the product, many cars had their coachwork ordered at the time of chassis build to save time, but interestingly, this car is listed on its order document as 'Body to be built in India'- the maker is not listed. Though, it is aptly described as 'Sporty Open Touring' and has long been thought to be the work of Steuart & Co. of Calcutta. Mr. Austin's order was on behalf of His Highness, the Raja of Santosh, another serial Rolls-Royce customer, who had bought a 'Ghost in 1921 and would succeed this car with a Phantom 1. He was based in a smaller princely state in the former East Bengal.

The factory records note the correct ownership of the Raja of Santosh in 1927, and on his being knighted in 1930. This is then crossed out and corrected to his new title of 'The Hon. Raja Sir Manmath Roy Chowdhury (sic) of Santosh, written in.

Previously it was thought that the car had already left India at this point, but it transpires that the inclusion of a parts request for the sister chassis, 46 AG, owned from new by Mrs. A.W. Burchard, then in Paris, had migrated into the Rolls file. A conclusion was drawn that the car was back in Europe then. That anomaly can now be overlooked, and it must be assumed that as with many Indian cars, 47AG remained in India until the 1950s or 60s. The car has long worn '30 style fenders. These may well date from India as they had a habit of updating fenders to keep the aesthetics aligned with cars of that decade and somewhat disguised earlier running gear. A similar change was also made to the Nizam of Hyderabad's famed 1912 Silver Ghost, although this has now been restored to its original form.

The Raja died in 1939, and it is uncertain how long he retained his Silver Ghost. However, by 1969 47AG was in America and now the property of Sam D. Fire, of New York according to the Rolls-Royce Owner's Club Schoellkopf cards. From Fire, the car passed to William Butler, and in 2005 Bonhams proudly offered the car for sale on his behalf. At which point, it was acquired by the current owner, a noted enthusiast for the marque who was looking for a commodious open car for his three family generations to enjoy.
Viewed today, the Ghost shows its age, and in certain areas the build of its coachwork might be considered less refined than work that would have left some of the London houses. Nevertheless, this Rolls has a charm all of its own. It retains features such as its original numbered hood, and the underpinning wood frame has clearly never been replaced. Embellished with large bulbous Stephan Grebel Headlights and running board mounted spotlight, to the rear is a wooden trunk set up.
Over the course of the last 16 years, the touring car has been thoroughly enjoyed, mainly as a driver rather than show car. Although, it was seen on the field here at Amelia Island in 2006. The car has recently been checked over and is reported to be running nicely.