1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith Drophead Coupé (Windovers/Rod Jolley coachwork)
- Engine
- 4.3L straight-six
- Colour
- Navy blue with black soft-top
The Rolls-Royce Wraith (chassis WXA 90) is one of only 491 examples built between 1938 and 1939, making it among the rarest pre-war Rolls-Royce models. Originally bodied by Windovers of Hendon as a seven-seat enclosed limousine for a London stockbroker, it later received a sporting Drophead Coupé conversion by Rod Jolley Coachbuilding. The car retains its matching-numbers straight-six engine and subsequently served as a celebrity courtesy vehicle in Dublin.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £120,750 (≈ $151K)
- 1938-12-22 → 1948-04-09Factory deliveryJ. H. Balfourfull documentation
Stockbroker and Scottish landowner based in Harlow, Essex; ordered the car urgently in August 1938 for commuting to London. Relocated to Dawlish, Devon upon retirement in late 1947.
- 1948-04-09 → 1951-02-01Private saleColonel R. Rodgerspartial documentation
Based at Copthall Avenue, London; no details of activities with the car during this period.
- 1951-02-01 →Private saleSir Richard Barwickpartial documentation
Baronet of Thimblebly Hall; acquired as the third recorded owner.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent owner (pre-auction consignor)partial documentation
Acquired in the mid-1990s; commissioned a rebodying by Rod Jolley Coachbuilding into a Drophead Coupé style and subsequently operated the car in Ireland as a hospitality vehicle at a Dublin music venue.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1938BodyworkWindovers
Windovers of Hendon constructed a seven-seat enclosed limousine body on the rolling chassis, with final inspection completed shortly before Christmas 1938.
Chassis left the Rolls-Royce factory on 11 November 1938; body completion and inspection finalised in December 1938.
- —RestorationRod Jolley Coachbuilding
The original limousine coachwork was replaced with a sporting Drophead Coupé body, featuring navy blue paintwork, matching leather interior, and a black soft-top.
Work carried out during current ownership, which began in the mid-1990s; described as representing considerable expenditure.
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