How much is a ghost car?

1907-1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which enjoyed a production run of two decades, was renowned for its smooth, quiet running. It was overbuilt, which is precisely why its reliability became legendary. See more classic car pictures.

Henry Royce probably did not start out to create the «Best Car in the World» when he designed the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. What he wanted was to replace his rough-running six-cylinder «Thirty» with something more reliable, something smoother and quieter.

He succeeded so completely that the new car, introduced at the Olympia Motor Show and later named Silver Ghost, became the longest-running single model next to the Model T Ford (and, much later, the VW Beetle and the British Mini) — and certainly the most famous luxury car in history. The Silver Ghost remains to this day the most desirable model among antique (pre-1930) cars.

Rolls-Royce, founded in Manchester in 1904, was the amalgam of socialite entrepreneur Charles S. Rolls, who’d been selling Panhards and wanted something better, and the aforementioned Mr. Royce, whose previous experience had been with electric cranes.

Early production involved a variety of cars in different sizes with two, three, four, and six cylinders, about as successful as bystanders expected from this unlikely duo. But those who thought the venture would fail did not reckon on Royce’s acumen, nor his single-minded determination to build a better car than anybody else.

The Silver Ghost was renowned for its smooth, quiet running, achieved with a massive, seven-main-bearing crankshaft and stiff crankcase. Its cylinders were cast in two blocks of three, inclusive of heads, which eliminated head gaskets and the chances of their blowing. The specifications included full-pressure lubrication, an electrical system that really worked, and a precision carburetor made with the quality of a Swiss watch. Its reliability, at a time when «horseless carriages» were anything but reliable, was legendary.

This was proven when a Silver Ghost emerged from a 15,000-mile trial in 1907, observed by the Royal Automobile Club, with highest marks. Four years later, on the London-Edinburgh-London run, a Ghost ran the entire distance in top gear with a fuel consumption of 24.32 miles per Imperial gallon (19 mpg U.S.), an astonishing performance for the time in such a heavy car.

Although the seven-liter side-valve engine’s compression ratio was only 3,2:1, it developed 48 brake horsepower at 1,500 rpm, and would deliver 50-mph cruising speeds, which was more than an enthusiastic driver could do on almost any public road of the day.

When a Ghost owner wanted to really let it out, he’d pay a visit to Brooklands, the huge banked oval in Surrey, built just after the first Ghosts. Brooklands’ motto was «the right crowd and no crowding,» which was certainly appropriate here: the Silver Ghost chassis alone cost £985, close to $5,000 at the time, five or 10 times what the average professional could expect to make in a year. Truly this was a car for the classes and not the masses.

Henry Royce’s success came at a key time, when the cash-poor company desperately needed a winner. So well received was it that the firm moved to more spacious quarters in Derby in 1908, simultaneously deciding to produce only this model — and so it did for the next 17 years.

On the next page, learn about the 1909 to the 1919 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

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1909-1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

The first mechanical change to the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost came in 1909, when an increase in stroke brought displacement to 7.4 liters and the original four-speed transmission was replaced by a three-speed unit. By 1911, when Rolls-Royce prepared a car for the London-Edinburgh run, compression was 3.5:1 and carburetion increases had brought horsepower to 58. The Ghost reverted to a four-speed transmission in 1913, when cantilever rear suspension was adopted.

That was the year when Rolls-Royce was able to claim an honest 80 mph for the light, open-bodied Ghosts built for the Austrian Alpine Trials, where they finished ahead of all other rivals. Incidentally, the beautiful London-Edinburgh tourer survives, and recently changed hands at a Florida auction for $1,3000,000 — a bargain compared to two other, less distinguished examples which sold for $2,005,000 and $2,600,000.

Limited production continued during the Great War, when many new and some old Ghosts were fitted with armored bodywork for running battles against the Turks in the Middle East, under such commanders as Allenby and Lawrence of Arabia. Others were used as staff cars and ambulances. Inflation saw the chassis price rise to £2,100 ($10,165) after the war, although this now included a chain-driven self-starter and four-wheel brakes with a servo assist. Brake horsepower of the 1919 and later models rose to 70.

In 1920, Rolls-Royce of America, Incorporated, was founded at Springfield, Massachusetts, in a plant purchased from the American Wire Wheel Company. The object was to build cars for the American market while avoiding high import tariffs, and the subsidiary enjoyed good success until the Depression closed it down in 1931. Silver Ghosts were built at Springfield beginning in 1921.

Retaining their English right-hand drive, they offered the 7.4-liter engine rated at 80 bhp. In 1925, Springfield finally switched to left-hand drive, by which time the cars were developing 85 bhp at 2,300 rpm and could do 70-plus mph with the high-speed (3.25:1) rear axle ratio. Two huge wheelbases, of 144 and 150 1/2inches, were available, and bodies were supplied by the cream of American coach builders, chiefly Brewster. Of the 2,944 Springfield Rolls-Royces built over 11 years, 1,703 were Silver Ghosts.

Paul Woudenberg, in his Illustrated Rolls-Royce and Bentley Buyer’s Guide (1984), writes that the American Rolls had «no glaring weaknesses and, given regular maintenance and lubrication, has nearly unlimited life. The American Ghost has been given much attention in the Flying Lady, publication of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, especially in the years after 1952, and owners will find back issues of this magazine (still available) a valuable guide in maintenance and troubleshooting.»

He adds that while the domestic version lacked the four-wheel brakes of the later British cars, it did feature valve covers, an important improvement over the exposed valves of the English models. The domestics can be recognized at a glance by their drum headlamps, tubular bumpers, and American componentry such as electrics, as well as left-hand drive after 1925.

Finally, since Brewster built the vast majority of American bodies (and was itself bought by Rolls-Royce of America in 1923), the Springfield cars carry a far more uniform line of bodywork.

The Silver Ghost was superseded in Britain by the Phantom I in 1925, after a long and distinguished career. UK production since 1906 amounted to 6,173 chassis, making 7,876 altogether.

On our final page, you will find the specifications for the 1907-1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

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Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost — The Most Expensive Car in the World?

The value of classic cars has increased several times over the last decade. You should have noticed this, but does it discourage those looking for a rare, exclusive ride? Of course not. Until recently, the 1960s Ferrari 250 GTO was thought to be the most expensive car of all time. Someone paid as much as $48,000,000 for this stunning beauty. Many did not doubt that it would be insanely difficult to surpass this Ferrari. And yet, not only they but we were wrong as well because this record was set by a hard-hitting car collector.

Things about the car

Spend a vast sum on a little-known car — who would come up with such an idea? It would be bizarre if it had no lasting value. However, this model was unique. At first, we should remember the Rolls-Royce headquarters in 1906, UK, where the latest chassis and model were introduced. The British brand then unveiled a 40/50 HP model. Do you think the company gave a name too simple for a car that had to drive the aristocracy? We think the same way, but back then, company executives focused more on engineering solutions rather than on romantic names like Ghost or Phantom.

A Silver Ghost Outside Rolls-Royce’s Indian Depot
© Rolls-Royce

Claude Johnson
© Rolls-Royce

One year after the launch of the new chassis, Rolls-Royce executive director Claude Johnson decided to build a demo version of the 40/50 HP model. He designed the fruit of his fantasy on a chassis numbered 60551, adorned with an open body and AX201 registration numbers. It was painted silver and, for the first time in Rolls-Royce’s history, received a very prominent name — Silver Ghost.

Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost limousine by Hooper
© Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce 40/50HP
© Rolls-Royce

Claude Johnson wanted to prove that the Silver Ghost he was driving was the best car in the world, and he decided to take an unconventional endurance test in 1907. He had to drive from London to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, and back 27 times without unscheduled stops. And guess what? He managed to do just that and covered 14,932 miles (approximately 24,000 kilometres). According to various sources, this Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has travelled almost 15,000 miles without any issues. No component was damaged or broken. Given the primitive and advanced technique of the time, this was a fantastic achievement.

1908 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50 HP Roi-des-Belges Tourer
© Rolls-Royce

Further fate of the car

After proving his truth, Claude Johnson sold Silver Ghost in 1908 to a collector from Italy. Forty years later, the Italian sold the vehicle to Rolls-Royce. In the company’s hands, Silver Ghost underwent a comprehensive restoration. The car was then refurbished again in 1991, and again ten years later.

When Rolls-Royce together with Bentley sat down to discuss business, soon the division of two-branded property of Volkswagen and BMW began. And while BMW bought Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen’s colleagues kept the old Rolls-Royce factory, which was home to this Silver Ghost. And now, in 2019, Volkswagen has finally decided to say goodbye to the world’s only Silver Ghost.

As expected, we do not know the exact details of the transaction. However, according to unofficial sources, 2019 in the summer, Volkswagen shook hands with a car collector who agreed to pay as much as $75,000,000 for the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. — Find your dream car among our Car Categories!

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

For the luxury sedan produced by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and introduced in 2009, see Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Motor vehicle
AX201, Roi-des-Belges tourer by Barker

AX201 at Cat and Fiddle Hill during the Scottish Reliability Trial 1907

1920 Silver Ghost with limousine coachwork

40/50 hp Silver Ghost
7,428cc side-valve six-cylinder engine.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost name refers both to a car model and one specific car from that series. Originally named the «40/50 h.p.» the chassis was first made at Royce’s Manchester works, with production moving to Derby in July 1908, and also, between 1921 and 1926, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Chassis no. 60551, registered AX 201, was the car that was originally given the name «Silver Ghost». Other 40/50 hp cars were also given names, but the Silver Ghost title was taken up by the press, and soon all 40/50s were called by the name, a fact not officially recognised by Rolls-Royce until 1925, when the Phantom range was launched. The Silver Ghost was the origin of Rolls-Royce’s claim of making the «best car in the world» – a phrase coined not by themselves, but by the prestigious publication Autocar in 1907. [ citation needed ] The chassis and engine were also used as the basis of a range of Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars. In December of 1923, four friends of Woodrow Wilson chipped in to buy the former President a Silver Ghost, just weeks before Wilson’s death in February of 1924. The car was modified so that Wilson, who was disabled, could enter and exit the car more easily.

History [ edit ]

T.E. Lawrence in Blue Mist, 1918

In 1906, Rolls-Royce produced four chassis to be shown at the Olympia car show, two existing models, a four-cylinder 20 hp and a six-cylinder 30 hp, and two examples of a new car designated the 40/50 hp. The 40/50 hp was so new that the show cars were not fully finished, and examples were not provided to the press for testing until March 1907. [3] The car at first had a new side-valve, six-cylinder, 7036 cc engine (7428 cc from 1910) with the cylinders cast in two units of three cylinders each as opposed to the triple two-cylinder units on the earlier six. A three-speed transmission was fitted at first with four-speed units used from 1913. The seven-bearing crankshaft had full pressure lubrication, and the centre main bearing was made especially large to remove vibration, essentially splitting the engine into two three-cylinder units. Two spark plugs were fitted to each cylinder with, from 1921, a choice of magneto or coil ignition. [4] The earliest cars had used a trembler coil to produce the spark with a magneto as an optional extra which soon became standard — the instruction was to start the engine on the trembler/battery and then switch to magneto. Continuous development allowed power output to be increased from 48 bhp (36 kW) at 1,250 rpm to 80 bhp (60 kW) at 2,250 rpm. Electric lighting became an option in 1914 and was standardised in 1919. [1] Electric starting was fitted from 1919 [4] along with electric lights to replace the older ones that used acetylene or oil. Development of the Silver Ghost was suspended during World War I, although the chassis and engine were supplied for use in Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars. [5] A blue 1909 Silver Ghost known as Blue Mist, previously owned by an Irish lord, was used by Lawrence of Arabia as his personal staff car during the Arab Revolt. [6] [7] Construction of a replica Blue Mist began in 2018. [8] The chassis had rigid front and rear axles and leaf springs all round. Early cars only had brakes on the rear wheels operated by a hand lever, with a pedal-operated transmission brake acting on the propellor shaft. The footbrake system moved to drums on the rear axle in 1913. Four-wheel servo-assisted brakes became optional in 1923. [4] Despite these improvements the performance of the Silver Ghost’s competitors had improved to the extent that its previous superiority had been eroded by the early 1920s. Sales declined from 742 in 1913 to 430 in 1922. The company decided to launch its replacement which was introduced in 1925 as the New Phantom. [9] After this, older 40/50 models were called Silver Ghosts to avoid confusion. A total of 7874 Silver Ghost cars were produced from 1907 to 1926, including 1701 from the American Springfield factory. The documented chassis price listed for the 1921 American version was US$11,750 ($178,508 in 2021 dollars [10] ). [4] [2] Many of them still run today. A fine example is on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

The Alpine Eagles [ edit ]

A 40/50 was privately entered in the prestigious 1912 Austrian Alpine Trial by James Radley, but its 3-speed gearbox proved inadequate for the ascent of the Katschberg Pass. A factory team of four cars were prepared for the 1913 event with four-speed gearboxes, and engine power increased from 60 bhp (45 kW) to 75 bhp (56 kW) by an increase in compression ratio and larger carburettor. The team gained six awards including the Archduke Leopold Cup. Replicas of the victorious cars were put into production and sold officially as Continental models, but they were called Alpine Eagles by chief test driver (and later Rolls-Royce Managing Director) Ernest Hives, and this is the name that they have kept. [ citation needed ]