Wondering what to take to the Pebble Beach Concours a couple years from now? Here’s a likely candidate: this 1915 Silver Ghost tourer by Barker has had only two owners from new, including a single family from 1924. It’s tentatively available here at Paul Hageman’s site, though it appears to have passed through Gooding Christie’s Amelia auction as a no-sale, turning to “pending” after the auction ended. The original estimate rang in at $350k to $450k. The Silver Ghost was a rolling chassis produced by Rolls-Royce from 1905 through 1926 and delivered to the customer’s choice of a few RR-favored coachbuilders. This particular example was bodied by Barker & Co. and, unlike most pre-war Rolls-Royces, it retains most of its original body. (Nearly every known RR of this era has been rebodied at one time or another.)
Note that we said “retains most” of its Barker body: this car was delivered new to Australia, ordered by a prominent rancher. Its second owner purchased the car in 1924, and made a few modifications, including fitting it with a converter so it could run on charcoal, and then, during the Depression, altering the rear of the body to disguise the tourer as a “commercial” – a class of vehicles that was taxed at a lower rate. The car’s rear doors are intact, and their handles remain with the vehicle, but its tail is now capable of hauling considerable cargo volume.
At first, Rolls called its new model after the car’s taxable horsepower – the “40/50 hp”. An automotive journalist christened one particular example from the series (fewer than 8000 were made) the Silver Ghost. It took Rolls until 1925 – after it launched the Phantom – to adopt the name. The matching-numbers engine is a 7.4-liter L-head twin-spark, inline six breathing through a single updraft Rolls carburetor, backed by a four-speed manual. Two-wheel mechanical brakes at the rear were utilized until 1923, when servo-assist became available. The Silver Ghost’s suspension consists of solid front and rear axles augmented by leaf springs – geometry that carried forward to the Phantom, introduced in 1925. Remarkably, despite decades of storage, this car is in running order.
This example is also complete, with all its important bits present and extra parts to boot. By the time this Silver Ghost was sold, Autocar reportedly had anointed the Silver Ghost “the best car in the world” for its quiet and powerful demeanor on the road. The touring body would have originally accommodated four persons.
The car’s condition reflects hard use over decades in its home country, yet it is probably the most original of its kind on the planet. Imported to the US in 2024, it’s ready for a new owner’s vision: will it show up in survivor’s classes, displaying every moment of its well-earned history, or will it be restored to the nines, obviating its blemishes and wiping away its liveliest moments? We’ll have to wait for it to surface again.
Okay, Brits, get the tomatoes ready, but you know what I’d do with this? I’d make a period correct tow truck out of it, (HA! You missed me) Since a restoration today would rival the cost of the recent “Artie” moon mission, back in the day, many of these cars were converted to tow trucks, because they actually were better than most trucks at the time. It sure was a beast, and 2 wheel brakes? I read this car would do almost 80 mph, unheard of in 1915. This thing weighed 5600 pounds(2500kgs), try stopping that with 2 wheel brakes! I can’t imagine anyone today would be willing to take this on, the end wouldn’t justify the means. Make a dandy tow truck,,AS IS!
Howard, I gotta tell ya, tow truck was the first thing I thought of!
For 2 wheel brakes, the mechanism necessary to stop this 2500 kg beast is quite simple. You ONLY need a stout 15 meter chain and a 300 kg anchor, with an appropriate launching apparatus.
Even this car proves that poor people don’t own Rolls Royces.
With cars like this being ignored by the present generations I don’t see this thing even being used a salad bar.
Classic Aussie Ute
The original version of the HSV Maloo Ute.
Could be used to full advantage on a “Tintin In The Congo” movie set.
One might hope that RR might purchase this and bring it back to its original glory otherwise I’m afraid it’s not going to be anything other than a boat anchor or lawn art.
Somehow, I dont think BMW would want to bother. This was built in the Glory Days of RR.
The write-up says “in running order,” then that’s what you do with it, wash it up, change the oil and go!
I agree. The notion of driving one of the fanciest cars ever made to the farmer’s market in its current condition is kind of thrilling.
Howard’s got the right idea here; make it into a tow truck. Make it nice of course; you don’t want something like the hillbillies drove in Deliverance.
“Where yo goin, City Boy?!?”
Needs a big and smoky Detroit diesel swap. Maybe some chrome rims and a thumping stereo. Big decal of Calvin peeing on trump too
“No politics” said the rules of BF…
Had to be a jerk and bring politics into it, didn’t you?
Poor little fellow.
This struck me with a whinge of nostalgia. These were the types of barn finds that were common when I was a teenager in the 60’s.
Get it running,driving and have FUN ‘as is’..!! No need for another over restored RR,enjoy..!!
This car will never be driven again.
I couldn’t agree more gippy. There were always stories about
an old person that had an old car
stashed in their barn or garage. And if you read Rod & Custom Magazine like I did, then you know they called it Vintage Tin. And that’s what we have here sports fans, a most uncommon but yet dignified piece of VT that
you’ll ever see. Me, I like that doo
dad it has to burn charcoal for power. A couple of bags of Kingsford, and you’re set for the day! Yeah, you could drive it on
modern roads if Howard’s calculations are correct, it should
keep up with modern traffic okay.
Yes folks! Be the first and only one on your block to have a Rolls
Royce pickup truck. For just $400K, you can experience what it’s like to daily drive a legend. Offer excludes California and Minnesota. Not responsible for
what your HOA might say, do, or
anything along these lines.
“VINTAGE TIN!!!” Now that’s a term I haven’t heard/read for 50 years. Well, I might have used the term the odd time in the intervening years but sometimes memories fade.
I used to enjoy the features on vintage tin but I didn’t care for some of the condescending comments made by some of the writers for those mags. One writer in particular obviously enjoyed ridiculing farmers. I wrote in and tore a major strip off him, telling him that I knew some farmers who were wealthy enough to buy the magazine’s entire publishing empire with their “BANK AMERICARD.”
Interesting enough, a short time later, he fanagled an Air-Flow off a midwestern farmer’s wife, brought the car back to CA and butchered it. One night there was a knock on the door. The writer answered and the next thing he knew he was waking up in the hospital, beaten to within an inch of his life.
The farmer had followed the trail of the car and finally had the opportunity to confront the writer. When he saw that the car had been made into a street rod, he lost control and lashed out with everything he had. Apparently the car was a special keepsake that was part of a solemn promise to keep it where it was. But this writer-guy hung around for several days and zoomed in when the spouse was vulnerable.
I sometimes wonder about the marriage between the farmer and his wife? I might add that there have been some similar incidents (although not quite as dramatic) over in the Chinook Belt.
Vintage Tin. Make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row and also realize that sometimes “NO” is exactly what it means…
The original “Aussie Ute”!!!!!! Thru the 20’s and the depression, many touring cars were converted into trucks and wreckers. I agree with Howard, this will make a superb tow vehicle, especially with a Manley hand crank winch..
Read somewhere about a court case between Renault ans Rolls Royce over patent rights on the mechanical brake servo. Even the brakes were still a prod them and pray type.As regards towing the poor brakes and potential speed would be dangerous.
And if it were here in Florida, some redneck with more than a few beers in him would lift it at least 6 feet, throw on a set of 44
inch monster mudders, and call it
a monster truck!
You’re in fat wallet territory here. They play by very different rules.
Rat rod!
Now that’s a solution!
The value of this vehicle is in its history as evidenced by its current condition. You could reinstall the headlights, improve its drivability and reupholster the seats without diminishing its value. But if you were to restore it back to original condition, it would just be an unremarkable open touring car that onlookers would have to read a sign board to get a glimpse of its history.
When I was about 12yrs old I first learned that car builders were not always coach builders. It took a moment to wrap my American car mind around and it somewhat offended me!
You mean a Ferrari was built by Scaglietti?? It’s like sharing your girlfriend with another guy!
Anyway this RR looks bad to the bone and if I was a gazillionaire I’d restomod it just so I could laugh at the rabble condemning me then I’d raise the price of gas $2 a gallon out of pure exquisite spite!
It’s a good thing some people aren’t gazillionaires!
Damn! If it was left hand drive. He says sarcastically
Did anyone see Travis McGee anywhere?
He’s still in Cedar Key.
I came here to see this comment. Blue paint and a Mercury engine (and maybe some modern brakes) and off we go.
Ft. “Lauderdamndale” ain’t the same but the Bahia Mar is still there. So is the beach.