Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 16
1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Touring Saloon Coachwork by James Young, Ltd Chassis no. LHLW29 Engine no. L28H
Sold for US$53,760 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 16
1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Touring Saloon Coachwork by James Young, Ltd
Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Online Auction|25 October 2021, 13:00 EDT|Greenwich, Hagerty Garage + Social
1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Touring Saloon
Coachwork by James Young, Ltd
Chassis no. LHLW29
Engine no. L28H
Coachwork by James Young, Ltd
Chassis no. LHLW29
Engine no. L28H
4,887cc F-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Downdraft Carburetor
Approximately 125bhp
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
* Rare long wheelbase owner/driver Silver Wraith
* In the present ownership for 14 years
* Original left-hand drive US market car
* Extensive history file includes factory records
Previewing in Bedford Hills, New York by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH
Rolls-Royce's first post-war model, the Silver Wraith debuted in late 1946 and employed a chassis similar to that of the Silver Dawn and MkVI Bentley, though with a 7" longer wheelbase at 10' 7". The Wraith, however, was only intended for traditional coachbuilt bodies rather than the MkVI's pioneering 'standard steel' bodywork. Only the bore and stroke dimensions were shared with the pre-war overhead-valve Wraith engine, the major advantage of this 'F-head' layout being its large valves and generous water jacketing around the valve seats. Manufacture of the short-wheelbase Wraith ceased in 1952, with a total production of 1,144; the long-wheelbase version continued until the introduction of the Phantom V in 1959, by which time 639 chassis had been completed.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
There are few cars as majestic as a Rolls-Royce in the immediate post-war era as exemplified by this handsome and graceful example. LHLW29 as prefixed by 'L' decodes as a car that was delivered new in the rare left-hand drive form in which it remains to this day.
The car is accompanied by an extensive file of history, which includes copies of the original order information, as well as copies of the coachbuilder guarantee and design renderings for its style number WRM31 by James Young Ltd. one of the more limited suppliers of bodywork in this era. According to copies of the factory records, on file, the car was built for the American market when new, and as completed was imported and retailed through the New York agency of J.S. Inskip to Grover C. Richards Esq. of South Portland, Maine. Delivered to the shippers on December 19th, 1958, its detailed specifications included Sundym glass, electric windows, cold weather shields to door locks (likely necessary for Maine winters), reverse button deleted, wool rug, 2 spirit flasks and 5 tumblers! Mr. Richards was a prominent industrialist, who later on was noted for his many philanthropic ventures including multi million dollar donations to local hospitals in the Portland area.
By 1965 the Rolls-Royce had migrated south to Norfolk, Virginia and was now the property of Dr. Joseph McFadden, who corresponded with James Young as he was intending to restore the car. It is not known how long or extensive that process was, but by the mid-1980s the Rolls-Royce belonged to Peter A. Simonetta of Greenwood Lake, New York, who later sold it to Ed Waterman's Motor Car Gallery. It next passed to noted collector of this era of Rolls, John Cory and from him it passed into the present ownership in August 2007.
Viewed today, the car has clearly had very little use in the current custody and will require recommissioning before returning to the road. Its aesthetic condition appears to represent a much older restoration, possibly retaining its original interior.
Single Downdraft Carburetor
Approximately 125bhp
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
* Rare long wheelbase owner/driver Silver Wraith
* In the present ownership for 14 years
* Original left-hand drive US market car
* Extensive history file includes factory records
Previewing in Bedford Hills, New York by appointment. Please contact [email protected] for scheduling.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH
Rolls-Royce's first post-war model, the Silver Wraith debuted in late 1946 and employed a chassis similar to that of the Silver Dawn and MkVI Bentley, though with a 7" longer wheelbase at 10' 7". The Wraith, however, was only intended for traditional coachbuilt bodies rather than the MkVI's pioneering 'standard steel' bodywork. Only the bore and stroke dimensions were shared with the pre-war overhead-valve Wraith engine, the major advantage of this 'F-head' layout being its large valves and generous water jacketing around the valve seats. Manufacture of the short-wheelbase Wraith ceased in 1952, with a total production of 1,144; the long-wheelbase version continued until the introduction of the Phantom V in 1959, by which time 639 chassis had been completed.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
There are few cars as majestic as a Rolls-Royce in the immediate post-war era as exemplified by this handsome and graceful example. LHLW29 as prefixed by 'L' decodes as a car that was delivered new in the rare left-hand drive form in which it remains to this day.
The car is accompanied by an extensive file of history, which includes copies of the original order information, as well as copies of the coachbuilder guarantee and design renderings for its style number WRM31 by James Young Ltd. one of the more limited suppliers of bodywork in this era. According to copies of the factory records, on file, the car was built for the American market when new, and as completed was imported and retailed through the New York agency of J.S. Inskip to Grover C. Richards Esq. of South Portland, Maine. Delivered to the shippers on December 19th, 1958, its detailed specifications included Sundym glass, electric windows, cold weather shields to door locks (likely necessary for Maine winters), reverse button deleted, wool rug, 2 spirit flasks and 5 tumblers! Mr. Richards was a prominent industrialist, who later on was noted for his many philanthropic ventures including multi million dollar donations to local hospitals in the Portland area.
By 1965 the Rolls-Royce had migrated south to Norfolk, Virginia and was now the property of Dr. Joseph McFadden, who corresponded with James Young as he was intending to restore the car. It is not known how long or extensive that process was, but by the mid-1980s the Rolls-Royce belonged to Peter A. Simonetta of Greenwood Lake, New York, who later sold it to Ed Waterman's Motor Car Gallery. It next passed to noted collector of this era of Rolls, John Cory and from him it passed into the present ownership in August 2007.
Viewed today, the car has clearly had very little use in the current custody and will require recommissioning before returning to the road. Its aesthetic condition appears to represent a much older restoration, possibly retaining its original interior.
Footnotes
Please note, this vehicle is titled as model year 1959 and the title will be in transit.
Additional information
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