1950 Rolls-Royce

• One of just eleven cars built to Design No WR20M by Gurney Nutting
• Fitted with hydraulicly operated windows and roof
• Restored whilst in the USA in around 2002
• Part of a collection in the Lebanon between 2012 and 2023
• Recent extensive works totalling around £30,000
• Complete with original handbook and original coachwork maintenance instructions 

Chassis No WGC41 was originally completed in August of 1950. It is one of just eleven cars produced to Design No WR20M by Gurney Nutting of Chelsea, with a single car being produced in this overall style as a fixed head coupe. No other designs were ever offered by Gurney Nutting on the Silver Wraith chassis. It was supplied new to Mr W.R. Howard of Ashford in Kent by Jack Barclay Ltd, complete from new with hydraulicly operated windows and roof, a significant luxury at the time. It was originally finished in Cadillac green with a beige mohair hood and a beige leather (VM 847) interior. In 1958 the car was sold for the first time, to Colonel Rupert de Larrinaga of Lancashire who was the English Olympic ski champion. It was sold again in 1962 to Mr R Bright of Middlesex and a few years later was then advertised by The Halfway Garage for sale who sold the car to a collector in the United States. It was restored in the US around 2002 at which time the car was re-painted in dark blue. It remained Stateside until around 2012 when it was purchased by a Lebanese collector who shipped it to the Lebanon where it remained for around a decade. Chassis No WGC41 was repatriated to the UK in 2023 and has since benefitted from a great deal of improvement works which are all documented in the car’s history file. These works included but were not limited to a complete overhaul of the cars hydraulic system and a general mechanical review. The sum of around £30,000 has been spent on improvement works to the car over the past year or so. Chassis No WGC41 comes complete with its original handbook, original coachwork maintenance instructions booklet, copy chassis cards and build sheets, history records, some period photos taken in the early 1960’s and invoices covering recent works undertaken. An attractive and interesting Silver Wraith by Gurney Nutting that commands attention wherever it is driven. 

Manufacture of Rolls-Royce motor cars soon resumed in 1946 after World War II with production of the Silver Wraith, a time when the automotive industry was transitioning from wartime production back to civilian models. Rolls-Royce, known for its meticulous engineering and bespoke craftsmanship, designed the Silver Wraith to embody elegance, comfort, and performance. The Silver Wraith gained a reputation for being a state car, used by royalty and heads of state. Its reliability, combined with luxurious interiors and an imposing presence, made it a favourite among dignitaries. Notably, it was the car of choice for the British royal family and was also used by other royals and presidents worldwide.

One of the distinguishing features of the Silver Wraith was its robust separate chassis frame, which was intended to support a wide range of coachwork designs. The wheelbase was available in different lengths, a standard 127-inch option and the 133-inch-long wheelbase variant, providing flexibility in design. The Silver Wraith chassis were always fitted with handmade individually crafted coachwork. The war years had certainly taken their toll on the coach building industry in England, with many famous names ceasing to exist by the mid 1940’s. However, some of the most established companies did survive, such as H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward and Hooper who between them were responsible for designing and creating some exquisite designs, allowing for a high degree of personalization, catering to the specific tastes and requirements of their affluent clientele.

The Silver Wraith came with robust independent front suspension by a coil spring twin fulcrum arm system, a simplified development of the Phantom III and Wraith equipment. To the rear of the car was a live rear axle with orthodox semi-elliptic leaf springs. This setup provided an excellent balance between ride comfort and handling stability. Initially equipped with drum brakes on all four wheels, the braking system was enhanced over time to improve stopping power and safety.

The Silver Wraith was initially offered with the same engine dimensions as the pre-war Wraith and 4 ¼ Litre Bentley, but cylinder head design was entirely different, being cast in aluminium alloy and containing only the inlet valves; spent gases exhaust through valves in the cylinder block. The familiar delightful gear shift was retained with automatic transmission becoming an option from 1953 onwards. The automatic gearbox was effectively a refined and developed version of the General Motors design. The introduction of this innovation coincided with the widening of the cylinder bores to 3.625 inches. This allied to an unchanged stroke of 4.5 inches enlarged the engine capacity to 4566cc. The famous servo assisted braking system is partially hydraulic and the last cars have power assisted steering with a 4887cc engine.

A total of 1,886 Silver Wraiths were produced between 1946 and 1959 and were ordered by a diverse cross section of customers, including governments who purchased them for Presidential use. A number of cars were purchased by nobility and Royal families all over the world. The Silver Wraith also found favour amongst captains of industry as well as recognised stars in the entertainment world, making it a very successful return to motor car production for Rolls-Royce.