For Sale £290,000
One of the delights of a Silver Ghost is its ability to tour long distances in comfort, which it does better than any other car more than 100 years old. Their low compression 7.4 litre engine is low revving, supremely torquey and whisper quiet. While the gearbox can initially seem tricky to those new to crash gearboxes, once you have mastered the change, it become a rewarding joy! Capable of covering ground at a good turn of speed, without vibration or noise, and with ample room for passengers and luggage, the Silver Ghost is a favourite amongst drivers.
Chassis number 72EM was ‘on test’ on 28th December 1923. Built on a standard chassis with nickel fittings, ‘C’ rake steering and straight sided wheels, the car was supplied to its first owner Thomas Prutton of Manor Park and carried registration number HM 3846. Windovers, a coachbuilder favoured by the Indian Maharajah, produced the car’s fine seven-seat touring coachwork. This particular body design has a distinctive polished top moulding. Anyone who has researched pre-war Rolls-Royces will be familiar with the information which can be gained from the chassis build sheets, but in the case of this car, it contains more detail relating to the coachwork than most. This includes the following details:
Ventilators to be on top and each side.
Width of rear seat to be 47″.
Detachable and adjustable foot rail for occupants of the rear seat.
ME rear screen.
Cupboard for ME rear screen at back of front seat.
Four doors to open with handles on the outside.
Extra seats to face forwards.
Accommodation for side curtain below front seat and back of seat squab.
Side curtains to open with doors.
Pockets in doors.
Toe room below back of front seat, to be covered with carpet and leather.
Recessed toolbox in each step.
Mahogany finishes around the body.
During 1925 72EM was returned to Rolls-Royce Repairs Department for front wheel brakes to be fitted. The two wheel brakes fitted to earlier Silver Ghosts were good for their day, but the efficiency of servo assisted four-wheel brakes was transformative, and their efficiency will still impress today! Rolls-Royce records show 72EM as being registered to J.E. McLeish at Langham Hotel, London from 3rd October 1927. He was a visiting Australian and exported 72EM back home where it was registered NSW-151-740. In April 1929, 72EM was traded-in at Dalgety & Co. They loaned the car to the government for a ceremonial procession through Sydney to welcome the new Governor Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woollcott Game. Photographs of 72EM in this procession appear in the book ‘Rolls-Royce & Bentley in The Sunburnt Country’.
During the 1930s 72EM was rebodied by Martin & King into a saloon,and then during the 1960s the car was again exported, this time to America, where it remained untouched for the next thirty years. In 1997 it was acquired by Colin Laybourne, serial Rolls-Royce restorer and expert coachbuilder. Colin repatriated the car with the mission of restoring it back to its original form, as he considered the car to be ideal for long distance touring. As work progressed, Colin realised they were fortunate in that the Australian coachbuilder left most of the body substructures, so it was not a difficult job to convert it back to its original form. A louvered bonnet was added, together with an overdrive, and quarter glasses were added to the front screen to reduce buffeting. Colin also made a wonderful job of the interior woodwork and cabinets, a trademark of his restorations. The project was completed in 2012, and since then has been meticulously looked after, with significant work carried out by P&A Wood between 2013 – 2015. We have carried out general repairs and maintenance since 2018.
Today 72EM remains in superb order and presents beautifully. It has a full complement of weather equipment and is ready for touring or showing. A great car, ready to go!
