Rolls-Royce

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Rolls-Royce | Pre War British Sports Cars


The Silver Ghost



A name not readily associated with sports cars is Rolls-Royce – today considered the world's greatest luxury car. But it was the early Rolls-Royce "Silver Ghost" cars that were true sports cars, in every sense of the word. Whilst their contemporaries obtained their performance with much clattering and roaring of exhausts, the "Silver Ghost" glided along in perfect silence, with a genuine maximum speed of 80 m.p.h., and a top-gear performance that was not surpassed by many pre WW2 cars. The workmanship of the "Silver Ghost" models was exquisite, and their durability has long been proved. The last "Ghost" was produced in 1926, being superseded by the Phantom series, which were much heavier, and cannot be considered in the light of sporting cars.

Rolls-Royce, Ltd., was founded in 1903, and a two-cylinder 10-h.p. car was the first production car in the following year. A three-cylinder car was also made, and is at present in a Kilmarnock garage. The earliest competition success was a second place in the Tourist Trophy Race of 1905. A new four-cylinder 20-h.p. car won the race in the following year. The first six-cylinder car was built in 1906 (30-h.p.), but this was replaced by the immortal 40/50 "Silver Ghost" in 1907. The famous London-Edinburgh sports-tourer was developed through a wonderful non-stop rim, entirely in top gear, between the two cities, sponsored by the R.A.C. The car averaged 24.32 m.p.g., and then went straight to Brooklands, where it covered a lap at 78.26 m.p.h. A lightened version achieved over 103 m.p.h.

Austrian Alpine Trial



In 1913 four cars of this type were entered for the very strenuous Austrian Alpine Trial, and all finished each day's run at the head of the rest of the entries. The last official appearance of Rolls-Royce in actual racing was the Spanish Grand Prix of 1913, when "Silver Ghosts" finished first and third. The engine had a cubic capacity of 7410-c.c. (114 x 121-mm.), R.A.C. rating being 48.6-h.p. Dual ignition was standardised, being provided by a Watford H.T. magneto and Rolls-Royce coil and battery system. The carburetter was also of Rolls-Royce manufacture. The early "Ghosts" all had internal cone clutches, four-speed gearboxes, and Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels. Standard rear-axle ratio was 3.25 to 1, but the "London-Edinburgh” cars had a 2.9 to 1 axle. Cantilever springing was used at the rear, and semi-elliptic for the front. Bodywork, in all cases, was superb, and noted for its light weight, compared with the rather cumbersome coachwork of rival high-powered vehicles.
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
1911 Rolls-Royce "Silver Ghost" in London-Edinburgh form.
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