Lot 207 - 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Six Light Saloon by Park Ward
| Lot Number | 207 |
| Registration | RGO 373 |
| Chassis Number | WVH106 |
| Engine Number | W105H |
| Odometer reading | 1,475 miles |
| Estimate | £24,000 - £30,000 |
This very good Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Six Light Saloon by Park Ward, design number 144, body number N. 186 was built for Major Horace E. Dodge Jr., the party-loving playboy heir to the Dodge Motor Company in Detroit. At that time, he was living at St. Leonard’s, Windsor, Berkshire the 18th century house which was purchased by his mother and remodelled into a 103-room villa. After he died the house was sold to Billy Smart, of circus fame. When he died it became part of Windsor Safari Park which is now Legoland Windsor with the mansion as its headquarters.
The next owner was Frances Day, an American actress who was the ‘Toast of London’ in the 1930’s. George Bernard Shaw wrote ‘Boyant Billions’ for her in 1949. The next owner was Roger David Marquis, the 2nd Earl of Woolton. In 1965 it was sold to Grooms Garages Ltd. After this the Silver Wraith was exported to the US, in 1989 it returned to the UK being imported and registered by William Faragher. Purchased by Ernest Boyce in 1990 to add to his fleet of wedding cars and in 1998 he had the car sent to marque specialists Eric Healey, who completely stripped back to bare metal and repainted it changing the original colour of grey to white over cream.
Purchased by the vendor in 2004 having covered 73,716 miles, before his ownership the seats had been retrimmed getting a close match to the original maroon colour. In his ownership he has fully maintained and serviced the car including overhauling the engine, replacing the pistons and rings in 2015, stripped down, rebuilt the rear differential in 2018 and recently fitted four new tyres. This owner driver Silver Wraith Six Light Saloon is supplied with a V5 registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in October 2023 and a file containing copies of the original chassis cards, old registration documents and a note book detailing repairs carried out to the car since 2004. This is one of the most elegant post-war Rolls-Royce coachbuilt cars built for the owner driver or to be driven by a chauffeur.
Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each Lot prior to the sale. Accordingly, buyers are on notice that each vehicle is offered ‘as is/as seen’ subject to the Terms and Conditions for the auction. All registration numbers, engine and chassis details are sourced from registration documents provided to Historics by the client or representative or HPI checks and buyers are to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of these details. Buyers are advised to inspect the vehicle in person or use a professional to carry out this service. Historics will not entertain disputes over descriptions.