1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Drophead Coupé (Dansk Karosseri Fabrik coachwork)
This 1927 Dansk Karosseri Fabrik Drophead Coupé is believed to be the only example of Danish coachwork ever mounted on a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, making it a singular piece of Scandinavian automotive heritage. The body was constructed for chassis 5CB and displayed at Forum Copenhagen in 1927, later transferred in the 1970s to chassis 49RE, which was originally delivered to John W. Potter. Following a sale in 1982, the car underwent an extensive six-year mechanical restoration by Silver Ghost specialist Jonathan Harley before entering its most recent long-term ownership in 2010.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £138,000 (≈ $173K)
- → 1982Pre-1982 unidentified ownernone documentation
Car was offered in unrestored condition in 1982, implying at least one intervening owner between original delivery and that sale.
- 1982 →AuctionPost-1982 owner commissioning restorationpartial documentation
Acquired the car following the 1982 sale and commissioned a comprehensive mechanical rebuild by Silver Ghost specialist Jonathan Harley over approximately six years; the original registration was also reinstated during this period.
- 2010 →Acquisition unknownThe British Icons Collectionpartial documentation
Danish-born custodians who valued the car for its local coachbuilding heritage; used it extensively on touring events and rallies across Denmark and beyond, maintaining it to a high standard with documented specialist servicing.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryJohn W Potterpartial documentation
Original recipient of chassis 49RE; heir to wealth derived from brokering clipper ships in the Chinese tea trade. Factory build records are present in the history file noting original specification.
Competition
- 1927Forum Copenhagen motor show
The newly completed Dansk Karosseri Fabrik body, mounted on chassis 5CB, was displayed at this Copenhagen exhibition; a period photograph documenting the appearance is held in the car's history file.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The Dansk Karosseri Fabrik body was removed from its original chassis (5CB) and remounted onto the current chassis (49RE).
Transfer took place during the 1970s; exact date and workshop not recorded in the prose.
- —RestorationJonathan Harley
Thorough mechanical restoration carried out by Silver Ghost authority Jonathan Harley over approximately six years, executed to his characteristically high standard; the car's original registration was also recovered and reunited with it during this period.
Work was initiated following the 1982 sale of the car in unrestored condition.
- —ServiceP&A Wood
Ongoing maintenance to a high standard during the current long-term ownership, with documented servicing including work by marque specialist P&A Wood.
Invoices covering this upkeep are held within the history file; work carried out across the ownership period from 2010 onward.
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