1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Roi des Belges Style Tourer

• Professionally restored by a world renowned 'Ghost specialist
• Bills totalling circa £600,000 on file
• Originally built with limousine coachwork
• Bought as a dismantled project in 2003
• Restoration completed in 2022

Although its 40/50hp model would have earned its 'The Best Car in the World' soubriquet in any event, Rolls-Royce's decision to drop all other types only served to focus attention on what would become known as the 'Silver Ghost'. Prior to 1908, cars with two, three, four and six cylinders were built, as was an abortive V8, before the decision was made to concentrate on the six-cylinder 40/50hp. The latter first appeared at the 1906 Motor Show, becoming known as the 'Silver Ghost' the following year when chassis number '60551' was exhibited wearing silver-painted tourer coachwork by Barker.

The Ghost's heart was its magnificent engine, a 7,036cc (later 7,428cc) sidevalve 'six' with seven-bearing crankshaft and pressure lubrication. A sturdy chassis comprised of channel-section side members and tubular cross members was suspended on semi-elliptic springs at the front and a 'platform' leaf-spring arrangement at the rear, though the latter soon came in for revision. The transmission too was soon changed, a three-speed gearbox with direct-drive top gear replacing the original four-speed/overdrive top unit in 1909, and in the course of its 20-year production life there would be countless other improvements to the car.

John Fasal's authoritative work, The Edwardian Rolls-Royce, records chassis number '2082' as having limousine coachwork originally, while past owners listed include Sir Robert Moncreiffe of London and Captain P A Brooksbank of Knebworth, Herts. Copies of the chassis cards are on file. The car is recorded as existing in chassis-only form in 1962, and appears to have resided in Australia from the 1960s to the 1990s.

In September 2003 the completely dismantled Silver Ghost was offered for sale at Bonhams' auction at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (Lot 338) where it was purchased by the current vendor. As seen today, this magnificent 'Edwardian' Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has just emerged from a fastidious restoration to the highest standards, carried out by a noted and world regarded 'Ghost specialist. Related bills on file total some £600,000.

Hand-formed in aluminium and painted in silver metallic, the Rois des Belges open tourer body is a particularly well proportioned, while the beautiful interior is trimmed in dark green buttoned leather, and the full-length mohair hood erects easily when required. The result is an imposing motor car that looks stunning from all angles and drives in the model's renowned silence. It is, of course, eminently suitable for RREC and 20 Ghost Club events.