1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer
- Engine
- 7.4L L-head inline-six, cylinders cast in two blocks, 40/50 hp
- Colour
- Dove grey with black fenders
Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost chassis 35PB, delivered new in May 1914 to London importer F.W. Berwick with an H.J. Mulliner landaulette body, subsequently exported to the United States where it acquired a Locke coupe body. Between 2000 and 2005 it underwent a comprehensive restoration by noted Silver Ghost specialist David Hemmings, during which a new period-correct open tourer body was constructed. The car later received a bare-metal refinish and has since resided in a distinguished American collection.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$726,000
- 1914-05-30 →Factory deliveryF.W. Berwick & Companyfull documentation
Delivered to the company's London address; original body was a landaulette by H.J. Mulliner. Berwick was a luxury automobile importer and manufacturer's partner, and may have acquired this car to study the competition.
- 1916 →Acquisition unknownCaptain Robert Glenpartial documentation
Husband of the previous owner; kept the car in London during this period.
- → 1925-02-12Acquisition unknownMr. or Mrs. Davispartial documentation
Owner prior to the 1925 sale; no further details given.
- 1925-02-12 →Private saleLlewellyn Williamsfull documentation
Resident of Brooklyn; the car was by this time fitted with a coupe body by New York coachbuilder Locke, replacing the original Mulliner landaulette. Williams eventually gave the car to a friend.
- 1954 →Acquisition unknownE.M. Heappartial documentation
Received the car as a gift from Llewellyn Williams; expressed a desire to return it to England, though whether this actually occurred is uncertain.
- 1964 →Private saleRobert Kniespartial documentation
Based in Greenville, New York; purchased the car still carrying the Locke coupe body.
- 2000 → 2005Acquisition unknownBritish owner whose identity is unrecordedpartial documentation
Commissioned a full restoration by Silver Ghost specialist David Hemmings, including a new tourer body built to period-correct standards. The restored car completed lengthy road tours through France and northern England.
- 2005 → 2011Private saleMichael Sierrapartial documentation
American Silver Ghost collector who brought the car back to the United States after its British restoration.
- 2011 →Private saleFrank Alloccapartial documentation
Long-standing member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club; had the car fully refinished in dove grey with black fenders and retrimmed in black leather by Gaslight Auto Restoration of Stewartsville, New Jersey.
- Date unknownMrs. Robert Glenpartial documentation
Based in Glasgow, Scotland; noted as a subsequent owner by historian John Faisal.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownR.W. Schuettepartial documentation
New York-based dealer who reportedly specialized in importing used Silver Ghosts from Britain to the United States.
- Date unknownPrivate saleOrin Smithpartial documentation
Noted collector; acquired the car after its refinish and has kept it in his collection since.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2000RestorationDavid Hemmings
Full comprehensive restoration carried out over approximately five years, encompassing a complete engine rebuild, rear axle overhaul, gearbox rebuild with entirely new bearings, and construction and fitting of a new period-correct open tourer body using authentic methods and materials.
Photographic documentation of the work is on file. Following completion, the car undertook a roughly 1,500-mile tour to the South of France and a separate 1,200-mile tour of Northern England and the Scottish Borders.
- 2011BodyworkGaslight Auto Restoration
Complete bare-metal repaint in dove grey with black fenders, plus fitting of correct button-tufted black leather upholstery and a black canvas hood.
Commissioned by Frank Allocca; workshop located in Stewartsville, New Jersey.
- —BodyworkLocke
Original H.J. Mulliner landaulette body replaced with a Locke-built coupe body by the time the car was in American ownership, prior to its 1925 sale to Llewellyn Williams.
New York coachbuilder; the replacement body was described as more modern but aesthetically awkward compared to the original.
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