1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Sports Tourer
- Engine
- 40/50 hp six-cylinder
- Colour
- Light ivory
Chassis 2371 is a 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost built to the coveted London-Edinburgh specification — one of only 188 produced. Ordered new by Parisian jeweller Albert Janesich and shipped to France in July 1913, it was maintained by the factory into the late 1920s before disappearing from record until its rediscovery as a bare chassis near Paris in the 1990s. Subsequently restored in Ireland by collector Walter Wilson with coachwork by Kenneth Neve originally fitted to another London-Edinburgh car during a 1970 restoration, the car carries its original British registration R 1733 and is documented in factory build sheets and the standard reference work on the model.
Ownership
- 2019-06-30Auction saleEstimate €650,000 – €750,000
- 1913 →Factory deliveryAlbert Janesichfull documentation
Prominent Parisian jeweller who paid £1,350 for the car; it was briefly UK-registered before being shipped to Paris in mid-1913. Factory records show ongoing maintenance through the late 1920s, including a full rebuild after a minor accident in 1927. His business address shifted during his ownership period.
- 1990 →Private salePeter Richley and Michael Sapsfordpartial documentation
Two early-car researchers located the chassis just outside Paris in the 1990s and acquired it; the frame was reportedly in good condition with traces of what may have been factory-applied grey paint.
- → 2014Private saleWalter Wilsonpartial documentation
Irish Rolls-Royce enthusiast who commissioned a thorough restoration in collaboration with James Black, sourcing a period engine and fitting replica coachwork originally built by Kenneth Neve. He successfully recovered the original UK registration mark and owned the car for roughly twenty years.
- 2014 →Private salePrevious custodian before current vendorpartial documentation
Maintained the car in good mechanical and cosmetic order, spending considerable sums on upkeep; presented it in light ivory with refreshed tan leather trim.
- Date unknownParis-area unidentified custodiannone documentation
Gap in documented history between the late 1920s and the 1990s; an oral account suggests the bare chassis was concealed in a roof space during wartime to prevent requisition.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1927RepairRolls-Royce factory
Following a minor collision in Paris, the factory carried out a complete rebuild of the car.
- 1970RestorationKenneth Neve
Kenneth Neve fitted replica London-Edinburgh torpedo coachwork to a separate London-Edinburgh chassis during its restoration; this body was later transferred to chassis 2371.
The coachwork was removed from its original recipient car during a subsequent restoration and fitted to 2371; kicker plates record its provenance.
- —Restoration
Comprehensive restoration returning the car to original London-Edinburgh configuration, including sourcing or fabricating missing components and fitting a 1914 engine numbered 10K originally from chassis 37MA. The Kenneth Neve replica body was installed and the original UK registration R 1733 was recovered.
Commissioned by Walter Wilson and carried out with James Black; completed before Wilson began using the car, likely in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
- —Bodywork
Interior refreshed with new tan leather upholstery; brightwork and nickel-plated fittings also renewed.
Work undertaken during or after the most recent ownership period; exact date not stated.
- —Mechanical
Ongoing mechanical and cosmetic expenditure to maintain the car in sound running order, described as substantial in recent years.
Carried out under the current or immediately preceding keeper; no specific date or scope given beyond general upkeep.
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