Description
Arguably the most famous and impressive of all the early Rolls-Royce cars is the 40/ 50 hp Silver Ghost. When it was introduced in 1907 it was considered to be the most advanced motor car money could buy. A hundred years later, they are still revered and a target for many serious collectors. At its heart was Henry Royce’s magnificent 7, 428 cc inline six cylinder engine. An engine that was strong, lightweight and very reliable. The chassis was similarly over engineered and is perhaps unsurprising that such a number not only still survive but are very much used and enjoyed.
According to copies of the Schoellkopf card and R-ROC historical documents, '85TG' was originally completed with coachwork by Grosvenor and retailed via Paddon Brothers. Based in Kilburn, North London, the Grosvenor Carriage Company Ltd was established around 1910 and is best remembered today as a major contract supplier of bodies to Vauxhall. Grosvenor had been concentrating on this lucrative line of business from at least 1919, which can have left little time for bespoke creations on upmarket chassis such as this Silver Ghost. Indeed, it seems not at all unlikely that '85TG' is the only Silver Ghost that they bodied.
The Ghost's first owner was Maxwell Norman, a French artist named, who soon sold the car to his family physician, Dr Chario. Reportedly, Dr Chiaro used the car in Capri for two years. After its time in the Italian sunshine, the Rolls-Royce was shipped to Long Island, New York and stored for some time before being acquired by Harold Priest of Gleasondale, Massachusetts. In 1947 the car passed to one F R Schreiter, also of Massachusetts, who then sold it to William Gregor of Flint, Michigan. Mr Gregor drove the Ghost home from New England and began complete overhauls of the chassis, mechanicals and cosmetics.
The car was enjoyed regularly by Gregor in club events organised by the AACA and R-ROC, then stored until 1960 when it was acquired by Jack Skaff, another Flint resident. With scarcely 50, 000 miles recorded, the Ghost was next owned by Calvin T Zahn of Ann Arbor, Michigan, an avid motor car collector. The car remained in the Zahn family's possession for 57 years (until 2017).
Accompanying build sheets show that '85TG' was originally trimmed with 'antique grained black leather', which is how the car presents today. It is very possible that the seats are original, as they are of this unusual material and appear to match the original door and kick panels. Original instruments include the Waltham speedometer, clock and minor instruments, while there are also supplementary gauges added later in the car's life when it was used for touring. An array of dash plaques celebrates the Ghost's exploits through the years. These include one for the 1960 CCCA Grand Classic and another proclaiming '85TG' as a recipient of the coveted AACA Foo-Dog Trophy in 1949, a prize established in 1945 by AACA President D Cameron Peck to honour an outstanding Rolls-Royce automobile in a National Meet.
It was brought back to the UK in 2018 by the late Charles Howard, one of the most renowned dealers who always had an unerring sense of quality and style, especially with this era of motor car. In his tenure it was recommissioned by AJ Glew before passing to the present owner who has carried out further works including the fitting of a new set of wheels and tyres. With its attractive and well proportioned original coachwork and original engine this Ghost drives beautifully and represents wonderful value.
