Rolls-Royce Celebrates 120 Years Of The Silver Ghost, The Iconic Car That Built Its Reputation

Rolls-Royce is celebrating 120 years of the Silver Ghost, the legendary predecessor to the 101-year-old Phantom nameplate. The Silver Ghost is widely credited with establishing the British luxury marque’s reputation for engineering excellence, refinement and reliability.

Originally known as the 40/50 H.P., the Silver Ghost made its public debut at the Olympia Motor Show in London in November 1906. Developed under the engineering direction of Henry Royce, the model featured a smooth-running six-cylinder engine and became the first Rolls-Royce to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h).

Rolls-Royce notes that the Silver Ghost name initially belonged to the 40/50 H.P. chassis 60551, a notable example finished in silver paint with silver-plated fittings and christened by Claude Johnson, Rolls-Royce’s first Commercial Managing Director.

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The popularity of chassis 60551 eventually led owners, the press and the public to use the name Silver Ghost to describe all 40/50 H.P. models. The model subsequently demonstrated its capabilities in several demanding endurance trials and competitions.

One particularly notable example of the 40/50 H.P. is chassis 1701, nicknamed ‘The Sluggard’. Currently displayed at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, this historic car reached a top speed of 101.8 mph (163.8 km/h) at Brooklands in 1911, becoming the first Rolls-Royce to exceed 100 mph.

Due to its reputation for comfort and smoothness, the Silver Ghost attracted several prominent owners, including former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, American aviator Howard Hughes, aviation pioneer Tommy Sopwith and celebrated opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

Another example, owned by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, was the first motor car to carry the Spirit of Ecstasy, the famous mascot officially introduced in 1911. Today, the iconic bonnet ornament features on Rolls-Royce models such as the Phantom, Ghost, Spectre and Cullinan.

Production of the 40/50 H.P. continued until 1925, with 6,173 examples built in Britain and another 1,703 at the company’s American factory in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ten armoured-car chassis were also delivered in 1927.

“The Silver Ghost occupies a special place in Rolls-Royce history. Its engineering achievements established a reputation for refinement, reliability and excellence that was extraordinary even by today’s standards,” Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said.

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