Vehicle Description
The Silver Wraith was Rolls-Royce's first post-war offering,
holding the distinction of being the first model built in the now
legendary Crewe factory, which, to that point had served as the
main production line for Merlin aero engines during World War II.
In the spirit of the post-war recovery, Rolls-Royce started with a
fresh slate for the new Silver Wraith. It would, as with the
pre-war models, be the standard model, slotted below the
ultra-exclusive, eight-cylinder Phantom IV. Unlike previous Phantom
models, the Phantom IV was strictly reserved for royalty and heads
of state, and just 18 would be produced, making it one of the
rarest and most desirable models in Rolls-Royce history. Despite
the fact that Rolls-Royce had this new inline-eight at their
disposal, the Silver Wraith would be strictly limited to
six-cylinder power. Both models would still be sold as bare
chassis, and coachbuilders would share much of the Phantom IV's
stately elegance in the basic styling of the Silver Wraith,
particularly on long-wheelbase versions, albeit on a somewhat
less-exclusive scale. This splendid 1954 Silver Wraith Long
Wheelbase Saloon, chassis number CLW37, is a truly unique motorcar
that features one-off coachwork by Freestone & Webb, and combines a
proven Silver Wraith chassis with the prestige of a genuine Phantom
IV engine. Thanks to the efforts of one passionate Rolls-Royce
aficionado, this car has been professionally converted with what
was likely the only spare Phantom IV inline-eight cylinder engine
in existence. It is most recently out of a prominent American
collection; a cherished and fabulous driver's car with a
fascinating history. The story of this very special Silver Wraith
begins in earnest in 1987 with Mr. John Donner, an Englishman who
had long lusted after the rare and elusive Phantom IV. Given their
scarcity and value, he accepted that it was unlikely he'd ever get
to own one, so he decided to shift gears, so to speak, and take
matters into his own hands by essentially building a P-IV of his
own. Donner was alerted by a friend, Mr. Ken Steeley, managing
director of Rolls-Royce dealer H.A. Fox in Torquay, England, to the
availability of CLW37. Donner was able to acquire the car, soon
discovering he was only the third owner of this desirable
late-specification long-wheelbase Silver Wraith, and that it
featured one-off "owner/driver" coachwork by Freestone & Webb. As
found, the car was in a bit of a sad state, but it was otherwise
complete and it would serve as the perfect basis for Donner's dream
project. Next, Mr. Donner contacted his friend Ken Lea, who served
as the Director of Engineering at Rolls-Royce in Crewe and was
himself a passionate devotee of the marque. Donner and his friend
Lea discussed a rumor that somewhere in the world existed a new
Phantom IV engine, still in its crate. Amazingly, Ken soon reported
back to John that he had not only confirmed the story, but that he
had found the engine, untouched in private hands. According to Mr.
Lea, six prototypes of the special P-IV inline-eight cylinder
engine were built, all of which were ordered to be scrapped. At the
last minute, however, one unit was put aside and rebuilt to be kept
as a ready spare, should one of the Phantom IVs in royal service
suffer an unexpected failure. Of course, this never happened, so
the engine was crated and sold off in 1972. Mr. Stan Brunt had
purchased the Phantom IV engine from the works in hopes of turning
it into a stationary generator! John Donner was able to secure
ownership of this impossibly rare engine, sending it to Ken Lea at
Rolls-Royce for inspection. It was found it to be in factory-new
condition inside and out, and every component was carefully
examined to determine that this was indeed, a genuine Phantom IV
unit and not the more common B80 as used for military and
commercial applications. Next, car and engine were handed over to
John Dray who began the process of mating the two. Mr. Dray removed
the original inline six, and rebuilt the original transmission with
stronger internals to handle the additional power output of the
eight. The process of fitting the engine was not simple, as the big
eight is significantly longer than the original six-cylinder and
required modifications to the bulkhead and propshaft. In the end,
the mechanical conversion was exceptionally well-engineered, as
proven by the car's surprising performance and outstanding
drivability. The incredible Phantom IV engine still presents
beautifully under the bonnet, the installation looking like a
factory effort, with only the additional two plug leads giving it
away. Once the heavy lifting of the mechanical work was completed,
CLW37 was driven (briskly!) to the workshops of the legendary
Rolls-Royce dealer, P&A Wood, where the coachwork was restored
to a high standard. The project was completed in the early 1990s,
and the car subsequently shown and enjoyed on numerous tours around
England as well as the highly regarded RREC "Jewel that is Jordan"
Tour in 1999. The most recent owner has kept this remarkable
Rolls-Royce in wonderful condition, now displaying a slight patina
that is well suited to the character of the car. The Velvet Green
paintwork is excellent, and the one-off coachwork straight and
properly aligned. Intended for the owner-driver, the Freestone &
Webb body features a sunroof and a beautifully appointed cabin
without a division to allow for greater driver comfort. Rear
passengers are treated to luxurious accommodations in the lush rear
bench. Lovely older woodwork presents well with glossy lacquer,
showing just a few minor cracks in the finish. The tan leather
upholstery on the seats and door cards shows some very slight use
but remains supple and in fine order. The cabin is smartly
appointed with roller-blind sun visors for front seat occupants,
picnic trays, and electric windows for all but the driver, as
original. While no doubt stylish and luxurious, the obvious
highlight of this motorcar is its performance; with the editor of
the RREC magazine describing it to be "of the true scalded cat
variety". The exceptional smoothness and torque of the Phantom IV
power plant transforms the otherwise sedate Silver Wraith into a
supremely fine long-distance touring car, and the unique one-off
coachwork imparts a sense of occasion that mimics that of the
highly exclusive genuine article. This is a uniquely individual
labor of love that is sure to impress the most dedicated of
Rolls-Royce connoisseurs as much as it will serious collectors and
classic touring enthusiasts.
