Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith
For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.
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| Manufacturer | Rolls-Royce Ltd |
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| Production | 1946–1959 1883 produced (incl. 639 LWB cars) |
| Predecessor | Wraith Phantom III |
| Successor | Silver Cloud II Phantom V |
| Engine | 4.3 L I6 4.6 L I6 4.9 L I6 |
| Wheelbase | 3225.8 mm (127 in) 3378.2 mm (133 in) |
| Related | Silver Dawn |
The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959.
The first cars had a 127 inch (3226 mm) wheelbase chassis based on the one from the pre-war Wraith with coil sprung independent front suspension and semi-elliptic rear with a live axle. The engine was also based on the Wraith, but had a new cylinder head with overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves and initially a capacity of 4257 cc. From 1951 this was increased to 4566 cc and in 1954 to 4887 cc on the long-wheelbase models. The braking system was a hybrid hydromechanical system with hydraulic front brakes and mechanical rears using the mechanical servo from the pre-war cars, patented by Hispano-Suiza and built by Rolls-Royce under licence.[1]
The long, 133 inch (3378 mm), wheelbase chassis was announced in 1951, and 639 were made until 1959. The last short-wheelbase cars were made in 1953.
Initially only a four-speed manual gearbox was offered, but this was supplemented by a General Motors automatic option from 1952.
This was the last Rolls-Royce model to be delivered in "chassis only" form, in order to receive a wide variety of bespoke coachwork designed and made by a rapidly declining number of specialist coachbuilders.[2] Most of the bodies selected used "formal" limousine designs.[2] For customers wishing to buy their car with a standard body already fitted, the manufacturer already offered the Bentley Mark VI.
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[edit] Official uses
- Irish Presidential State Car - 1947
- Brazilian Presidential Ceremonial State Car - 1952
- Royal Dutch State Limousine - 1958
- Royal Danish Ceremonial Car "Store Krone" (Great Crown) - 1958
[edit] Movie appearances
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
- Indiscreet (1958)
- Victim (1961)
- The Love Bug (1968)
- The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
- Arthur (1981)
- Withnail and I (1987)
- Batman (1989)
- James Dean (2001)
[edit] Gallery
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Brazilian Presidential Ceremonial State Car at presidential inauguration.
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Queen Juliana's Limousine State Landaulette
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The "Store Krone" running on the streets of Roskilde.
[edit] References
- ^ "Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum - Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith 1", Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum, 2008, http://www.atwellwilson.org.uk/RollsRoyceSilver.htm, retrieved 2011-01-14
- ^ a b "Spring Collection: Selection of new models announced at this week's Geneva Show". Autocar: 22–24. 19 March 1977.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith |
| Rolls-Royce Motor Cars road car timeline | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||
| Independent | Vickers plc | VW Group | BMW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standard | 10 hp 15 hp |
V-8 20 hp |
Twenty | 20/25 | 25/30 Wraith |
WWII | Silver Dawn | Silver Cloud | Silver Shadow | Silver Spirit/Dawn | Silver Seraph | Ghost | ||||||||||||||||||
| Premium | 30 hp | 40/50 hp (Silver Ghost) | Phantom I/II/III | Silver Wraith | Silver Wraith II | Silver Spur | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phantom IV | V/VI | Touring Limousine | Park Ward | Phantom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible | Corniche/II/III/IV | Corniche V | Phantom Drophead | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Camargue | Phantom Coupé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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