SILVER GHOST 100th ANNIVERSARY
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Michael Rose,
Tuesday, April 10 2007
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Rolls-Royce marked the 100th anniversary of the Silver Ghost, the car that made its reputation as the most reliable luxury car builder in the world. The company celebrated this milestone March 29 at the self-described “World’s Greatest Classic Car Show,” the Techno Classica in Essen, Germany.
In 1907 the Silver Ghost name was born when Rolls-Royce managing director, Claude Johnson, who was known for his promotional skills, silver plated all the fittings of a ‘40/50’ horsepower Rolls-Royce, and while he was at it, painted the body silver. This shimmering car was impossible to ignore. It quickly became known as The Silver Ghost, a name that was bestowed on it because its appearance and the fact that it moved as quietly as a ghost. The name caught on and was eventually used for all the 40/50hp cars built between 1907 and 1925.
The original car earned its place in automotive history by helping to forge the reputation of Rolls-Royce as the builder of the most reliable cars in the world. In May 1907 Johnson, under the watchful eye of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), drove the car to Scotland and back using just one gear. A feat made possible by the high torque engine. The Silver Ghost covered the 2000 mile route with no problems and later, Johnson and a team of drivers motored effortlessly up and down Britain for almost 15,000 miles virtually non-stop, without any breakdowns. This was more than twice the existing record of 7,089 miles. The car was awarded a gold medal by the RAC and it secured its place in history.
Described as ‘The Worlds Greatest Classic Car Show’, the 19th Techno Classica event was the perfect stage for Rolls-Royce to launch centenary celebrations. Over 150,000 got the chance to view two unique Silver Ghosts at the BMW Group Mobile Tradition stand.
 1920 Silver Ghost, chassis manufactured in Manchester, England, body built in Germany for a French customer
1923 Silver Ghost, produced in the Rolls-Royce manufacturing plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, coach built by Brewster in New York
Don’t despair if you missed this Silver Ghost centenary celebration you can catch up at the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d´Este, Italy, in April or watch a re-enactment of the Scottish Reliability trial starting from the company’s manufacturing plant at Goodwood in May.
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