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Vehicle Description
An absolutely stunning and very rare and exceptional fully documented all original example of this 1952 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Park Ward Long Wheel Base 7 passenger limousine with electronic glass divider. The car is listed and pictured with it's original English plates (PLG 122) which are still on the car under it's California plates (see photos below) in the renown 'Rolls Royce - The Elegance Continues' the Rolls Royce coach-building 'bible' by Lawrence Dalton on pages 168,188 and 189. No Rolls Royce model offered more hazards in coachwork than the Silver Wraith and many numbered designs were copied, thus a particular numbered design might have ten or even 100 copies in existence. Silver Wraith's are frequently advertised as one-off or unique designs when in truth there may be many examples of the same body in existence. Therefore it is essential to use Lawrence Dalton's book or else contact Rolls Royce directly to confirm the documentation. Dalton has substantial chassis lists for all coachbuilders against which any car can be checked, not only for batch number but for date. After the second world war, a few English coachbuilders were commissioned by Rolls Royce to build and mount individualised bodies on Rolls Royce chassis's for sale to their most discerning clients. Many devotees of the marque believe the tall, stately Silver Wraith as being the last real Rolls Royce with no later model being mounted with solely specialist coachwork and with almost each body of a slightly different range in designs. This of course discounts the Phantom V and VI but the Phantom V certainly had very few designs and the Phantom VI even less. This particular car was one of 50 Long Wheel Based ALW series produced (ALW 1-51)and has its original 6 cylinder pushrod operated overhead inlet and side exhaust valve engine. The chassis is a long wheel base and fitted with engine number L5A. Upon completion of the chassis, the car was delivered to Park Ward and fitted with a seven passenger enclosed limousine type of body. Other interesting unique feature to this car, as stated in a letter dated 8/4/1981 from Rolls Royce, include Silver Dawn type headlamps, mohair rugs, cigarette case, notebook and mirror in armrest (The central vanity mirror was necessary because the rear quarter window did not permit the usual head-level cabinetry with mirrors). The car comes with an owner's handbook (very rare). The few coachbuilders who survived the war blossomed briefly until the advent of the Silver Cloud in 1955. The excellent and unparrelled design of the standard steel saloon on this chassis was one of the reasons that caused three of the last five remaining English coachbuliders to cease production. Freestone and Webb finished in 1958, Hooper in 1960 and H.J. Mullinger merging with Park Ward in 1961. Even James Young gave up coachbuliding when the monocoque Silver Shadow was introduced. Park Ward built their first body on a Rolls Royce in 1920 and following continued expansion and experimentation in 1936 patented the all-steel framework and was purchased three years later, in 1939, by Rolls Royce. This particular example, model # ALW-5 was delivered on 5/30/1952 to the company headquarters for Scotland, in Glasgow, where it was used by dignitaries before being imported to the U.S. by a southern California dealer who sold the car in 1978 to it's most recent owners, a retired Palm Springs, California couple where the car has always been garaged and babied since 1978. The dry and warm desert climate has been kind to the car throughout the years but there is some minor rust noticeable in the undercarriage and trunk area from it's earlier years in Scotland (see photos below). The car was originally painted black but was repainted in the early seventies to a two tone 'Sable Gray and Silver' and is showing it's age in places with some cracking and general wear (see photos below). The interior has what seems to be it's original 'Beige' (tan) leather seats in the front which are in remarkably good condition with no tears and there are 'Fawn' Mohair seats in the rear. The interior is completely original with two rear jump seats which fold away into the rear for storage and a bar. The car is a right hand drive with a manual transmission and drives exceptionally well. It has it's original handsome Lucas R-100 headlamps. The car still has it's original English license plates on the car (PLG 122). The car is a 7 passenger limousine with the rare and highly desirable electronic glass divider between the chauffeur and passenger departments and over the years many mechanical components have been replaced and improved including the divider window motor which has been replaced, the electrical system overhauled, the brake system rebuilt and the engine completely rebuilt including new valves and springs, a new block, new full length sleeves in cylinders, new pistons and rings and all new bearings! No small task considering the availability of these cars parts and components! In addition the water pump has been rebuilt, the car has a new fuel pump and correct new wide white wall tires. In all, the vehicle is in very fine condition mechanically. The exterior is in very good overall condition. There is some cracking in the rear fender skirts as already mentioned (again, see photos below) but it should be especially noted that the car has never been in any accidents and has a body as straight as an arrow. The car has not been repainted since the early seventies. The interior is stuck in a time warp in that it's virtually completely original. Both the front and rear seats and carpets are very good although the rear mohair seats are worn thin in places. As already stated, the electronic glass divider works well. The wood is burled walnut and is in good condition in all areas including the dash and bar areas. This is a beautiful and elegant vehicle that drives as good as it looks. The engine purrs like a kitten and the manual floor shifting transmission shifts smoothly and exceptionally pleasantly through the gears making the car an absolute pleasure to drive. The car never overheats and there are no noticeable oil leaks. We are told the car measures some 180'. Literally thousands of dollars spent over the years in loving maintenance of this cherished and always garaged with no accidents and virtually rust free example - only some areas of the undercarriage and under the trunk have any signs of rust! The car has it's original spare wheel still located in it's rightful place of storage under the car. Always garaged with no accidents or damage history whatsoever and owned by only one obviously very careful and meticulous driver for over thirty years - never ever abused! The car drives exactly like a well maintained and serviced Rolls Royce should and must be driven to be fully appreciated and seen to be believed! The car drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles and is a truly remakable and responsive daily driver! Recent mechanic work includes on 8/2007 4 brand new 'BFG Silvertown' tires (Cost $175 each); on 5/25/2007: overhauled servo unit, master cylinder and wheel cylinders and rear brakes, retorque head, reset valves and set points and plugs, fill bores with oil, turn engine by hand (OK), flush radiator, check compression (OK), overhaul fuel pump and clean out carb, oil and filter, road test and report (Cost $3,900.73) with all service records since 1978 available including complete engine rebuild in 1982. Turn-key ready, as already stated, this particular model truly must be driven and seen to be fully appreciated. You will surely look long and hard to find a finer example of this extremely rare one of a kind 1952 Rolls Royce Limousine. For those who are unfamiliar, Rolls Royce no longer exists as it had for over one hundred years - this is one of the last in the original line of cars built in the legendary Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with a quality and craftsmanship that far surpasses that of today's mass produced models with many BMW parts - this is a rare opportunity to own a piece of automobile history, from a time when Rolls Royce were arguably building the "Best cars in the World" at the time of it's production, the craftsmanship and quality of these cars obviously speak for themselves! With any limousine models now very thin on the ground you will surely look long and hard to find another in such fine condition. So bid with confidence, this will no doubt prove a fabulous investment for the astute investor, Rolls Royce enthusiast or collector or simply a great daily driver or weekend toy for the discerning luxury classic car owner! For further information contact Pete through EBay.Please note: TERMS OF SALE: YOU BID TO OWN: All bids are legal and binding contracts to purchase the vehicle and by bidding you are hereby entering into a legal and binding contract to purchase the vehicle and agreeing to accept and abide by these terms of sale: Mechanical inspections welcomed; if you wish to inspect the vehicle you must do so before bidding; upon request seller will be happy to deliver the vehicle to a local Santa Monica mechanic of your choice for your prepaid inspection before the reserve price is met. Once the reserve price is met this vehicle is to be considered sold in ‘as is, where is’ condition to the highest bidder with no guaranties or warranties implied or given. Please have all funds available before bidding as a $1000 non-refundable deposit is required from the winning bidder within 48 hours (2 business days) of auction end; an immediate $500 non-refundable deposit is required through Ebay’s Paypal service to end the auction early if the “Buy it now” option is exercised and the balance in full is due within ten days of auction end in any case. In the case these terms of sale are not met seller reserves the right to either re-list the vehicle or offer the vehicle to the next highest bidder. Non-paying winning bidders will be reported to Ebay and appropriate feedback will be left. No exceptions. Seller reserves the right to end the auction at any time before the reserve price is met. Payment by bank wire transfer, cash or cashiers check only. All inspections must be done prior to bidding. The non-refundable deposit in the amount of $1000 is due within 48 hours of the auction end via bank wire transfer or cashier's check via overnight mail. The full payment must be completed within 10 days regardless of a pick up date. In the event the deposit is not posted within the required period of time, the vehicle will be offered for sale to the next subsequent high bidder or relisted for sale. This is to be considered an absolute sale and the buyer is required to comply with all of my conditions in these terms of sale. By placing a bid and winning the auction you hereby agree to abide completely with these terms of sale and the terms of sale are to be considered a legal and binding purchase agreement. Once again, please note that there are no inspections to be made after the auction ends - please be sure to complete any inspection before bidding. The Seller reserves the right to cancel any bid at any time and to end the auction early for any reason. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no guaranties or warranty in connection therewith. No allowance will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value of the vehicle before bidding and to bid based upon that judgement solely. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs whatsoever regardless of any oral or written statements about the vehicle. Good luck and thanks for your interest!
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