Beschreibung
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
20th September, 2023 10:00
1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sports Saloon
Coachwork by Park Ward
Estimate
£18, 000 - £22, 000
Registration No: DHS 665
Chassis No: WCB26
MOT: Exempt
Sports Saloon Coachwork by Park Ward & Co. Ltd
Recent comprehensive restoration with much expenditure with specialists Ristes Motors
Supplied new to A. M. MacGeorge Esq. of 24 George Square, Glasgow
Previous forty-five year ownership with a World War Two veteran and understood to have had just four owners from new
Matching chassis and engine numbers
Produced between 1946 and 1959, the Silver Wraith was the last Rolls-Royce to be delivered in chassis form alone, of which a total of 1883 were produced – 1244 with 117in wheelbase and 639 with the 133in wheelbase that was standard from 1953. Many were purchased for official duties and featured formal limousine-style coachwork, with many Silver Wraiths serving as state cars for the Dutch, Danish and Greek royal households and the Irish and Brazilian presidencies. The capacity of the straight-six engine rose from an initial 4257cc to 4566cc in 1951 and was, further increased to 4887cc during 1954. Early examples were only available with four-speed manual transmission, but from 1952 onwards there was the option of a General Motors automatic unit. The model has frequently starred on the silver screen, making appearances in ‘Witness for the Prosecution', ‘The Return of the Pink Panther', ‘Arthur', ‘Batman' and ‘Batman Returns', to name but a few of its many movie credits.
Manufactured new in 1948, chassis WCB26 was supplied to Park Ward & Co. on the 18th of June 1948 for clothing in Sports Saloon coachwork. Supplied to the first owner on the 1st of October that year, the first owner being A. H. MacGeorge Esq., likely a gentleman of high status, not only due to the Rolls-Royce purchase but also due to residing in George Square, Glasgow. Retained in first ownership until 1960, the Rolls-Royce was then acquired by a motor trader based in Glasgow who is understood to have displayed the Silver Wraith at a number of events, including winning its class at the 1960 RREC Concours d ’Elegance in Scotland. Exported to America in 1971, the Silver Wraith entered the ownership of World War Two veteran Milton Blackstone, who served with the 7th Ferrying Group of the Air Transport Command (ATC), and in whose ownership WCB26 remained for forty-five years.
An active member of the San Diego Rolls-Royce Owners Club, the Wraith is understood to have attended further rallies while a resident in America. Repatriated in 2016 by the vendor, chassis WCB26 has benefitted from a comprehensive restoration including a full bodywork renovation and repainting, new clutch, overhauled front suspension, completely retrimmed interior, new exhaust system, and new tyres, with the engine and gearbox only requiring servicing, with much of the work completed by Rolls-Royce specialists Ristes Motors and bills of in file for £7, 400 worth of expenditure. Now presenting in White with Cream leather interior upholstery with Red piping and Red carpeting, the Wraith boasts matching chassis and engine numbers.
Starting readily and running well during our recent photography session, the Wraith, which has been reunited with its original registration number since repatriation (‘DHS 665’), is an appealing prospect having had just four known owners from new. Supplied with a large history file that contains the RREC factory records; invoices from the car's time in America; photographs and correspondence from Mr. Blackstone’s ownership; numerous state titles; accompanying Rolls-Royce literature; and a current V5C document.
