Equipment
RHD. Nickel trim. Jump seats, Smiths speedometer and clock, BRC headlights, Ducellier side lights, speaking tube and command lights, roof rack. Cracked paint on left rear body, otherwise very strong and well maintained older restoration. The oldest known Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, even older than The Silver Ghost owned by the factory. Built for R R founding director Arthur H. Briggs. Restored from a farm cart by Millard Newman with a correct period Rippon Brothers limousine body found in upstate New York as fitted to this chassis when new and the engine from the immediately prior 40 50hp chassis found in New Zealand. John. M. OQuinn estate.
Market commentary
Sold by Christies at Pebble Beach in 2001 for $468,000, nearly freshly restored, then by RM in Arizona in 2003 for $440,000 and most recently by Gooding from Richard Soloves collection at Pebble Beach in 2007 for the fairly astounding price of $1,045,000, a level that was shared by most of the other Solove Rolls Royces. Its checkered history is well known and accepted. Its first owner was crucial to Rolls Royces survival in its earliest days; when he died in 1919 the companys annual report was edged in black in recognition of his contribution. The new owner got an historic Rolls Royce with a fine provenance for a realistic price.