Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Rolls-Royce had firmly established itself as producer of 'The Best Car in the World' with the 1907 40/50hp Silver Ghost, an impressive automobile that had set the standard for smoothness, quietness and refinement combined with performance, flexibility and reliability. When the time came to replace the Ghost with a new model for 1925, it was thus imperative that it should incorporate all the qualities of its predecessor. Bearing this in mind, Rolls-Royce opted not for a V12, V8 or straight eight engine configuration, all of which were tested and rejected, but rather for an overhead valve, longer stroke six cylinder motor with, as on the side valve Ghost, seven main bearings and the cylinders arranged in two blocks of three.
This time a single detachable cylinder head was employed; the result was a smooth power unit of 7,668cc, compared to the outgoing Ghost's 7,428cc, while po