1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Cabriolet

4,257cc F-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Carter Carburetor
125bhp at 3,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
Servo Assisted Drum Brakes

*One of just 11 Franay-bodied Silver Wraiths and one of only two bodied as a cabriolet
*1947 Paris Auto Salon show car
*Fascinating history with life on four continents
*Resplendent Rolls-Royce motoring at its finest

THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH

In a world of shattered monetary values and yet much-improved cars, the Rolls-Royce still stands alone. Perhaps the most striking general thought in considering this supreme machine today is that it has a name more universally honored as a symbol of quality than that of any manufactured product. – The Autocar, 9th December 1949.

Introduced towards the end of 1946, the Silver Wraith - Rolls-Royce's first post-war model - employed a chassis similar to that of the Silver Dawn and Mk VI Bentley, though with a 7" longer wheelbase at 10' 7". The Silver Wraith however, was only intended for traditional coachbuilt bodies rather than the Mk VI's pioneering 'standard steel' bodywork. Powering Rolls-Royce's post-war range was a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine of cast-iron, monobloc construction with aluminum cylinder head featuring overhead inlet and side exhaust valves. Only the bore and stroke dimensions were shared with the pre-war overhead-valve Wraith engine, the major advantage of this new 'F-head' layout being its large valves and generous water jacketing around the valve seats. A four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh was standard initially, an automatic option (for export models only at first) not becoming available until 1952, at which time the engine was enlarged to 4,566cc and a long-wheelbase (11' 1") version introduced.

Manufacture of the short-wheelbase Silver Wraith ceased in 1952, with a total production of 1,144; the long-wheelbase version continued until the introduction of the Phantom V in 1959, by which time 639 chassis had been completed.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This rare Silver Wraith is believed to be one of just eleven examples bodied by Franay, and one of just two bodied as a Cabriolet. In the fashion of most cars made immediately after the war, the Rolls-Royce drew heavily on prewar designs, with elegant long swept fenders and chrome-tip treatments evoking the motifs of the finest French coachbuilders.

According to factory build sheets on file, chassis no. WVA63 was equipped with instruments in kilometers and intended for use in France. The customer of record was "F.B.A. for Paris Salon," presumably indicating Franco-Britannic Automobiles, the Rolls-Bentley distributor in France. After being displayed at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1947, the Silver Wraith was presented at the prominent 1948 Deauville Concours d'Elegance.

WVA63 was then sold new to Dr. Mounir Abdel-Latif, an Egyptian who kept a residence in Switzerland. Dr. Latif brought the Cabriolet back to Egypt with him, though it was apparently registered in the United Kingdom at some point as "FJH 679." In late 1972 the Silver Wriath was discovered in Egypt by Dr. James Rhea, a nutritionist working for ARAMCO in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The car returned to Arabia with Dr. Rhea and remained there until his passing later in the decade. His widow eventually imported the Rolls-Royce to their home in Georgia, and it was subsequently sold in 1982 to Dr. Thomas Phillips of Atlanta.

In 1989 the rare Silver Wraith was acquired by collector Sam Ornstein of New Jersey, and he retained possession for roughly five years before selling the car to another noted collector, Jørgen Strøjer Hansen of Denmark. By the mid-1990s, WVA63 was purchased by future Pebble Beach award winner Frank Ricciardelli of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, and he went on to present the Rolls-Royce at the 2002 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

Over the following 15 years, the car passed through a short succession of respected collectors, including Don and Rob Williams' Auto Collection, the late Bill Jacobs of Joliet, Illinois, and Arizona businessman Ron Pratte. Around 2013 the car was refurbished to its current cosmetic scheme of black paint with maroon fender trim, which continues to present beautifully.

In early 2015, the elegant Rolls-Royce was acquired by the consignor, an east coast based collector with a taste for the finest collector's motorcars. While in his ownership, chrome work has received attention by noted New Jersey-based restorer, Steve Babinsky and his restoration facility, Automotive Restorations. The cars exterior presents beautifully with correct Marchal headlights in addition to a center-mounted front spot light, and is neatly decorated with a long chrome spear down each side and elegantly shaped, lockable door handles. The interior is upholstered in caramel colored hides, with smartly designed door panels, capped off by the finest wood and veneer finishes, as well as a period radio fitted under the dashboard. The chassis receives lubrication by a sophisticated Luvax-Bijur automatic lubrication system.

WVA63 is a stunning and unique example of Rolls-Royce's classic postwar model, as one of just two Cabriolets built by Franay on the Silver Wraith chassis. In addition to being displayed at the 1947 Paris Auto Salon, this car led a fascinating life in the Middle East before enjoying dedicated care by several esteemed collectors. This Silver Wraith would beautifully complement any assemblage of coachbuilt Rolls-Royces or French-bodied cabriolets, and is ideal for display at finer concours d'elegance.