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432:, but its 3-speed gearbox proved inadequate for the ascent of the Katschberg Pass. A factory team of four cars were prepared for the 1913 event with four-speed gearboxes, and engine power increased from 60 bhp (45 kW) to 75 bhp (56 kW) by an increase in compression ratio and larger carburettor. The team gained six awards including the Archduke Leopold Cup. Replicas of the victorious cars were put into production and sold officially as Continental models, but they were called Alpine Eagles by chief test driver (and later Rolls-Royce Managing Director)
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448:, commercial and managing director of Rolls-Royce, ordered a car to be used as a demonstrator by the company. With chassis no. 60551 and registered AX 201, it was the 12th 40/50 hp to be made, and was painted in aluminum paint with silver-plated fittings. The car was named the "Silver Ghost" to emphasise its
290:, was the car that was originally given the name "Silver Ghost". Other 40/50 hp cars were also given names, but the Silver Ghost title was taken up by the press, and soon all 40/50s were called by the name, a fact not officially recognised by Rolls-Royce until 1925, when the Phantom range was launched.
365:
to produce the spark with a magneto as an optional extra which soon became standard - the instruction was to start the engine on the trembler/battery and then switch to magneto. Continuous development allowed power output to be increased from 48 bhp (36 kW) at 1,250 rpm to 80 bhp
403:
Despite these improvements the performance of the Silver Ghost's competitors had improved to the extent that its previous superiority had been eroded by the early 1920s. Sales declined from 742 in 1913 to 430 in 1922. The company decided to launch its replacement which was introduced in 1925 as the
467:
The aim was to raise public awareness of the new company and to show the reliability and quietness of their new car. This was a risky idea: cars of this time were notoriously unreliable, and roads of the day could be horrendous. Nevertheless, the car set off on trials, and with press aboard, broke
411:
A total of 7874 Silver Ghost cars were produced from 1907 to 1926, including 1701 from the
American Springfield factory. The documented chassis price listed for the 1921 American version was US$ 11,750 ($ 200,715 in 2023 dollars ). Many of them still run today. A fine example is on display at the
348:, six-cylinder, 7036 cc engine (7428 cc from 1910) with the cylinders cast in two units of three cylinders each as opposed to the triple two-cylinder units on the earlier six. A three-speed transmission was fitted at first with four-speed units used from 1913. The seven-bearing
352:
had full pressure lubrication, and the centre main bearing was made especially large to remove vibration, essentially splitting the engine into two three-cylinder units. Two spark plugs were fitted to each cylinder with, from 1921, a choice of
341:, and two examples of a new car designated the 40/50 hp. The 40/50 hp was so new that the show cars were not fully finished, and examples were not provided to the press for testing until March 1907.
463:
was fitted, and the car readied for the
Scottish reliability trials of 1907 and, immediately afterwards, another 15,000-mile (24,000 km) test which included driving between London and Glasgow 27 times.
366:(60 kW) at 2,250 rpm. Electric lighting became an option in 1914 and was standardised in 1919. Electric starting was fitted from 1919 along with electric lights to replace the older ones that used
307:
chipped in to buy the former president a Silver Ghost, just weeks before Wilson's death in
February 1924. The car was modified so that Wilson, who was disabled, could enter and exit the car more easily.
468:
various records. Even after 7,000 miles (11,000 km), the cost to service the car was a negligible ÂŁ2 2s 7d (ÂŁ2.13). The reputation of the 40/50, and Rolls-Royce, was established.
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The Silver Ghost was the origin of Rolls-Royce's claim of making the "best car in the world" – a phrase coined not by themselves, but by the prestigious publication
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This car was then recovered by the company in 1948. Since then, it has been used as a publicity car and travelled worldwide. In 1991, the car was restored.
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How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a
Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda
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all round. Early cars only had brakes on the rear wheels operated by a hand lever, with a pedal-operated transmission brake acting on the
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How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a
Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States
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The “AX 201” was sold in 1908, for £750, to Sir Daniel
Hanbury who used it repeatedly to travel to his Italian residence,
400:. The footbrake system moved to drums on the rear axle in 1913. Four-wheel servo-assisted brakes became optional in 1923.
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In 2005 it was noted to be the world's most valuable car, its insured value was placed at US$ 35 million.
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479:, in the Italian Riviera, starting from his English residence Castle Malwood in Lyndhurst in Hampshire.
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In 1906, Rolls-Royce produced four chassis to be shown at the
Olympia car show, two existing models, a
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name refers both to a car model and one specific car from that series. Originally named the "
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After the 1998 sale of Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd the car passed into the ownership of
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452:-like quietness, and a plaque bearing this name adorned the bulkhead. An open-top
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445:
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408:. After this, older 40/50 models were called Silver Ghosts to avoid confusion.
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The Rolls-Royce Motor Car. Anthony Bird and Ian
Hallows. Batsford Books. 2002
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in 1907. The chassis and engine were also used as the basis of a range of
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AX201 at Cat and Fiddle Hill during the
Scottish Reliability Trial 1907
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Burgess-Wise, David (October 2020). "The
Original Silver Ghost".
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The Magic of a Name - The Rolls-Royce Story: The First 40 Years
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1043:"Ambassador Extraordinary - A History of 'The Silver Ghost'"
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In the Beginning-the Manchester Origins of Rolls-Royce
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A 40/50 was privately entered in the prestigious 1912
389:. Construction of a replica Blue Mist began in 2018.
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Development of the Silver Ghost was suspended during
657:
19:"Silver Ghost" redirects here. For other uses, see
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696:
282:in July 1908, and also, between 1921 and 1926, in
722:Kimes, Beverly R. (1996). Clark, Henry A. (ed.).
504:AX 201 in a photo from 1990, prior to restoration
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724:The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945
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392:The chassis had rigid front and rear axles and
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726:. Kraus Publications. pp. 1307–1308.
248:1920 Silver Ghost with limousine coachwork
50:
758:. Derby, UK: Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.
205:150.5 in (3,823 mm) (from 1923)
201:143.5 in (3,645 mm) (1913—1923)
199:135.5 in (3,442 mm) (1906—1913)
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923:"Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–"
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361:ignition. The earliest cars had used a
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1020:. London: Kandour. pp. 142–147.
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610:1914 Silver Ghost by Kellner interior
385:as his personal staff car during the
16:Luxury car produced from 1906 to 1926
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303:. In December 1923, four friends of
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988:Schaffels, Brandy; Markus, Frank.
172:7428cc (453.3cid) (from 1910)
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528:AX 201 rear end showing ash frame
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26:For the luxury sedan produced by
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950:. Heritage Museums & Gardens
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286:. Chassis no. 60551, registered
203:144 in (3,658 mm) and
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944:"1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost"
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414:National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
284:Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
1053:Rolls-Royce and Bentley Models
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45:Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost
1:
790:. Devon, UK: Bay View Books.
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21:Silver Ghost (disambiguation)
990:"2005 Concours at Cranbrook"
915:American Antiquarian Society
895:American Antiquarian Society
622:1920 chassis 40FW tourer by
30:and introduced in 2009, see
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1578:Vehicles introduced in 1906
948:Heritage Museum and Gardens
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344:The car at first had a new
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568:National Automobile Museum
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274:was first made at Royce's
256:40/50 hp Silver Ghost
184:4-speed manual (from 1913)
182:3-speed manual (1909–1913)
119:Springfield, Massachusetts
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1000:on 18 February 2006.
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166:7036cc (429.4
164:
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76:
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67:
63:
59:
53:
48:
43:
39:Motor vehicle
37:
33:
29:
22:
1348:Phantom VIII
1265:
1229:Silver Cloud
1217:World War II
1216:
1151:Independent
1102:
1088:Timeline of
1046:
1017:
1009:Bibliography
998:the original
993:
983:
974:
970:
964:
952:. Retrieved
947:
938:
926:. Retrieved
906:
886:
875:
856:
850:
839:
828:
817:
806:
787:
755:
723:
487:
484:
481:
470:
466:
458:coachbuilder
443:
434:Ernest Hives
430:James Radley
423:
410:
402:
394:leaf springs
391:
372:
343:
336:six-cylinder
326:
294:
292:
287:
263:
261:
178:Transmission
74:Manufacturer
36:
1355:Convertible
1343:Phantom VII
1302:Silver Spur
1224:Silver Dawn
1155:Vickers plc
994:Motor Trend
928:29 February
899:1700–1799:
879:1634–1699:
668:Cars portal
624:Labourdette
582:1912 Tourer
406:New Phantom
387:Arab Revolt
375:World War I
215:Predecessor
1593:1920s cars
1588:1910s cars
1583:1900s cars
1567:Categories
1429:Corniche V
1328:Phantom VI
1318:Phantom IV
1172:Luxury car
1148:Ownership
733:0873414780
682:References
639:half-track
350:crankshaft
346:side-valve
339:30 hp
332:20 hp
276:Manchester
268:40/50 h.p.
210:Chronology
189:Dimensions
163:straight 6
152:Powertrain
136:Luxury car
98:Production
60:tourer by
1446:Drop Tail
1443:Boat Tail
1338:Park Ward
1323:Phantom V
1273:Phantom I
971:Automobil
641:owned by
368:acetylene
229:Phantom I
225:Successor
195:Wheelbase
115:, England
103:7874 made
101:1906–1926
1550:Cullinan
1512:Sweptail
1481:Camargue
1477:Corniche
1410:Corniche
1266:40/50 hp
1160:VW Group
977:(8): 20.
904:(1992).
884:(1997).
654:See also
598:, Torino
456:body by
444:In 1907
370:or oil.
108:Assembly
69:Overview
1500:Spectre
637:A 1922
534:Gallery
477:Alassio
355:magneto
312:History
296:Autocar
272:chassis
142:Related
56:AX201,
1497:Wraith
1472:2 door
1405:2 door
1212:Wraith
1197:Twenty
1143:2020s
1140:2010s
1137:2000s
1134:1990s
1131:1980s
1128:1970s
1125:1960s
1122:1950s
1119:1940s
1116:1930s
1113:1920s
1110:1910s
1107:1900s
1049:, 1990
1047:Queste
1024:
954:2 July
863:
844:PR Web
794:
762:
730:
706:
570:, Reno
549:Hooper
461:Barker
334:and a
288:AX 201
270:" the
158:Engine
62:Barker
1453:Coupé
1261:30 hp
1251:Ghost
1207:25/30
1202:20/25
1190:20 hp
1181:15 hp
1177:10 hp
911:(PDF)
891:(PDF)
687:Notes
645:, at
450:ghost
280:Derby
131:Class
113:Derby
93:40/50
1479:and
1384:Dawn
1103:Type
1022:ISBN
956:2023
930:2024
861:ISBN
792:ISBN
760:ISBN
728:ISBN
704:ISBN
359:coil
262:The
85:(US)
80:(UK)
1521:SUV
1418:III
1281:III
1186:V-8
1165:BMW
475:in
428:by
357:or
168:cid
1569::
1422:IV
1414:II
1277:II
992:.
975:38
973:.
946:.
913:.
893:.
774:^
742:^
714:^
695:^
551:,
492:.
416:.
1420:/
1416:/
1412:/
1279:/
1275:/
1081:e
1074:t
1067:v
1030:.
958:.
932:.
917:.
897:.
869:.
800:.
768:.
736:.
34:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
