1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Cabriolet by Franay
- Engine
- 4.3L inline-six F-head, ~150 bhp, four-speed manual
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith chassis LWAB63 holds the distinction of being the first left-hand-drive post-war Rolls-Royce, originally displayed bare at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show before receiving an ill-received Poberejsky body at Geneva in 1949. Subsequently converted to left-hand drive and clothed in a striking two-door cabriolet body by Parisian coachbuilder Franay, it was presented to Lucille Dhotelle — celebrated entertainer and wife of Puerto Rican magnate Félix Benítez Rexach — reportedly the wealthiest woman on the French Riviera. After decades in the Dominican Republic, the car received an exhaustive, award-winning restoration and has since distinguished itself at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, and Florence.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$473,000
- 1948 →Factory deliveryRolls-Royce (factory/display use)partial documentation
Chassis prepared and shown bare at the Earls Court Motor Show, then loaned to coachbuilder Poberejsky for a Geneva show body; after that body was rejected, the chassis was converted to left-hand drive and sold on.
- → 1975Private saleLucille Dhotelle Rexach (Mrs. Félix Benítez Rexach)partial documentation
Received the car as a gift from her husband; took delivery on a short-term French registration but did not formally register it until July 1963. She used it frequently and the car remained with her estate until exported after her death.
- 1975 → 1998InheritanceRexach family estate, Dominican Republicpartial documentation
Exported to a family property in the Dominican Republic seven years after Mrs. Rexach's death; stored in a carport on the estate for approximately two decades.
- 1998 →Private saleJ. Frank and Milli Ricciardellifull documentation
Acquired via Vantage Motorworks in Miami; commissioned a thorough, research-intensive restoration that debuted at Pebble Beach in 1999 and earned multiple concours awards.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownOrin and Stephanie Smithpartial documentation
Described as the third owners since new; attended Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2015 with the car.
Competition
- 19481948 Earls Court Motor ShowExhibited
Chassis displayed bare as a factory showpiece prior to coachwork being fitted.
- 19491949 Geneva Motor ShowExhibited
Shown with Poberejsky coachwork; the body received strongly negative critical reception and was subsequently removed.
- 1950Concours d'Elegance Automobile d'Enghien
Car shown by Parisian dealer Franco-Brittanic Automobiles following completion of Franay coachwork.
- 1950Concours d'Elegance de l'Auto, Paris
Second 1950 concours appearance, again presented by Franco-Brittanic Automobiles.
- 19991999 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceClass award
Debut of the completed Vantage Motorworks restoration; earned a class-level prize.
- 20042004 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Return appearance at Pebble Beach, improving on the 1999 result with a class win.
- 20042004 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
- 20102010 Unique and Special Ones, FlorenceBest in Class and Best Post-war Restoration
Event held in Florence, Italy; car received two separate category awards.
- 20152015 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Entered by then-owners Orin and Stephanie Smith.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1949ModificationRolls-Royce
Chassis converted from right-hand to left-hand drive by Rolls-Royce following retrieval from Poberejsky, renumbered LWAB63.
- 1950BodyworkFranay
Custom two-door, four-passenger cabriolet body constructed by Franay to a unique design featuring compound-curved fenders, full rear spats, and a flowing beltline.
Body commissioned as a personal gift and completed in time for 1950 concours appearances.
- 1999RestorationVantage Motorworks
Comprehensive restoration undertaken, including botanical analysis to identify the correct Brazilian pau-marfim species for the dashboard, precise colour-matching of surviving trim fragments, recreation of special engine-compartment chrome and polished finishes dating to the 1948 Earls Court preparation, and careful reconstruction of the wiring harness. Low original mileage confirmed drivetrain integrity.
Project led by Richard Gorman on behalf of the Ricciardelli collection; restoration debuted at Pebble Beach in 1999.
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