Description
2-door Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith “Fixed Head Coupé” by Rippon Brothers of Huddersfield.
Delivered new to its first owner, a leading industrialist from the north of the UK, on 11 March 1950; this 4-seat coupé is nevertheless extremely spacious.
Coached in aluminium and exhibited at the London Motor Show in October 1949—at the time, it was simply the most expensive car on display, as the period catalogue (a copy of which is in the file) attests.
All Silver Wraiths were delivered as chassis and bare engines, with different coachbuilders depending on each client’s wishes. For this reason, this model was made in a single example only!
Rippon coachwork was known worldwide and respected for the quality of its finishing, with nothing to be said against the work of more prolific coachbuilders such as Hooper, HJ Mulliner, or Thrupp & Maberley.
Rippon made Rolls-Royces and Bentleys—one example each per year—up until 1951, before becoming simply a dealer once demand for special coachwork had dried up after the war.
The Rippon brothers’ establishments also bodied many Delage and other Darracq models.
This is a one-off design created by Colonel Rippon and approved by its then client, the grandfather of the last owner of this vehicle—who kept it in the same family all these years!
That’s perhaps why it has remained in an incredible state of originality and retained its distinctive features, including in particular sliding rear side windows, as well as a recess housing a “vanity” mirror still present.
Original upholstery, original woodwork (re-finished), and of course original bodywork and engine with matching numbers—our good old 4. 1/ 4-litre straight-six running perfectly.
Driving this unique vehicle is an incredible experience: it is very reliable, having recently been driven back over more than 300 km. The gears engage properly and the braking is effective.
The detailed history of this automobile shows that the first owner’s daughter inherited it at the end of the 1950s, and then his grandson in 1982. The car was used regularly, and the grandson told us that, as a child, he drove the whole of Europe in it during their annual summer holidays.
Attention collectors of unique parts: this truly exceptional vehicle will take pride of place in the finest collections.
Available by appointment in Mouscron, on the Franco-Belgian border beside Tourcoing, and 20 minutes from Lille.
Delivery possible throughout mainland France and beyond.
Trade-in possible.
English spoken.
