In regard to the formation of the world’s first true luxury automaker, Rolls-Royce, who received top billing, the businessman or the designer? Businessman Charles Rolls came first with second billing going to engineer Henry Royce. Charles and Henry agreed that Rolls’ company would exclusively sell all vehicles made by Royce.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars made its official debut in 1904 at the Paris Salon. Perhaps “Royce-Rolls” sounded too much like a pun or a criticism than an appropriate nomenclature for a fledgling car manufacturer. Shortly thereafter Royce-designed vehicles were ruling the roadways.
The first Rolls-Royce made was a 10-horsepower, two-cylinder vehicle with a top speed of 39 mph. By 1906 the automaker had a vehicle with three chassis styles and six-cylinder inline engines capable of exceeding 50 mph. The first R-R with an enclosed backseat, the Pullman by Barker, also was introduced at that time. Rolls-Royce elevated its status to a producer of elite vehicles with the Silver Ghost in 1907.
It was the first reliable and smooth riding manufactured. It set a world record for a non-stop motor run, traveling an astonishing 14,371 miles.
The most popular body types of the most elite car of the era were the enclosed Barker cabriolet, the Barker Tourer, the Hooper-Landaulet, and the London-Edinburg.
The fabled vehicle first gained notoriety when it was entered into the 1907 Scottish Reliability Run, winning the gold medal in its class for hill climbing and reliability. Silver Ghosts were manufactured from 1907 to 1925. It is astonishing that the majority of the 6,000 Silver Ghosts built still run well today. Aside from Rolls Royce, how many automakers today would dare say their cars could be driven 100 years from now?
Rolls-Royce has produced 25 Phantom Silvers to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Silver Ghost. The Phantom Silver’s bespoke paint color is Metallic Ghost Silver. The interior of the limited edition comes in rose leaf or cr
