2007 RM Auction, Scottsdale: 3 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghosts

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost ROI Des Belges

The history of Lot 264 can be traced its build date of March 3, 1911, when it was shipped to N. Gatti in London on April 24th. From there the 1911 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Chassis No. 1574 was sold several times, including to Millard Newman in Florida, who had it meticulously restored and added to his collection. After Newman's death, the car's new owner put it through another extensive restoration, won several Concours awards, then brought it to Arizona where it was auctioned for $725,000, Friday. It was by far the best-preserved and most beautiful of three super rare Silver Ghosts auctioned at RM.

Make the jump to check out the two other Rollers that left the auction block.

1910 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulet

Lot No. 265 is a very rare, numbers-matching Ghost. Chassis No. 1300 was, as were so many private cars of its era, pressed into public service during the war, where, presumably, it lost the original cabriolet coachwork. After changing hands several times, the car was restored in the 1950s when it received its current body. The car's deep red paint is accented by the German silver brightwork that, unfortunately, didn't help the car meet is presale estimate of $600,000. No. 1300 sold for $435,000.




1921 Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton

Chassis No. 50UG is Lot 266 and was shipped to the 1921 Calcutta Motor Show soon after being built with a Touring Phaeton body. The Maharajah of Bundelkhand in central India bought the car on the spot. After five years, the Maharajah took this Ghost back to the Rolls factory where it was given its current polished aluminum Torpedo body. The car was discovered years later in India with 10,000 miles on the odometer, its original alloy body intact and the factory build sheets. During the restoration, no body panels were replaced. RM says in its catalogue description that the body "... required nothing more than a thorough polishing..." The car's estimated auction price was $350,000, but the gavel fell at $465,000.