Lot Ended
Description
Few owners; interesting history from new; former show-winner; rear
cocktail cabinets; always in light regular use; one of only 1,883 made; a
magnificent machine, fit for a king
Launched in
1946, the Silver Wraith was the first Rolls-Royce to be made post-war and the
last to be supplied in the traditional way as a rolling chassis to be fitted
with a coachbuilt body of the customer's choice.
Mechanically, the
Silver Wraith shared the same 4,257cc straight-six engine as the Bentley MkVI,
driving through a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh as standard. As
with the Bentley, the gearshift was mounted to the right of the driver’s seat
which could play havoc with his lordship’s tweed trews – or more likely the
chauffeur’s overalls…
For 1951 the Silver Wraith
received the revised 4,566cc 'Big Bore' engine used by the rest of the
Rolls/Bentley range and automatic transmission became an option, as did a long
wheelbase version (133”). The short wheelbase model (127”) remained in
production until 1953 while the LWB soldiered on until 1959, being counted among
the finest cars of their era.
With majestic
presence and exclusivity, the Silver Wraith became the preferred transport for
Royalty, heads of state and international dignitaries, often featuring formal
limousine-style coachwork by the likes of Mulliner, Hooper and Park
Ward.
Just 1,883 Silver Wraith chassis were
produced in total (1,244 in SWB form, as here) before it was replaced by the
rather less exclusive Silver Cloud in 1958.
This
particular car, chassis WAB.21, was specially ordered in November 1947 by Mr F
Tear Esq of Bedfordshire who requested Hooper ‘Teviot’ Touring Saloon coachwork
(design no. 8122 by Osmond Rivers) finished in dark grey all over with a gold
coachline. The interior was trimmed in Blue/Grey Connolly hide with grey wool
carpets and matching cloth headlining.
Mr Tear
requested roller blinds for the front windscreen, silk ropes on the middle door
pillars, hinged foot rests for the rear passengers, folding rear picnic tables
and accommodation for drinks bottles, tumblers and cosmetics and
perfurmery jars for the ladies.
A successful market gardener who owned several thousand acres of
farmland around Potton and employed over 500 staff, Mr Tear took delivery
of his new Rolls-Royce in the summer of 1948 and it was to remain in the family
for the next 38 years, during which time it was always driven by the same
chauffeur, Arthur Hutchinson.
After Mr Tear
passed away and his business was dissolved, JYP 495 went to London classic car
dealer Peter J Fischer before going to America in October 1986 where it was
owned by Daniel Cook III of Texas. A senior partner at Goldman Sachs who ran
their Dallas office, he seems to have kept the car for the next 21 years during
which time it was repainted in the current black-over-silver and was presumably
taken to shows, a plaque recording a ‘1st Place’ award at a
Rolls-Royce Owners Club gathering in Texas in May 1989 (see photos).
Imported back to the UK in November 2007, it was
then briefly owned by The Real Car Company of Snowdonia before being acquired by
De Gournay Motor Car Company of Somerset in February 2008. Before buying the
car, they had it inspected by Ron Champion, a motor engineer with over 40 years
of experience who also lectured at Cambridge University and wrote maintenance
manuals for Haynes Publishing.
At this point the
Wraith was showing 59,982 miles on the odometer and had been freshly serviced,
Mr Champion giving it a favourable report which concluded: “This is a very fine
motor car in better than average condition... An excellent
buy”.
De Gournay ran a fleet of Rolls-Royce and
Bentley motorcars which they hired out for weddings and special occasions. They
researched the history of the Wraith in some detail, contacting the families of
the two previous owners and amassing a good file of provenance, including
historic photos of the car when it was owned by Mr Tear and other documents
relating to Mr Cook’s ownership, a small sample of which are shown in the
photos.
They had the car repainted shortly after
they bought it, had the brightwork replated as required and also had the
interior sympathetically refurbished, fitting inertia reel seatbelts in the
front. They were to keep the Wraith for the next 13 years during which
time it was always in light, regular use, judging by the MOT history, although
the odometer seems to have been stuck on 60,340 miles since 2011 so the true
mileage is unknown.
There are many dozens of invoices to show meticulous
upkeep during their ownership. Aside from routine servicing and regular MOT
tests, it doesn't seem to have needed much, items of note including a
new clutch and electronic fuel pump in 2019; new water pump and starter
motor rebuilt in 2018; new tyres and inner tubes plus chassis waxoyl treated in
2017; brake servo rebuilt in 2014; carb rebuilt, new exhaust sections,
reversing lights fiited and interior woodwork refurbished in 2013; new
suspension bushes and halogen headlamp bulbs in 2012; Lumenition electronic
ignition with high performance coils in 2010; new valve stem seals in 2009
- you get the picture, this car wanted for nothing and was kept in tip-top
running order.
Our vendor, a former
professional motor mechanic and garage proprietor, acquired the Wraith from
De Gournay in 2021 to join his collection of interesting classics, the
invoice showing that he paid £51,000. He has continued to use the car lightly
and look after it properly, telling us that it drives as well as it looks and
has always proved very reliable.
As you can see
in the photos, this is a really majestic machine in fine condition overall, the
only real blemish we noted being the wheel rimbellishers which would ideally be
rechromed. In true Rolls-Royce fashion, it has been starting instantly and
running almost silently as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil
pressure.
A wonderfully preserved icon of high
society life in post-war Britain, all this Wraith needs now is a proud fifth
owner who can continue to cherish it for future generations to enjoy.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]