Vehicle Description
Upon its debut in 1906, the Rolls-Royce 40/50 horsepower "Silver
Ghost" rendered virtually every contemporary automobile obsolete
overnight. It was undoubtedly the most advanced motorcar money
could buy, raising the bar for automotive refinement and quality.
Henry Royce's astonishing 7,036cc side-valve inline six-cylinder
engine was central to the Ghost. The mighty six was durable yet
lightweight thanks to the extensive use of aluminum alloy,
particularly in the large crankcase. While competitors struggled to
achieve reliability due to their long, flexible crankshafts, Royce
designed a shorter, stronger crank supported by seven oversize main
bearings. Rolls-Royce engineers and machinists assembled the
40/50hp with surgical precision, finely fitting each component and
hand-polishing mating surfaces to ensure turbine-smooth, smoke-free
operation - characteristics virtually unheard of for the time.
Features such as pressurized oiling, fixed heads to eliminate
leaks, and a twin ignition system via magneto or distributor were
advancements that established the Silver Ghost as the Gold Standard
for motorcars. Rolls-Royce endowed the Silver Ghost with a suitably
overbuilt chassis to flatter its superb engine. Over the
eighteen-year production run, the design underwent numerous
refinements, gaining significant improvements, including four-wheel
brakes, revised suspension, improved steering, and much more. It is
a true testament to the quality of these cars that so many of the
approximately 6,500 Silver Ghosts produced still survive today.
Given its remarkable durability, a Silver Ghost 40/50hp chassis
would often outlive its original body, sometimes several times
over. Even as many Silver Ghosts have surpassed the century mark, a
global community of dedicated aficionados continues to enjoy them
on the road, and few veteran cars compare to the experience of
piloting a mighty Silver Ghost. Chassis number 25EB is a highly
desirable pre-WWI Ghost with a fascinating history, which owes its
survival to the second owner's chauffeur, whose deep fondness for
the car grew from his nearly twenty years at the wheel. Published
information and factory records show that 25EB was built to updated
specifications, including the larger 7,428cc engine, cantilever
rear springs, and torque tube axle. Rolls-Royce delivered the car
to the famed London coachbuilder Barker where it received this
opulent Limousine Landaulet coachwork. Barker was established in
1710 by one of Queen Anne's Officers of the Guards and rose to be
one of England's most respected and revered coachbuilders. When
chassis 25EB arrived at the Barker workshop, the firm had more than
200 years of experience creating the world's finest bodies. This
formal design utilizes a high roofline with large windows, a
sliding division window, and an opening rear passenger compartment,
executed with Barker's typical attention to detail. When Barker
completed the coachwork, the car was delivered to the first owner,
D.E. Cameron Rose of Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 28, 1914, and
registered LL 4138. The Ghost remained with Rose for only a short
time before being acquired by the American Rolls-Royce dealer and
Barker Agent, Robert W. Schuette of New York, New York. He sold
25EB to Helen Brice, the socialite daughter of industrialist and
politician Calvin S. Brice. Miss Brice was the Ghost's first
long-term owner, using it regularly until 1934. That is when she
and her Chauffeur, Francis Cox, decided to trade the Ghost in for
something more modern, finding an acceptable replacement in the
form of a 1932 Lincoln. Mr. Cox, feeling nostalgic for the car that
served as a faithful tool for so many years, did not want to see it
suffer the fate of an old used car. He felt the car deserved a
dignified future, and he boldly wrote a letter to Henry Ford,
suggesting the Rolls-Royce would be a fine addition to Ford's new
museum being constructed in Dearborn. Surprisingly, a
representative from Ford wrote back, informing Mr. Cox that "we
have arranged to have this car forwarded to Dearborn for our
museum." With 25EB's fate secured, Ford collected and shipped it to
Dearborn. Photos from the period show it in excellent condition,
still in its original configuration and wearing the original Barker
body. Documentation from 1935 further describes the car's condition
to great detail, and indicates the engine number as 89.M, which
remains in the car today. Chassis 25EB was exhibited in the new
Edison Institute - which later became known as the Henry Ford
Museum, and today, The Henry Ford. Documents from this time include
copies of a title and affidavit in the museum's name. It was
proudly displayed at the museum until 1971, when it was
deaccessioned and sold to Benjamin Paul Moser of California. Ben
Moser was well-known as a prolific dealer and astute collector of
highly significant classic cars. Most of Moser's finds quickly
passed on to his clients, though he had a particular affinity for
high-horsepower European brass and Rolls-Royces. Ben was quite fond
of 25EB, as it stayed in his private collection until his passing
in 1992. A 1993 auction listing for the Moser collection noted it
retained much of its original upholstery and was finished in the
original colors of black and green. From the Moser auction, 25EB
passed through the hands of several noted collectors and was
refinished in maroon along the way. In the early 2000s, it came
into the care of Richard Solove of Columbus, Ohio, a longtime
Rolls-Royce enthusiast and collector. In 2004, he handed the car to
one of the world's foremost Silver Ghost experts, Steve Littin, for
a comprehensive yet sympathetic restoration. He found the engine
was in excellent order, needing only detailing and service.
Incredibly, just one piece of structural wood required replacement,
and the most significant work was making the Landaulet top fully
functional again. Littin went so far as to source the original,
serial-numbered hardware from John Faisal in the UK. The body was
then refinished in its current cream livery and trimmed using
period-correct upholstery materials. Richard Solove sold the Ghost
in 2007, and it passed through the hands of other highly-respected
collectors. The most recent owners acquired 25EB in 2019 and
returned the car to Steve Littin for extensive detailing and
servicing ahead of the car's debut at the 2021 Pebble Beach
Concours d'Elegance, where it scored 3rd place in a highly
competitive class. As offered today, 25EB epitomizes the majesty of
the Edwardian Rolls-Royce. That it has survived more than a century
in its original configuration, with original components intact,
reflects the Silver Ghost's unparalleled quality and Barker's
exquisite craftsmanship. Of course, it may not exist today were it
not for a devoted Chauffeur urging Henry Ford himself that this is
a motorcar worthy of his attention. Offers welcome and trades
considered For additional details please view this listing directly
on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7254-1914-rolls-royce-silver-ghost-barker-landaulet/
